WHAT ARE SUPERFEET?Most skates today are en- gineered to help improve your game by supporting your ankles and protecting the foot better, as well as being stiffer and lighter than ever. None of that matters, though, unless the skate fits right and your heel is locked in and the arch is supported. That’s where Superfeet Premium Insoles claim to work their magic.
Behind the Mask put Kohl Hedquist and Andy Horine into a set of the Yellow Superfeet Premium Insoles to see if they made a difference when it came to comfort and support.
Behind the Mask: What issues were you facing before using Superfeet?
KH: I was experiencing supination (an inward turn of the foot at the ankle) in my skates and I could feel the back of my foot always moving a little bit, even when my skates were tight. AH: When I’d skate, I noticed my heels would slip and my skates were never really comfortable, no matter what I tried. If I was in my skates too long,
my feet started to kill me.
BTM:What was the first difference you noticed when you tried Superfeet?
KH: I could feel them hugging my feet and my skates were more snug. I also felt that my feet weren’t turning in as much because the arch support kept them straighter. AH: I was locked into the skate and the arch felt like it had more support. My skates just felt like they weren’t fighting my feet all the time.
BTM: After skating in them a few times, did you have any issues adjusting?
KH: I didn’t have any; they just felt like my skates before, but more comfortable. They definitely didn’t take any time getting used to, and didn’t affect my skating at all; I just felt a lot better in my skates. AH: No I didn’t; it was an easy transition. You can tell the difference without them right away, though. I skated without them once and of all my old prob- lems resurfaced.
BTM: What positive differenc- es did you notice when using Superfeet as opposed to when you weren’t using them?
KH: I felt like I was able to execute a better stride because my feet were situated properly in the skates and I just felt more comfortable. AH: My feet stopped hurting af- ter skating. The bottom of my heels always bothered me after skating but, after getting Superfeet, the pain went away.
BTM: Now that you’ve had the Superfeet insoles for a few months, will you continue to use them?
KH: I will, and I also have a pair for my shoes now, too. AH: I’ll keep using them and probably get some for my shoes. It’d be really hard going back to the way my skates felt before after having these footbeds in them. I’m sold.
The Test Team is still accepting applications. Those applicants with the BEST sample reviews will be chosen. To apply, visit
BehindTheMask.com and be certain to fill out and answer ALL of the questions asked on the application.
Hopes remain high for AIHL’s Dragons, Slayers T
By Alex Dodt
he American Inline Hockey League (AIHL) began its fourth season this month, and the
Phoenix Dragons and Tucson Slayers are again expected to battle for supremacy circuit’s South- west Division. Since the league’s inception in 2009, the two
Arizona teams have met in the best-of-three divi- sion finals every year to decide who represents the Southwest at the AIHL national tournament. This year, Tucson is forced to contend with
the departures of defensemen Brian Ganz and Shayne Carroll, both of whom were the team’s top scorers at nationals last season and half of the team’s league-best power-play unit. “Those are big losses for any team to over-
come,” said Slayers coach Javier Zuniga, “and it’ll be most felt on our power play.” To fill the voids, the Slayers have welcomed
Mike Pelletier andWill Heinze to the lineup. Pelletier was one of Tucson’s top defensemen
in 2009 and 2010, but didn’t play last season. Heinze has been the top-scoring forward for Ari- zona State University’s Division I team the past two years. Another Sun Devil - goaltender Clay Taylor
- will join the Slayers, and, along with Cody O’Reilly, give Tucson a formidable 1-2 punch in net. “Clay’s an elite-level player, which should help solidify the position,” said Zuniga. “I believe
18 magazine
Last season’s AIHL Southwest Division champion Tucson Slayers are counting on continued success this year.
our goalie tandem will be the best in the AIHL.” The return of a healthy Jerald Zivic to the
lineup will also bolster the Slayers’ attack. Zivic has been Tucson’s top goal-scorer the past three years, but was hampered by a hand injury last season. “Jerald’s an exceptionally talented player who
leads by example,” said Zuniga. “He’s worked hard to get ready for this year and I expect him to be in the upper level of scoring this season.” With another year of experience under their belts, the young Dragons have their sights set on
regaining the division title in 2012. “Our oldest player is 24 years old and every-
one else is a year older, wiser and more experi- enced,” said Phoenix coach Dave Marmorstein. “We’re poised to be really good for years to come.” The Dragons have also strengthened their
roster with the additions of defenseman Nick Bazso and forward Nic Spinasanta. “Both of those guys have played here at The
Castle (the Dragons’ home rink) for a long time,” said Marmorstein. “Now they’re back in the pro- gram and we’re really glad to have them.” While Dragons goaltender Eric Hernandez
sees a lot of potential in his team’s abilities, the hard-working netminder is focused on taking his own game to a new level. “Every single time I play, I try to improve,”
said Hernandez. “I want to learn from last year and be even better this season.” Team captain Danny Marmorstein is the
only remaining player from the 2008 Dragons squad that won the Professional Inline Hockey Association league championship the year before the AIHL was formed. “I want to win the title again, and think now
we have the players to do it,” he said. The Colorado Kodiaks, El Paso Black Dia-
monds and Las Vegas Aces also compete in the AIHL’s Southwest Division (there are eight in the entire league). For more information on the AIHL, visit AI-
HLHockey.com.
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