The Goalie Wheel Conspiracy

From The Pharaoh’s Crease

The job of an inline goalie has never been one of fame and prestige, more like fear and exhaustion.  Show me an inline game that contained even a moderate effort on defense, and I’ll show you a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.  The goalies get fed to the lions (Snipers) like they were ground chuck being fed to the family dog.  Yet with all the misery and torture that comes with being a goalie, one must expect that said goalies take some sort of pride in being the center of attention and the last line of defense between the glorious “W” and the dreaded blowout. 

Physical conditioning and fierce competitive nature aside, the best made and best fitting equipment is essential.  So what happens when you’re, much like me, not the slimmest player on the rink?  What happens when you are stuck with only 2 types of wheels for your Nike/Bauer skates?! WTF?!  There are over 100 different wheels for skaters and 2 for me?!  That’s right, Rink Rat and Hyper, I’m talking to you.  How can you make a wheel that is at best 76A hardness?  At least Hyper used to make an 80A wheel that lasted for a good while.  When you play 4-6 times a week, these 76 and below hardness ratings just don’t cut it.  They especially don’t cut it when you’re 215 pounds.  I’m not going to argue the fact that I should drop a few pounds, but I think it’s apparent that you’re missing a growing market segment…the large goalie.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also ask why so many of the other wheel makers–Labeda, Red Star, Mission, etc.–don’t offer a harder 47mm goalie wheel, either.  If the push is to phase out the Bauer series skate that takes just the 47mm wheel and move to any model that takes the 59mm wheel, then so be it, but until Nike/Bauer stops making skates that take JUST the 47mm, keep the market open with more wheel options.

The Hyper 47mm wheel, which is the cheapest priced of the two, has a flat surface, so while you might get more surface grip, you’re probably cutting down the width of your stance.  The Rink Rat wheel has the more standard forward wheel angular design.  Way to go, Rink Rat, make a wheel with the design I want that’s too soft to last more than a month!  The goalie position is already expensive enough as it is, and you’re just abusing our wallets for even more, knowing we have no option but to use your wheels.

I’ve seen the new Mission Axiom goalie skates and won’t deny that they do look sweet, but goalies are creatures of habits.  Put your gear on a certain way, skate around your crease a certain way, and NEVER EVER go to new equipment when you’ve spent so much time breaking in what you have to exactly how you like it.  My skates feel like those old worn out running sneakers in the closet that my fiancée keeps telling me to get rid of.  I won’t throw them out until they disintegrate off my feet, and the same goes for my skates.  So come on, wheel makers and defense…HELP YOUR GOALIES OUT!