Wrapping Laces Debate

[CanadaBacon]

Protection is different from performance. You'll still be able to skate just fine. They didn't exist until the 70s, figure skates don't have them, and figure skaters put a hell of a lot more stress on their ankles and tendons.

Yes, it effects the protectiveness of the skate. Sticks and pucks too, thought the main point is skate blades- cuts on the Achilles tendon are really, really bad.

As for the overextension part, try a little experiment for me. Take your shoe and rest it so the top of the toe is on the ground. Push your leg forward so you're forcing your foot to be as pointed as you can make it.

Congratulations, you have now extended your ankle more then you could possibly do in any high boot, skates included, with or without the tendon guard. Did you feel anything snap? Did you injure your ankle? Since that's a natural motion of the joint, I should damn well hope not. The tendon guard doesn't restrict the motion of the ankle anymore then the boot already does. Try putting on a skate and a hiking boot and comparing the range of motion for the ankle bending backwards.

If bending your ankle back further then what the boot would allow, this wouldn't be possible, much less something we teach to 5 year olds:

You can't bend your ankles back that far in regular shoes, much less skates. You'll be fine.

As for the dumbest post, I won't go too much into that, I'll just say it's interesting who that's coming from.

good stuff. Believe that then

PS you might want to read what the dumbest part was again.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Hmm I dont really understand...I tie until the top eyelet, then wrap both laces around and tie a simple knot

The Laces are usually positioned slightly above the Fly Logo and possibly at where the back part of the skate (part that guards the achilles) begins...so this is bad?

How does it increase your chance of injuring a tendon?
Wouldn't having loose skates increase your chance of breaking an ankle?

He literally explained it right above your post.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Interesting comment from such an informed source.

Hey Gino! welcome back troll

 

[Gino 14]

Hey Gino! welcome back troll

There's dumb and then there's Bacon Dumb.

 

[CanadaBacon]

There's dumb and then there's Bacon Dumb.

Good input like always, you da man pro star.

 

[Hockeyfan68]

All that said, the extra pressure on the tendon really isn't a good thing. It will tear the guard apart eventually unless it's really well made, and that does cut your protection for an important part of your body. the direct pressure on the tendon itself will come back and bite you if your skate gets caught and you get thrown forward, with your foot trying to bend forward and your skate holding it back. That very well could snap your tendon. However, taping the ankles, which many people suggest instead of wrapping your laces, has the same effect in that situation.

Restricting your ankle's forward flex with laces or tape is a bad idea. If you need something stiffer, buying a stiffer boot is the best solution.

I prefer the stiff boot thing ... I do not tape or use laces either.

I will point out though that many many pro hockey players USED to tape their ankles. I do not see it as much anymore and it must be because of the current skate technology available.

Just a guess.

I like a stiff immobile skate but my skates are very stiff on their own so taping or lacing around the ankle is not necessary. I would recommend getting skates that fit properly as you have mentioned if one has an issue with having to tighten the fit with the use of tape or ankle laces.

 

[AIREAYE]

At practise today, I tried not tying the top eyelet and not wrapping the laces around. I also put my sock over the tongue to make up a bit for the support lost. After skating around a bit I noticed my crossovers and other agile skating movements were much better

I only considered this after playing roller hockey with my brother...I can do backwards crossovers on roller, but not on ice, I think this is due to the tightness of the ice skate compared to the roller skate

 

[3hirty6ix]

I only wrap my laces around cause they are freaking long...

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Every 'skate' expert I have read from, including Laura Stamm says to not do this, it's not correct, and you will not gain any advantage from it.

 

[AIREAYE]

Every 'skate' expert I have read from, including Laura Stamm says to not do this, it's not correct, and you will not gain any advantage from it.

the wrapping thing?

 

[Heat McManus]

if you don't need to then there's no reason for it. I know guys who do it because they started when they were little and they were in skates that were a bit too big, but hey, it's what they had.

If you're fit correctly you really shouldn't need to do this. That said, it's not going to ruin your game if you do.

 

[CanadaBacon]

I only wrap my laces around cause they are freaking long...

Cut your laces and take a lighter to the ends.

 

[Hockeyfan68]

Cut your laces and take a lighter to the ends.

I actually buy the correct length laces for my skate size and have them laced up using all of the eyelets with the laces tied in a bow like normal and stuff.

The last pair I bought were premelted on the ends at the factory and have never come apart like laces usually do. I forget the brand unfortunately ... I hope to find those again whatever they were.

 

[AIREAYE]

Didn't notice anything skating wise during my game...so this is a good thing

 

[jmichael7753*]

Ive always taped at the ankles. Ive had multiple sprained ankles and this is what my specialist told me to do. He said there is very little chance of hurting your achillies. This is what i do basically. first i put my hockey socks on, then skates, then shin guards then i heavily tape around the top of the skate/bottom of the shin guard, then pull my sock down and use another strip of tape. Never had any problems.

 

[NYRSinceBirth]

Ive always taped at the ankles. Ive had multiple sprained ankles and this is what my specialist told me to do. He said there is very little chance of hurting your achillies. This is what i do basically. first i put my hockey socks on, then skates, then shin guards then i heavily tape around the top of the skate/bottom of the shin guard, then pull my sock down and use another strip of tape. Never had any problems.

I started taping over my laces about a month ago. My skates are about a half size too big, and the tape actually helped a lot. About a week and a half ago I went into the boards, knee and toe cap hit first, then my body onto the heel. Sprained ankle.

Taping/wrapping is purely preference. A properly fit skate does not need it done.

 

[nullterm]

Don't wrap. Skates are designed to support the ankle better. Wrapping only made sense years ago before they started making skates from modern materials. Wrapping can even be self-defeating as the movement of your foot/ankle could loosen the tension of your laces.