blog-news

Thermablade Featured in National Article - "Like Mini-Zamboni's"

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:06:24 +0100

Tech & Sports Review #2

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:34:05 +0100

How Do Thermablades Work? Think of Mini-Zamboni's...

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:40:13 +0100

The illustration above shows that artificial ice has a thin layer of water on the surface. It's created by air above the ice being warmer than the artificial ice itself. This thin layer of invisible water is what allows steel skate blades to glide, kind of like a lubricant. Because the ice is so much bigger than the skate blade, the dynamic is more like the ice trying to cool the heated blade than vice versa. The end result of this battle is a slightly thicker layer of water which gives the benefit of improved glide and reduced friction. Just like mini-Zamboni's. For more information, check out our Technology page by clicking here:

Performance Tip #3: Optimizing Battery Performance

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:29:45 +0100

Hockey season just around the corner and many of you already in training camps. With 2-a-days and even full game situations, we thought you should have a good understanding of how to manage the battery life of your Thermablades. Here are some good rules of thumb:

· A fully charged set of blades have about 85 minutes of ice time.

· Full charging take about 2 hours but 85% of the charge happens in the first ½ hour so even a quick charge will help a lot

· A thermostat built into the electronics tries to predict when you are on the ice and goes into STANDBY mode to save battery life when your are on the bench or in the dressing room

· A good analogy would be a defenseman who plays up to 40 minutes a game should get 2 games out of one charge in ideal conditions

For most situations, 85 minutes of ice time is enough battery life. In the situations below it can be good to help preserve battery life, here a few tips that are easy to do:

Practice Situations (longer than 75 minutes):

· Thermablades offer the most benefit when the ice is chewed up. If you know that the practice will run 75 minutes or longer, turn the blades on later in the practice so you’ll finish with maximum heat

· When drying your skates between practices always plug them in to the charger, there is no risk to leaving them plugged in

Game Situations (3 x 20 minute stop time):

· Cold rinks and water/snow on the bench can trick the thermostat to staying on

· If you get a lot of ice time, don’t turn the blades on in the warn-up. This can actually make you feel fresher when you start the game

· Turn the blades off between periods

· Check your blades periodically on the bench for snow build up. A gentle stomp or swipe with your hand to clean them will do the trick

· When drying your skates between practices/games always plug them in to the charger, there is no risk to leaving them plugged in

Thermablade Performance Tip #2

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:05:32 +0100

Many Thermablade users have asked us how to fully experience the benefits of warm steel so we wanted to share some insights on how to fully understand the performance benefits. But first a little background:

· Thermablades are NOT rocket packs and they will not necessarily improve your top end speed, your natural ability and fitness level are the reasons for your individual skating performance

· On freshly Zamboni’d ice where the top layer of ice is smooth, the benefits of warm steel is less dramatic. This is due to the physical properties of smooth ice having consistent molecular properties that any quality well sharpened blade will perform well on. Our tests show that warm steel will improve glide, but it is less noticeable.

· Though there are many stated benefits from elite skaters, the most consistent is decreased fatigue in choppy ice conditions. With this kind of ice, the blade has to work harder to steer through the ruts and slush (friction and vibration) causing you to expend more energy to maintain the same pace as fresh ice.

· All of this can be a little subtle to feel. Simon Gagne had his “aha” moment when after skating on Thermablade he went back to his old blades: “The biggest difference I noticed is when you go back to your old blades, that’s a lot tougher and I had I more fatigue at the end.”

TIP: Thermablade technology helps counter bad ice conditions by reducing friction and vibration. This allows you to feel fresher and reduce wear and tear on your body. In addition to the "Jump Start Your Game" drill guide, do these simple tests the next few times you’re on the ice and you should feel the benefits more profoundly:

· In the last 15 minutes of a practice, turn off the blades and see if you feel a difference

· In the last 15 minutes of a practice and with the blade ON, pace yourself against the better skaters. Are they slowing down a bit compared to you?

· How do you feel after a tough practice, a little fresher than before Thermablade? What about the next day?

· If you have a second pair of skates, try going back to traditional blades after at least 10 hours on Thermablade. Do they feel sticky and less stable?

Thermablade Performance Tip #1

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:07:29 +0100

You know that “crunching sound” commonly associated with strong skaters? It's actually excessive friction and grip causing them to decelerate. The advantage of warm blades is that you don’t need as deep of a hollow to maintain grip because there is more natural water or lubricant. For this reason, many Thermablade players have gradually gone to shallower hollows to take full advantage of these properties. The end result is a smoother quieter sensation and improved glide.

