CanAm Dutchy - Prototype #1 Released...

Hey Micro!

I am not going to be there, since in about 3 weeks I am moving back to NZ. Simon will be going though, so it should be possible to get the puck there for some testing - good idea. I would love to play, but we are flying out a few weeks before the champs... it would have been good to see you all one last time before leaving....

Sven, how long do you think you want the puck to test it out the way you want to? The French champs are the first weekend of June, and actually the Open Dutch Championships that Arnout posted about (Dutch Open Championship ) are the weekend after. Simon will be playing in both and could then let the most people have a go - lots of Frenchies, the Belgians and some South Africans could all have a go.
If you want the puck for more than two weeks, then maybe I should give it to Simon first, and he can get it to you after those tournaments?

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Faster than a speeding puck...

See your PM.

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When you are good, then you are not bad..

Hi Guys,

just a small message of notice:
the South-African squad is coming to Holland June 4th. They will play in Holland, Belgium and France. Also a squad with a lot of big, strong, fast guys who might like to have a go with this puck (if Steve agrees of course).
Just to let you know...
Further more: first Dutch selection open elite will be held May 10th. So Jols is still in the country then (don't know if he's attending?). Maybe we can try and crush is there in between all the big boys.
Hope to see it at training soon.

Simon

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Just moving fins, flying pucks and making goals...

It would be great to see the puck get to this deal....

Steve

Hi Steve,

I talked to Simon in the weekend, and although I will not be able to make it to the Open Dutch Training on the 10th I will make sure that Simon has the puck to take then. Anyone in the Netherlands who wishes to try it - get to Dordrecht on the 10th, the training is a bonus!
Simon will also introduce the puck to the South Africans, and take it to France etc..

Below a photo of the damage that my son managed to do to the puck, first photo - look at the white plate closest to the camera, and after I spent some time with a very sharp knife making the surface smooth again, other photo. It feels fine... and looks good now.

Attached Images

	ds_New photos 20090506 015.jpg (22.1 KB, 18 views)
	ds_New photos 20090506 016.jpg (32.0 KB, 16 views)

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Faster than a speeding puck...

Did you get a chance to test the puck?

Yes, we did. It is still very very smooth. So for an honest opinion you'll have to wait another few days so we can test it with our National Side (who probably won't be as gentle with it as we did at the club training).
For this moment: feels good, really smooth on the tiles. So smooth it sometimes goes faster then your stick :S So we have to practise our skills a little bit
After Sunday I'll try to get some opinions from more Dutch players.

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Just moving fins, flying pucks and making goals...

For some interest:

Did you ever played with a CanAm Universal Puck?
So we can put this opinian in perspective to another puck off CanAm.

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When you are good, then you are not bad..

Not that I know. But I've played with far too many pucks to remember all of them. But that does sounds like a good idea.

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Just moving fins, flying pucks and making goals...

Hi Steve,

Yes, was planning to post today, after having some other people play with it at the club last night.

It seems pretty well balanced, and flicks well, especially when you wind up to really give it a good go. When it lands it pretty much just stops though, I would prefer it if it bounced and shot through a little bit, but I am not sure what would need to be done to accomplish this - maybe harder rubber/plastic on the outside... although that may negatively impact other characteristics.

By far the most impressive thing for me is how fast it is.... that plastic disc is super slippery, and that is frankly wonderful to play with. Time will tell whether it roughs up and becomes slower, but in the game last night it was fantastic - a tap sideways and it travelled 30-40 cm. I first noticed that before I was in the water - the drain on the side of the pool in Breda is very gently sloping, and when I went to get in I put the puck on the drain - and it slowly slid down the drain towards the water.

In general while doing skills moving the puck quickly from left to right about shoulder level, moving it quickly around the stick and in the game tackling and quickly changing direction, it was very good. A few times it seemed a little harder to control than I would like, but certainly no worse that other pucks that are out there. In about 1.5 hours of game I only saw it jump over a stick once when a player was swimming at speed with it.

Before I give a final verdict I want to play with it a few more times, but the first impressions are very good. The general consensus at my club was that the puck plays well, and in fact there were a number of poeple who asked me what it costs, and how they can order some. There might be some orders coming your way...

For Sven:
I was testing it in Breda, in the Argonauta pool. Tiles are reasonable there, better than average but could be faster, large tiles but the grout is maybe a little too wide and the tiles could be a little faster.
I used one of Bensons plastic fantastic sticks last night.
It was a Wednesday, 9 p.m. temperature was 22 degrees and there was a gentle breeze.
For lunch that day I had pasta.
Any other variables that you would like me to cover?

Simon has the puck at the moment, and he will take it to the Dutch selection training in the weekend.

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Faster than a speeding puck...