March 2006
Q&A with BillThe following are questions submitted by readers which were answered by Bill Butler (BB). Cure for off-center plates Q - I have a pair of Riedell 220 boots with Sure Grip Classic plates I bought. They have never felt quite right and I have finally decided it is because the plate on my right skate is off center which put my weight on the outside edge of my foot rather than directly under the ball. Visually, the plate is maybe 1/8" off center. My plan is to enlarge the hole, shift the plate, test skate it and then fill the screw gap with some epoxy once the adjustment is acceptable. Does this sound like a reasonable method of doing this? BB - No it's not. Take the boot, have a cobbler - they know what to do to fill the holes and reset the plate. Don't try to do the epoxy thing, let a cobbler redo it. It will cost about $30 for one boot. If you [enlarged the hole] already, you have to live with it - it can't be undone. Q - Where can I find the skates that Bow Wow and the crew where during the competition, the skates that have the yellow, red, and green strips towards the back? BB - You can go to the store, buy some paint
and paint your skates. The only thing special about those skates
is that they were painted that way, I don't know if that made them special,
but it made them different. But you don't paint them like that, put
them on and then think you can skate- it doesn't work like that [because]
that would be special. If you want that look, just get some paint
and have it done or do it yourself, that's all there is to that.
Q - I'm 40 yr and weight 481 lb and I have not skated for about 14 years and will the Snyder dance plate be strong enough for my weight? BB - You should seek medical help first, that's my opinion, or get a reduction if it means that much to you and you've got to get a handle on your health. Skating is not a magical thing, it has to work when it works. It's not something where you say, ‘I’ll put on a pair of skates and lose this weight,’ if you fall down, who's gonna pick you up? Skating is not the answer for you right now, you have put yourself in a position that you have to redo and then go through the arduous process of learning how to skate. Skating has nothing to do with what we're talking about here, you have to go to a doctor, see special people and then get your act together. I recommend you take care of yourself before even thinking about any kind of skating. Then and only then will you even enjoy it. Best wishes to you. Posted 03/09/06 |