TIP: Rocker and hollow are two factors that you can adjust to get the most out of your gear. To take full advantage of Thermablade technology, gradually reduce your hollow depth to find your sweet spot to match your skating style. We also recommend a new sharpening pattern called Flat Bottom V, which, because of its square shape has more steel in contact with the ice to take full advantage of the warm steel. You can read more about it at http://www.blackstonesport.com/technology.cfm, there’s a good history lesson on sharpening there too.

Techandsports Review #1

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:39:58 +0100

Thermablade Hockey Corp featured in ESPN.com

Fri, 28 May 2010 23:49:44 +0100

MONTREAL (May 28, 2010) Thermablade Hockey Corp today announced that Paula Lavigne, an investigative journalist and regular contributor to ESPN’s Emmy award winning “Outside the Lines” segment, has completed her detailed report chronicling "how it can be tough for the little guy to compete against big-time research departments at sporting equipment companies.”

The story follows Thermablade inventor Tory Weber’s personal journey from his "big idea" moment at a young age through the trials and tribulations of launching an innovative and somewhat controversial new product. For the complete story and video which include quotes from Wayne Gretzky, NHL players, and senior NHL officials go to: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5182060

SOURCE Thermablade Hockey Corp

Press Release: New Ownership at Thermablade Hockey Corp

Tue, 11 May 2010 18:23:27 +0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thermablade Hockey Corp announces new ownership and innovative direct sales platform for its exclusive line of Thermally Optimized Hockey Skate Blades and accessories

MONTREAL (May 7, 2010) – Thermablade Hockey Corp today announced the official kick-off of operations under the ownership of David Hamm and Thom Denomme, Calgary based entrepreneurs and business owners. “We have followed with great admiration the evolution of this product and are elated to have acquired this uniquely Canadian hockey innovation company” said Hamm, who will also serve as President & CEO of Thermablade Hockey Corp.

Thermablade, a battery-powered skate blade designed to maintain a consistent steel temperature of approximately 5 degrees Celsius (45 deg F), acts to increase the thickness of the water molecules between the blade and the ice surface, dramatically reducing gliding friction, vibration and starting resistance for skaters. The reduced friction allows players to reach top speed faster and to skate using less energy. Physiological benefits include a reduction in heart rate, increased stamina and less fatigue over the course of a hockey game. The biggest benefit, according to elite players, is the sensation of maintaining the feeling of fresh ice late into the period when ice quality becomes compromised. Because Thermablade technology helps create more water molecules, the blades don’t dig into the ice as much so you glide higher on the ice surface and don’t fight the build-up of snow and slush. “It’s a little like having mini-Zamboni’s on your feet” says Michael Chiasson, VP of Product and Marketing at Thermablade.

Originally launched in 2007 to unprecedented fanfare, feedback for Thermablade technology has come from the highest levels of hockey, including a test of over 100 man-games of use in the NHL during the 2007-2008 season. These actual game situations, and numerous ongoing tests, have proven to not have any adverse effects on ice quality and consistently deliver at least one or more of the many benefits that the blades provide. Thermablade continues to work with the NHL’s governing bodies to pave the way for final approval, “it’s our number one long-term priority” says Hamm. The new company will also focus on nurturing relationships with the many amateur governing bodies that have already cleared the blades for use. These include Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, and the IIHF. Hamm adds that Thermablade has initiated a project with over a dozen Kontinental Hockey League players to introduce its product to this burgeoning Elite league. “We are confident that these KHL players will really appreciate the benefits of Thermablades on the larger ice surface and the varying ice conditions across the league”, and adds that the company has recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the Russian market to “capitalize on the rapid potential for sales growth in this large hockey-mad country.”

Commercially, the efforts for the new company will be on marketing the product to amateur hockey players worldwide who are seeking the latest in product innovation. “We have a unique product and therefore need a uniquely modern selling approach. As such we have initiated a direct sales platform to offer our products directly to consumers via our web-site www.thermabladehockey.com”, says Hamm. He adds that early adopters and innovators at all ages and ability levels are the first to embrace new technology and that a direct sales model is a good fit with their buying habits and allows the company to have a more personal relationship with consumers.

ABOUT THERMABLADE HOCKEY CORP
Canadian skate blade maker Thermablade Hockey Corp is a Quebec-based manufacturer of thermally optimized skate blade technology that was invented by Alberta resident Tory Weber. Thermablade Hockey Corp is a technologically advanced skate blade that uses battery powered electrical energy to slightly heat the skate blade, thereby increasing the layer of water between the blade and the ice surface and reducing friction at the ice surface. Thermablades offer several proven physiological and performance benefits for hockey players, including a dramatic reduction in gliding friction and starting resistance, an overall increase in stamina and an overall decrease in fatigue. More information on the product is available online at www.thermabladehockey.com.

SOURCE Thermablade Hockey Corp.