How The Best Play Better

Transcription

1 How The Best Play Better

2 At ELITE we have one goal: to make the best better. We have reimagined and re-engineered the critical materials, practices and processes of skate blade profiling and sharpening to establish a new era of precision and consistency. TM This is Blade Performance Technology. Pioneered, refined and in use with select National Hockey League clubs, ELITE Blade Performance Technology is now, for the first time, becoming available worldwide. 1 BLADE PROFILING SYSTEM SKATE SHARPENING SYSTEM

3 2 INTRODUCING THE E-P3 The precise profile, every time BLADE PROFILING SYSTEM

4 The precise profile, every time At the highest levels of the sport, the performance advantages of skate blade profiling are well known. Until now, however, producing and reproducing customized player blade profiles, accurately and quickly, has been virtually impossible. 4 The ELITE-P3 profiler changes everything. Easy to use and intuitive, the E-P3 means equipment professionals now have access to efficient, precise, infinitely variable and consistent blade profiling. The precise profile, two or four blades at a time The E-P3 system quickly profiles two or four blades at a time, ensuring the precise and identical profile for each pair. Every time. 5

5 As precise and unique as the players it serves Equipment managers can choose from a wide selection of proven, factory-calibrated profile templates, or request unique specifications to suit player preferences. ELITE welcomes special orders and will quickly supply custom templates with the required profile characteristics. Precision is critical each ELITE template is CNC machined to tolerances of 2/1000ths of an inch to guarantee consistent results. 6 7 / 14 Template illustration for demonstration purposes only. Not to scale. The E-P3 template and profiling system enables equipment managers to produce multiple, identical back-up pairs for a seamless rotation of blades and instant response to urgent game situations both at home and away. The wide range of profiles and the ease of profiling blades allow for more customized options for player trials, ensuring a perfect match between player and profile and ultimately higher performance. 9

6 User friendly Simply select and install the profile template, mount one or two pairs of identical blades, start the system, and check back every few minutes. The E-P3 requires minimal operator supervision and is engineered to deliver precise results, every time. 8 9 Performance and productivity The ELITE system greatly reduces the time needed for custom blade preparation. Calculating the benefit over all the pairs of blades, for multiple players, over the course of the season, the ELITE system s productivity benefits are clear.

7 12 ELITE has the best profiler on the market today. There is no other profiler this consistent The guys at ELITE are great to deal with. It was no problem when I wanted custom templates made. Jason McMaster Equipment Manager, Winnipeg Jets (NHL) It s a matter of a precision down to a hair s breadth that makes all the difference for me. With ELITE you always know it s going to be the same, and it s great. It s always great. Anthony Beauvillier Forward, New York Islanders (NHL) Everybody knows how much technology in our sport has evolved. One thing I feel hasn t changed much is skate sharpening until now. Pierre Gervais Head Equipment Manager, Montreal Canadiens (NHL) It was love at first sight when the profiler came into my equipment room. The players and coaches loved it immediately I figure the E-V3 saves me 40-50% of the time I spend sharpening skates. That makes me more available to respond to the needs of our players. Eric Levesque Head Equipment Manager, Laval Rocket (AHL) I think the ELITE system is something that every player, a couple of years from now, will want to use, because it is such an incredible technology. Raphael Pouliot Amateur Scout, Las Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) At the professional level, what we are looking for above all is consistency. We expect our players to give a consistent performance, from match to match. When we can give them blades that are equally consistent, that s a plus. Pierre Allard Strength and Conditioning Coach, Montreal Canadiens (NHL) We want to take care of our players, to help them reach their maximum potential. When we bring in the ELITE system, that s exactly what we are doing. Dominique Ducharme Head Coach, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) Head Coach, Canadian National Junior Team Our top recruit from last year was really excited to try the new profiling and sharpening. He said Bob, it is amazing how I feel don t touch them anymore, they re perfect! He absolutely loved it. Robert Pouliot Equipment Manager, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) The little competitive advantages can make the difference between a good player and a great player. That can make a big difference in whether you are first on the puck or not. I have worked with ELITE since my first year, and they have always brought my skates to the next level. Jeremy Roy Defenceman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) Drafted 2015, San Jose Sharks (NHL) 13

8 12 INTRODUCING THE E-V3 A new era of precision and consistency SKATE SHARPENING SYSTEM

9 A new era of precision and consistency The impact of equipment technology in sport has been dramatic. And it is at the highest levels of the game that its advantages are most apparent. Yet skate sharpening, with its fundamental importance to a hockey player s performance, has remained essentially the same for decades. The ELITE-V3 changes that. In creating the E-V3, ELITE has reimagined and re-engineered the critical materials, practices and processes of skate sharpening to deliver blade performance like no other system in use today

10 Leaving the stone age Unlike traditional resin-stone sharpening wheels in common use, ELITE wheels are made of an advanced steel alloy with a synthetic diamond coating. The steel core maintains dimensional accuracy and stability, while the coating provides superior durability and cutting power. Drawing from manufacturing standards used in the aerospace and other high technology industries, the durability and precision of the ELITE wheel represents a dramatic advancement in the science of skate blade performance. In legacy sharpening systems, the familiar sparks flying off the blade are in fact pieces of the resin-stone grinding wheel disintegrating and burning as it comes into contact with the higher density steel blade. 16 ELITE s synthetic diamond coated wheels are harder than steel blades, and not subject to the performance degradation typical of resin-stone wheels. With each sharpening pass, the integrity of the wheel is degraded, leading to inconsistent radius hollows and ultimately compromised results. With the E-V3 there is never a need to dress the wheel. Operators simply select the desired radius wheels and installation is quick and easy. After sharpening, operators note the absence of the offensive resin-stone debris and airborne particles typical of the legacy system s work environment. The small amount of residual material produced is managed by an integrated vacuum system /8 7 /16 1 /2 9 /16 5/8 11 /16 3 / 13 / /8 15 / / / / /4 Each ELITE wheel is factory-formed to hollow radiuses ranging from 3/8 to 1 ¼ of an inch. Custom hollows are available upon request.

