Sugar Plum Short Track Speedskating Boots

My latest project: the sugar plum synthetic snakeskin short track speedskating boots. Without straps or laces they each weighed 280 grams. Update: with laces and straps they each weigh in at 300 grams. The boots are probably about a size 5 or 6. Very stiff sole, not as stiff in the ankle as I wanted, but I am mostly happy with them. The tongue's are 65 durometer EVA foam. That is very hard but how the skater wanted them. One innovation, that I copied from the new Bont Patriot (a new entry level boot, specific for short track) are metal rings on both sides of the boot so that the straps can be easily replaced. Styling is mostly like SS Boots and Marchese, which are the short track boot maker leaders in the USA anyway. The lining is nylon covered neoprene with additional padding a soft EVA foam. Now I just need to find somebody that will pay me to make them boots. It would be nice to have a hobby that paid its own way!

Bike shoes

I recently finished Maddie's custom biking shoes. Here are some specs:

• three layers of 5.8 oz carbon over five layers of 6 oz fiberglass form the base
  
• West system epoxy
• PVC upper with carbon fiber look
• two velcro straps
• a tongue but no eyelets or laces, I am hoping that the straps will be enough
  
• 1.5 mm thick neoprene liner with nylon cover
• extra evalite padding around cuff
• each shoe weighs in at 247 grams with the SPD cleat attached

Maddie hasn't tested the shoes on a bike yet. Actually, she doesn't have a road or track bike, but she does spin classes at the YMCA a few times a week. Bike shoes, in my opinion, are easier to make than speed boots, or maybe I am just getting better at these projects. The photos look good but the carbon work is full of wrinkles that are mostly covered over. I think that I used too much vacuum and with the fiberglass layers the tendency to wrinkle was increased - another lesson learned.

Custom Short Track Boots for Maddie

Just finished this new pair of custom ST boots for Maddie. (A newly named jr. category 1 skater BTW.) They turned out as good as can be expected for someone who is just making it up as I go! I used a little bit of Simmons, SS, and Marchese in the design. Dark gray neoprene liner, several layers of carbon fiber + resin epoxy, aluminum, lots of pink glitter and two different materials for the upper outer portions. Velcro, nylon strapping, glues (contact cement and Sumo), some rectangular rings, thread, eyelets and other secret (forgotten) ingredients went into the mix. The sole is as hard as a rock (ie. overbuilt) and the ankle is stiff but not as stiff as Maddie's custom Simmons as seen in this blog's banner photo. The left boot weights in at 348 grams and the right at 360 grams. Not too bad but not as light as the Simmons which are about 60 grams lighter.

When will they see the ice? Not sure. Maddie really doesn't need new boots! This was just a hobby project that burned up a lot of spare hours. If I had to make speed boots for a living I would be a very hungry man. I did learn a lot and if I do it over again I can save time and make a better boot - of that I am sure.

I have to give credit to my wife, Tenley, who did all the sewing on this project, which I kept to an absolute minimum. It was all done on a home machine with regular weight threads, but almost all sewn portions are also held together with Sumo glue so not to worry, nothing is going to let loose anytime soon.

Custom Klingbeil vs. custom carbon fiber

A few more words on the subject of a custom carbon fiber figure skating boot. It is shown in this photo on the right. The left is Maddie's custom Klingbeil boot. Anyway, I tried to make it as traditional looking as possible with some degree of success. The lacing hooks were a bear to install since I was not willing to spend the $300 on the right equipment to set them. The ones I used are large. My supplier sells a smaller version which I purchased but I could not set them at all. I used grommets as eyelets. I need them to help hold the whole boot together! There is almost no real leather in my boot. What you see is marine vinyl. The lining is neoprene with a nylon fabric. The tongue does have a layer of real leather. More on that in a future posting.