Roller skating is a popular recreational activity and sport enjoyed by millions worldwide. Among the many brands associated with skating, Bauer stands out. However, despite its popularity, Bauer's history in roller skates is intertwined with ice hockey and a brief venture into the inline skate market.
Let’s delve into the history of Bauer, exploring why people convert ice hockey skates into quad roller skates and what makes them special in the skating community.
The Origins of Bauer
Bauer's journey began in 1927 when the Bauer Skate company was founded in Ontario, Canada. Initially, the company focused solely on manufacturing and selling ice hockey skates. Bauer was the first hockey company to begin producing hockey skates in which the blade was permanently secured to the boot.
The brand rose in popularity throughout the 20th century, especially as famous Canadian hockey players began to wear Bauers on the field. Known for their comfortable inner padding and lightweight frame, Bauers became the ideal choice for experienced skaters and beginners alike.
In the 1960s and 70s, Bauer paid superstar Bobby Hull to endorse their skates. As well superstars Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent of the Flyers, Guy Lafleur of the Canadiens and Walter Tkaczuk and Brad Park of the Rangers were signed to endorsement contracts by Pro Department Manager Bill Vanderburg. Then in the early 1970s, Jim Roberts, also of the Canadiens, began wearing the TUUK blade. High-profile teammates Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt and Jacques Lemaire soon followed.
Read also: Essential Ski Equipment
In 1994, Bauer began producing the perforated TUUK chassis, which is the piece of equipment that connects the steel blade to the actual boot of the skate.
According to Roy Bauer, the inspiration for a combined shoe-skate operation came from his wife.
Nike's Acquisition and Entry into Inline Skates
PRESENTED BY NIKE SB: FIFTEEN YEARS OF SB DUNK - Stories from the Inside Out
By 1995, the various Canstar skate brands (Micron, Bauer, etc.) had a 70% NHL market share while their TUUK and ICM holders combined for a 95% share.In 1995, Canstar, the parent company of Bauer, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike. On 1 June 1995, Canstar Sports was renamed Nike Bauer Hockey Limited.
Nike chairman and co-founder Phil Knight was quoted as saying Canstar’s success in hockey was a major factor in the takeover. “Canstar’s dominance in the elite ice skate market is unsurpassed, with more than 70 percent of NHL players wearing Canstar skates,” Knight said in an article published by the Kitchener-Waterloo Record.
A couple years later, Nike jumped into the hot inline skate market with its own Nike-branded line of skates. Unfortunately, they were late to the game and did not foresee that the roller-blading boom was, in reality, a fad that had played out.
Read also: New Ski Collection: Jacquemus & Nike
Experts considered Nike's skates to be poorly designed. At least some of them lacked flexible ankle cuffs, which are a standard feature of most inline fitness skates.
When the inline market cooled a few years later (circa 2000-2002), Nike pulled out, although its unsold skates crowded supply channels for a few years.
The Sale of Bauer Hockey
Through all of this, Bauer continued to produce high quality ice and inline hockey skates. But apparently, it wasn't making enough money for Nike, which decided to sell it following a strategic review of the company's subsidiaries.
On February 21, 2008, Nike sold Bauer Hockey to a Florida businessman and Kohlberg & Co. for $200 million, and the company was once again known as Bauer. On 18 April 2008, Nike Bauer Hockey Limited was renamed the Bauer Hockey Corp.
In late 2010, the owners of the Bauer Hockey Corp. formed a parent company called Bauer Performance Sports, incorporated in British Columbia. In June 2014, Bauer Performance Sports Limited changed its name to the Performance Sports Group Limited. In October 2016, Performance Sports Group filed for bankruptcy.
Read also: Your Guide to Nike Ski Equipment
Then, on 7 February 2017, the old Bauer Hockey Corp. was wound down and the company's operations were incorporated newly in Delaware as Bauer Hockey LLC. On August 3, 2021, Bauer acquired ProSharp AB, a skate sharpening company based in Sweden.
Bauer Today
With the exception of a brief line of quad roller skates called the Bauer Turbo 33, the entire current Bauer line of products only includes ice hockey skates like the professional-grade Bauer Vapor series, inline skates, along with gear, accessories, and apparel.
Although Bauer still does not manufacture a line of quad roller skates, skaters have found a way to convert their ice hockey states into quads. The process involves using a riveter machine to push out the screws of the skate, where plates are then fitted and drilled to the bottom of the boot.
Whether you’re interested in theBauer XLS or the more comfortable BauerXLP with extra padding, Bauer is a great option for starters as well as seasoned skaters looking for a pair of quad roller skates that will last for years to come. Slap on a set of Ventro Pro Turbo orAir Waves wheels, a goodset of bearings, and a pair ofcolourful laces and you’re all set to go!
Bauer Hockey LLC is a North American manufacturer of ice hockey equipment, fitness and recreational skates and apparel. Bauer produces helmets, gloves, sticks, skates, shin guards, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey jocks and compression underwear, as well as goalie equipment. In 2014, Bauer expanded into baseball and softball by purchasing Easton Diamond from Riddell (BRG Sports).
Key Milestones in Bauer's History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Bauer Skate company founded in Ontario, Canada |
| 1934 | Bauer formed a new company, the Canada Skate Manufacturing Company Limited, to produce ice skates. |
| 1995 | Canstar, the parent company of Bauer, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike. |
| 2008 | Nike sold Bauer Hockey to a Florida businessman and Kohlberg & Co. for $200 million. |
| 2014 | Bauer expanded into baseball and softball by purchasing Easton Diamond from Riddell (BRG Sports). |
| 2021 | Bauer acquired ProSharp AB, a skate sharpening company based in Sweden. |