Well we have come a long way in hockey gear technology. Sometimes its hard to imagine what crazy idea they will think up next. You may hear things soon like fathers reminding their son to charge the skates up before the big game. It seems like only a few years ago my grandmother was telling me a story. They use to put hot baked potatoes in her skates wraped in tinfoil so her toes would not freeze while she skated on the pond in front of her house. Therma Blade Inc is set to launch a heated skate blade in the fall with help from non other than hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
What exactly is Therma blade inc? Well to keep things simple they are a Quebec company that is working on bringing a revolutionary heated skate blade to the North American market later this year. Formal physiological testing and on-ice tests of its heated blades under game conditions have produced outstanding results.
Double blind studies performed during the summer to assess physiological benefits revealed.
- reduced heart rates
- lower oxygen demand and lower lactic acid production
Overall benefits translated into a physiological advantage equivalent to about 10% over conventional skate blades as a result of increased stamina and reduced fatigue. Performance tests of the heated blades also revealed that starting friction was reduced by 65% to 75%, sliding friction was lowered by 50% to 55% and vibration was reduced by about 50%. On-ice testing of Thermablades involved more than 100 elite amateurs and recreational players, with testing conducted under both controlled and game conditions. Player feedback gathered has been “more than encouraging” as Therma Blade Inc. prepares for a fall launch to retailers, said spokesman Sam McCoubrey.“Our testing included player surveys that asked about speed, edge control, smoothness and acceleration and what we’ve been hearing from players is even better than what we hoped for and proves unquestionably what we already believe - that heated blades are the next wave in hockey skate technology” said McCoubrey. In surveys conducted following ongoing testing that concludes in September, 85% of players said the Thermablades were significantly smoother to skate on than conventional blades; 68% said they skated further with less effort; about 61% said they accelerated more quickly; 63% said they felt less fatigue while playing.
Invented and developed in Canada and manufactured in Quebec, Thermablades are technologically advanced skate blades that use electronics and a micro processor to heat the blade, thereby reducing friction between the blade and ice surface. The new product, an aftermarket blade that attaches to any conventional hockey skate boot, is to be launched to the retail market in the fall with help from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, McCoubrey added.
“We are on track to introduce an entirely new skate blade technology that we believe is going to change the game of hockey,” he said. “The technology works – it enhances skating performance and has no negative impact on the ice surface at all. It is definitely a breakthrough for the skating industry and the game of hockey.”
