New skate sharpening business opens in area
Posted Sep 30, 2010 By Ryland Coyne
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EMC Business - He's built a reputation among friends and family for providing excellent workmanship. Now, Dave Fontyn aims to bring his skate sharpening skills to the entire community through his new business Sport Plus.
Ryland Coyne, Smiths Falls EMC
Dave Fontyn, owner of Sport Plus, checks the hollow edge of this skate blade to make sure the work is just right. The local man has opened his own business just in time for the upcoming hockey
To be run out of his home at 323 Poonamalie Side Road, about a kilometer out of Smiths Falls off County Road 43 in Drummond/North Elmsley, the life-long Smiths Falls-area resident says he decided to take the plunge after getting encouraging feedback.
"I've felt that there is a greater need to provide this service to the general public," he said. "I plan on starting out offering my knowledge of skate sharpening then, eventually, providing the Town of Smiths Falls with a complete stock of hockey equipment and sporting needs."
The father of two teenage sons, both of whom play minor hockey in town, says he bought a skate sharpening machine to cater to his own family's needs. With a rink in the back yard, he says the blades on his and his boys' skates would dull so quickly and he wanted to be able to restore the edges on the spot.
Having invested in the equipment and taken the time to learn the correct sharpening techniques, he says he can cater to a skater's personal requirements.
"People are very satisfied with the job I do with them (skates)," Fontyn said. "I want to broaden my reach and find new customers in the community."
As he embarks on his new venture, he says he now has two skate sharpening machines, a Fleming Grey Swing Arm and a three-wheel Blademaster machine.
"A contouring machine will be added soon," he said.
Anyone interested in Fontyn's services can call 613-283-3184 or 613-485-4343.
"This business will start out at my residence and, as it grows, I plan on moving it to a location in Smiths Falls," he said. "There is a definite need for it."
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