Republic.
I checked out the Nike video yesterday since it was slow at work due to snow. I think you've got today left to see it for free at Thrasher's website. I would say it is worth a watch, but not a buy. The filming is fairly straight forward without much in the way of fancy gimmicks beyond some Neckface illustrations so the video doesn't induce headaches or boredom. It is nearly all street skating. Donovon Piscopo did boardslides for miles and knocked the wall down. I like Daryl Angel's style and trick selection. Justin Brock is a freakin' beast. I'm a little surprised Nike gave it a go with Minor Threat again. Ishod Wair can do a lot of tricks and it doesn't look boring when he does it. His trucks turn, too.
This is one of those things that gives me conflicted feelings about Nike. The company does put in the effort by supporting pros that aren't just big names and making a quality video, but at the same time it is still the same old Nike that is full of itself. I don't think there is a resolution to any of this and I don't blame anybody for riding or wanting to ride for them. Meh.
Thrasher - March 1989 Volume 9 Number 3
4 comments:
I agree with your post about the nike video. I enjoyed it also, but I wouldn't buy it.
Agreed.
I'd like to see one of you skate historians (I use that term sincerely) do a post on the history of Nike in skateboarding, the divided opinions over it, etc.
That's an idea. I've put at least one of their ads from the late 1990s on here somewhere. I didn't realize until recently how much Nike was worn by skaters in the 1980s.
I remember being in 4th and 5th grade (1986-88) and having friends who wore Nikes which were canvas (as opposed to leather) high tops with very simple material layout-- think of the original suede VSW shoes complete with little rubber ollie pad-- in obnoxious/awesome late 80s colorways. They were screenprinted with the silhouette of a skater doing a street plant and the brand name. I never saw any pros touch these shoes, but it's my first memory of Nike marketing to a skate demographic. Nike has been thirsty for a cut of the action for a while now.
While I hate the fact that big ol corporate Nike is in our culture, I more so hate the current trend of flat shoes that sacrifice support for boardfeel and lightness. I have always had messed up feet (totally flat) and was glad for the late 90s tech shoes which for a while kept me from knee and back issues after a summer of skating in Airwalk Ones and VSW before that.
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