11 Exact blade-to-wheel positioning Blade performance consistency does not come by chance. ELITE has developed a self-centering mount system to position and secure the blade over the exact apex of the grinding wheel. A key innovation, the ELITE centering mount feature eliminates a source of inconsistent performance common in legacy sharpening systems. 20 The ELITE system ensures the blade is fixed into the optimal position regardless of variations in blade width. The centering mount clamp also exerts symmetrical inward pressure in excess of 1500 psi, promoting the blade s linear integrity during sharpening. 21

12 BLADE x The importance of blade-to-wheel positioning The importance of blade-to-wheel positioning cannot be overstated. Inaccurate blade-to-wheel positioning can result in a serious compromise of blade performance. Even a few thousandths of an inch offset can result in a perceptible difference in blade edge characteristics. The ELITE center mount system overcomes this common complaint with legacy systems, automatically and instantly. BLADE E-V3 center mount system Incorrect blade-to-wheel alignment 20 BLADE GRINDING WHEEL E-V3 GRINDING WHEEL Through engineering innovation, the E-V3 ensures the exact center of the blade meets the exact apex of the grinding wheel, every time. Misalignment of the blade to the grinding wheel during sharpening, as shown here, is a constant concern for operators of legacy systems. x BLADE ELITE blade-to-wheel precision allows blades to be sharpened with a shallower hollow, without compromising bite or control. Blades can ride higher on the ice to maximize responsiveness, glide and stride-to-speed transfer. x 21 x ICE SURFACE ICE SURFACE ELITE blade-to-wheel precision means equipment operators can confidently and measurably push the envelope of blade performance characteristics, while consistently matching player preference in sharpening feel. In some cases, operators of legacy sharpening systems feel obliged to deepen the radius cut to mask potential blade-to-wheel positioning problems. This can create unnecessary on-ice friction that impairs glide. BLADE illustration for demonstration purposes only

13 Maintaining blade profile integrity In contrast to legacy sharpening machines, retaining the integrity of the blade profile and its performance characteristics from one sharpening to the next is a key feature of the E-V3 system. To maintain the profile during the sharpening process, blade geometry requires the constant regulating of blade speed along the wheel and the simultaneous adjustment in wheel pressure on the blade. This demands a precision and consistency virtually impossible to achieve by hand. The E-V3 sharpening passes are digitally choreographed to exacting speed and pressure so as to renew the blade without compromise. Over time, sub-optimal sharpening will distort blade profiles often beyond recognition. But because the damage is gradual, players may experience performance lapses without ever realizing it is the fault of their blades. 22 ELITE s work with NHL and AHL prospects has revealed that even dedicated and diligent athletes are often unaware of the damage to their blades. 23 Prior to sharpening, the system first identifies the starting point of the blade. Once the sharpening begins, the E-V3 reads the blade angle and position at every millimeter and adjusts speed and pressure to maintain equal removal of material from the blade. In real time, the E-V3 system uses an algorithm to react to hundreds of data points to faithfully reproduce the blade profile throughout the sharpening process. Each time. Every time. To a professional hockey player, the performance characteristics of a 9 ft (108 ) profile and a 13 ft (156 ) profile are dramatically different. But the physical difference in blade contour is actually measured at only 24/1000ths of an inch at the end of the active profile. When such subtle variations cause such massive performance differences, the importance of maintaining the profile integrity from one sharpening to the next is clear.

14 ELITE Blade Performance Technology Together, the E-P3 blade profiler and the E-V3 skate sharpening system represent a dramatic advancement in the science of blade preparation. By delivering the precise profile, every time, the E-P3 means matching player and blade has never been easier. Through precision and consistency, the E-V3 sharpener optimizes a blade s edges while maintaining its profile. This is Blade Performance Technology. 24 ELITE is a complete solution. I feel this is the best system in the world today. Pierre Gervais Head Equipment Manager, Montreal Canadiens (NHL) 27

15 ELITE was founded in 2008 in the small town of Beloeil, south of Montreal, Canada. Our only goal has been to create the best skate blade profiling and sharpening system in the world. Our Blade Performance Technology has proven its reliability. The Montreal Canadiens have used the ELITE profiler for three seasons, and in the team and its AHL affiliate standardized on the complete ELITE system. ELITE also operates an active pro shop, where a bank of V3 machines serves thousands of clients from the Montreal region and beyond. ELITE even receives blades by regular courier from NHL players and other pros playing in distant hockey leagues -- players who won t compromise on the performance of their blades. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the National Hockey League s Montreal Canadiens, whose participation in the development of our Blade Performance Technology has been invaluable, as well as to the Drummondville Voltigeurs Hockey Club, countless individual players, coaches and managers from across the hockey world who have helped us over years of testing and refining. We thank you all. To find out more visit or contact us at: info@eliteperformancetech.com