- Joined
- Aug 13, 2016
...<<Emphasis added>>
OK, I fall into your target population of respondents. Im adult enough to qualify for a senior discount at rinks that offer one. Im overbladed, because I wear the Paramount Freestyle 12 ("comparable to Wilson Gold Seal") in 440C stainless steel, and dont even jump anymore (most I ever did were half jumps); I'm definitely achieving a nicer experience on the ice with them.
I can appreciate your desire for an 8 main rocker. I previously skated on the Wilson Coronation Ace (7 main rocker) for mucho years, and then switched to the Eclipse Aurora (also 7 main rocker) for about a year. The Aurora is Eclipses nominally comparable version of the Coronation Ace. The big plus is that its fabricated from 440C stainless steel and has substantially longer edge life than the Coronation Ace. The big neg is that its spin rocker is substantially flatter than that of the Coronation Ace ... and spins are what Im concentrating on. My coach really loves the spin rocker on the Wilson Gold Seal (8 main rocker). She told me I had enough control to handle it, and strongly urged me to buy it. I would have, except I was hooked on high-grade stainless steel, so I bought the Paramount version (which faithfully reproduces the spin rocker and other main features, though not all features, of the Gold Seal). My other alternatives were the Ultima and the Eclipse stainless-steel versions, but those have substantially flatter spin rockers.
With the Paramounts, the easier glide and greater stability were immediately apparent the moment I stepped on the ice. In addition to the 8 main rocker, the Paramount has a longer heel than the Coronation Ace and Aurora, allowing greater stability when skating backwards (you mentioned you always felt like falling backwards in the Coronation Ace). I would definitely never return to a Coronation Ace, Aurora, or similar blade.
As for you, you like the feel of the Phantom, but want an 8 main rocker and less aggressive toe picks. Then the actual Wilson Gold Seal (not a comparable version by another manufacturer) would probably be your best bet. You mentioned that you bought your Phantoms used. There are three models of the Phantom, so you should determine which model you have: (a) side-honed and tapered edges, (b) side-honed and parabolic edges, and (c) Phantom Special with side-honed and dove-tailed edges (not common). The Wilson Gold Seal comes in two models: (a) side-honed and tapered edges and (b) side-honed and parabolic edges (as far as I know there is no model with side-honed and dove-tailed edges). Choose the Gold Seal model with the same edge geometry as that of the Phantom you have to maintain as close as possible the same feel; if you happen to have the Phantom Special, just go with the Gold Seal with tapered edges, rather than parabolic edges. Blades comparable to the Gold Seal by other manufacturers tend not to have such complex edge geometry options and will be less likely to match the Phantom feel.
Note that the Gold Seal has a pronounced (small radius) spin rocker and high heel lift. It takes getting used to. But its probably the closest match to what you are looking for in a stock blade.
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