Purchase

In the summer of 2002, during a family visit to my in-laws', I got a pair of used, Swiss-manufactured Graf 703 skates (there is a version manufactured in Calgary, Alberta, Canada by Graf Canada) from a used hockey equipment store in Calgary. I was in the market for a new pair of used skates because my previous pair of CCM Kevlar Tack 750 skates' support had broken down.

Originally I was going to get a pair of used Graf 705 skates, Canadian-manufactured model, but (i) its Cobra steel blades were loose and completely worn out, and (ii) the Graf 703 skates were noticeably more comfortable on my feet. It was almost as if the previous owner's feet were clones of my feet, which are a little bit wider in front.

Each model of skates in Graf's 7-series are shaped a little bit differently to fit different people's feet.

From the looks of the boot and the Tuuk blade holders, this skate had been used a lot, i.e. it was all scratched up with skate cuts and marks everywhere, but the major components of the skates were in great shape. The blade holders were attached by the Graf screw system, which would facilitate quicker blade changes in the future, and there was plenty of steel left in the blades. The blades were probably new, compared to the condition of the skate boot and blade holders. For Cdn$100, they looked like a diamond-in-the-rough bargain to me (new Graf 703s were selling for Cdn$540 at the time).

Preparation

I just had to swap my old "Superfeet" insoles from my old skates into the new used skates and swap the laces, and I was ready to try out the new used skates.

First use

My wife, son, and I went to the University of Calgary speedskating oval, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, to get some exercise (in the middle of Calgary's hot summer). This would be a perfect time for me to try out the new used skates; very few people would be there, there would be lots of room to try things, and there are soft bumpers for me to fall into.

These Graf 703s were much lighter than my old pair of CCM Kevlar Tack 750s, so it was much easier to accelerate in them. The side stiffness in the ankle area was also strong, so that I could really lean into turns. Because the previous owner's feet were so similar to mine, these skates were really comfortable from the start.

The lean on the Graf 703's Tuuk blades was a little more "back" than the lean on the old pair of skates, so getting perfect balance for stops took a little time. However, once I adjusted I was able to do quick, hard stops without using too much of my lower leg muscles, just depending on the boots' stiffness.

I did some backwards skating, but again needed some time to adjust to the new lean on these skates.

Unfortunately, I got some "lace bite" from this session. The skate tongues' felt had compressed during hard use by the previous owner, and tying the skates and leaning forward in the boots pressed the hard, thin tongues into the tendons on the top of my foot. I knew that I had to fix this or I would be in pain when I played hockey.

Preparation II

So, I took the old pair of skates back to the used hockey equipment store and put them on consignment. I had gotten them for Cdn$120 a few years before, and about 4 weeks later I got a cheque for $85 for them.

I de-stictched the attachment of the tongues from the boot. Then I went off in search of new tongues for the new used skates. I went to a few hockey and skate stores, but they didn't have the tongues in-stock, and the Graf factory in Calgary was closed for the long weekend. At one hockey equipment repair depot in SE Calgary, the repair specialist gave me some free, thick, high-quality felt to put into the skates to deal with the lace bite.

More Use

I used the skates 1 more time at the University of Calgary speedskating oval, and then at a few scrimmages in Vancouver before the start of the winter hockey season. The skates were extremely well-fit and had fantastic maneuverability, but the felt pads that I was putting under the skate tongues would shift during games.

Preparation III

The tongues were still loose (I hadn't stitched them back in yet), so I set off in search of new skate tongues.

New Graf skate tongues cost at least Cdn$70 each in Vancouver.

So, I went to a hockey consignment shop, got a pair of Bauer skates with 2-piece tongues for free (because the prices are reduced each week, and these skates had been in the shop for a long time, probably all summer). I de-stitched the tongues on the Bauer skates, stitched them into the Graf 703s, and stitched the old 703's tongues into the Bauer skates. After all that enclosed-space stitching the index finger on my left hand was full of pin holes.

The Graf 703s now had comfortable tongues and no more lace bite. I brought the Bauer skates back to the consignment shop, and a week later I got a cheque for Cdn$20 when they were sold.

Lots More Use

I used these Graf 703s for the next 2 winter seasons and 2 summer/spring seasons.

They took numerous shots (pucks bouncing off them), and my feet were protected very well, except for the time the shot hit the top of my foot where the skate tongue is.

The tough, leather exterior was really cut resistant and withstood numerous kicks from other skates when I was along the boards fighting for the puck.

The skates were light enough so I could accelerate quickly and chase down opposing players from behind. The stiffness helped with the responsiveness for takeoffs and quick turns. At the same time, the skates were so comfortable that, as some people say about Graf skates, it was like wearing bedroom slippers.

One of the shots broke the steel blade in half during a game. I felt that something was wrong because all of a sudden I had trouble turning left. I thought that the shot had shattered the blade holder, but nobody could see anything wrong on the bench. To make things worse, one of our defencemen pulled his groin, so I got extra ice time. So, I played the final 2 periods and the 5-minute overtime like this. In the locker room after the game I took off the left skate, took a good look, and could see that the blade was cracked in half just at the mid-point. The jagged point at the middle was digging into the ice when I was doing forward left turns. It didn't affect my forward right turns because I do these more off the heel of my left skate, and it didn't affect my backwards skating or stops because I do these moves more off the balls of my feet.

Preparation IV

It took less than a day for my local hockey store to put in a new pair of blades. Replacing only the left one would have given me a different feel on each skate. The Graf screw blade holder attachment system (all other manufacturers use rivets) made it easy for the repair technician to get the Tuuk Custom+ blade holders off, detach the old blades, put in the new Tuuk Custom+ blades, and re-attach the blade holders.

Even More Use

It took a few skating sessions and games to get used to the brand-new blade profile, so I had to play forward for a few games. But, once I got used to the new profile all was well again.

All good things (in this case, great things) must come to an end, and with these skates, their end came this summer when the right ankle strapping was cut in half by another player's skate during a fight for the puck along the boards. I could feel the support give out in the right skate right away.

I brought it to my local hockey shop in Vancouver, and to a repair shop in Toronto, but they were not sure if the skate's ankle strapping could be repaired. I tried using the skates for a few more games, but I couldn't trust the right skate any more, so after 2 winter and 1.5 summer seasons it was time for another pair of skates.

Recommended: Yes