Articles Written by: Scott Crowell
Winter Skating Needs – Best Skating Equipment at Valiquette’s Source for Sports
A vintage hockey shop staple in the Ottawa community has the widest of selection for all the winter skating needs and necessities. It’s winter season and here are the necessities for your winter skating needs.
Skating in the winter season is utilizing the winter weather to the maximum, whether it is on the Rideau Canal, Rink of Dreams, a frozen over pond or even a city owned outdoor rink in the City of Ottawa. It could be your first time skating indoors and have the true feeling of learning to skate or continuing to expand on past knowledge.
Valiquette’s Source for Sports has been a local hockey shop staple that has been around in the City of Ottawa and has resided in Carling for double digit years. It has evolved along with the game of hockey and has been one of the most reliable hockey shops in the local area. It also has stepped out into the baseball/softball world and offers equipment for the sport.
When it comes to purchasing a pair of hockey skates in this current economy and the evolution in hockey skate technology from boot improvements, materials used, quality, low end to mid end to high end to the elite level skate all has it’s pros and cons and comes with certain price points. There comes pros and cons with all levels of hockey skates. Lowest end skate can vary from $150 – $300, the elite level skate can vary from $800 – $1300.
Ray Chen, a newer employee at Valiquette Source for Sports has his own two cents on when it comes to buying a hockey skate for outdoor skating.
“Ulitimately it comes down to how a person fits in the boot and skate itself and we always want a customer to get the best out of what they are paying for and it has them ready to go skating,” said Chen.
Buying a pair of Recreational skates – Leisure Skates, Figure Skates is the most logical and inexpensive route to go when it comes to making a budget work or paying a reasonable price for a pair of skates that may be worn one to three or more times a year depending on how and what they are used for.
The Bauer Recreational Skates Whistler and Colorado are a perfect example of a skate that is perfect for the outdoor winter skating season and is affordable in every sense of the word. It comes with fluffy material and doesn’t deteriorate from it carrying a hockey skate feel and also contains a hockey blade, holder, boot feel and comes pre sharpened upon purchase at Valiquette’s Source for Sports. It also comes in a one size format and is easy to size up at Valiquette’s.
Jason Carr, a goalie expert and employee at Valiquette’s has his recommendation on skates at this time of year for a curious shopper.
“Buying a low end but affordable hockey skate can still allow you to get the best out of your wants in a skate and you can get full comfortability and it’ll be a pair you can take care of for years and still maintain the true feel of the skate and blades,” said Carr.
When it comes to protection from a fall on that hard icy surface, Valiquette’s has hockey helmets that will give you proper and reliable protection with adjustable fits that come with a helmet and that allows you to have the helmet sit perfectly on your head so the winter weather won’t give you a mighty concussion or wicked headache. It comes with a reasonable price point between $139 to $200 plus in change depending on level of helmet.
The Bauer Re Akt series helmet provides an affordable price point and allows for an in store adjustable fit with assistance from a staff member and can have you ready with another important piece of winter skating gear.
Spending this type of money during the height of skating season comes with the long term benefit and worthy investment of not having to buy a new piece of equipment or hunting for used skates every year and going through the trouble.
Valiquette’s Source For Sports has that local touch and will have all the hockey and outdoor skating needs for anyone that is looking for equipment and the right advice that will steer you in the right direction.