Good to know - thanks.

Probably a combination of both factors. I was shocked to see the toepick size difference; I figured the blades had stayed exactly the same over time, other than the k-pick and parabolic options.

I want to pull out my box o' blades and compare them all now.

I've always known that, but I've never seen it measured before. Is that Jim @ Hackensack? He's a stickler for precision.

That must be how the sharpeners are able to "restore" or "correct" the profile of a blade. Fascinating!

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Nova- I don't really think I have a problem on my Phantoms. I wonder if spinning will be even easier if I switch to Gold Seal.

I think I should go to a skate shop and trace all three blades (and maybe more, just for fun) and compare them. It is difficult to discern a difference just looking at pictures. I will definitely look at sample blades before making my purchase. This is probably still several months away, so I have more time to do research. I am thinking a trip to Chicago to go to Rainbo may be in order (especially for my boots).

Do we have anybody that has skated on both Pattern 99 and Phantom? It seems that we have every other switch but this one.

I just went back through the rest of the thread and I am now thinking about Phantom Special again. Is the rocker profile of the Phantom Special the same as the Phantom with the difference being dovetail vs. side honed?

I just remembered that my coach did suggest I consider the Parabolic blades, but she didn't say if I should stick with Phantom or switch to a different model for the parabolic. I know my other coach hates the parabolic, but she had also been skating on regular Gold Seals for 40+ years.

For what it's worth, I just got my first pair of Parabolics and noticed no difference. My blade guru thinks it's just a gimmick, and after measuring the difference in width between the middle of the blade and the ends with a digital caliper. . . I think I agree. The difference in width was some very small fraction of a millimeter! I wonder if some of the credit given to the parabolic feature is actually just the feel of a brand new rocker?

BTW, he also told me he skated on Pattern 99's for most of his competitive career, then switched to Gold Seals because his coach thought they would be better. He hated them! Since the rocker shape was so different, it really messed with the timing on his axel takeoff. He switched back. It was during this story that he pointed out the differences in rocker profile between Pattern 99/Phantom and Gold Seal/Gold Star. Up to then, I just thought it was all about rocker radius.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics