With the big chill amongst us right now the good folk at Polar Skateboards have released their winter wear this week to UK stores with a new collection of warm togs to assist your sessions.
Check out the new winter jacket, socks, beanies, chino’s, sweater and gloves as a taster before discovering more of their Fall 2015 apparel range at your local skate shop or the Polar site.
Congrats to Tom Knox who went pro for Isle Skateboards this weekend at the Vase premiere. It’s well deserved and great to see another British skater with his name etched onto a deck. From left to right, the Isle Curiosities deck is 8.5″, Paint Pigment is 8.25″, Totem graphic is 8.375″ and Tom’s new Push Pull deck comes in at 8.125″.
These four new pro models are about to hit your local skate shop so let them know you want one in advance. Vase will be available once it premiere’s worldwide and by all accounts from this weekend’s London screening will be worth the wait.
HUF‘s new range of Classic Lo’s are out this month, one of them coming as a Thrasher collab shoe in black alongside an unbranded brown/black number that looks solid. In shops now.
Had a taste of shoe heaven yet this year? If not, you’re about to find some. The history of the original Sal 23 started as the very first éS shoe when they launched back in 1995 – at the time it was a bona fide classic, the first pro skate shoe for Sal Barbier that spread like wildfire throughout the scene that was not only admired for its fashion statement, the functionality of the shoe was 100% built for skateboarding by skateboarders.
This period was golden. Skateboarding was raw, the real underground. None of Michael Jordan’s people were anywhere near our scene at the time, although said sports pro did share the same basketball number with Sal – the 23, a number that most 90s skaters will never forget due to this shoe. This new re-issue sees his infamous number switched to 20, paying homage to éS celebrating a sterling 20 strong years in the skater owned shoe game. Only a hardcore few will want their 23 back, but the double decade will do nicely.
Rightful big ups to éS for their achievements aside, let’s go back to functionality, because it’s rare these days for any skate shoe company to issue a shoe that has an ollie patch. Most companies want you to skate every day so that your Mum has to buy you a new pair and replace them fast – it’s a sucker marketing strategy, sneaky too. Barbier and the dudes at Sole Tech wanted a shoe that lasted. It’s a beautiful touch and one that you will appreciate when you slip these on and start pushing.
“I wanted a rubber piece on the side so it wouldn’t rip up. I kind of liked that, because I don’t always like wearing ’em when they’re brand new.” explains Sal in a previous interview. “By the time most skate shoes break in, you have to get a new pair because they’re all ripped up. I worked on the design of the whole shoe, the sole, the logo, everything, around 1994-95.”
We had a delivery of the Sal 20 here recently and have spent 3 weeks in them now. The first obvious observation is that they are now made thinner than the OGs (thankfully), but back then everything in skateboarding was wide – apart from wheels. They are comfy too. None of this waiting for the shoe to be ready for a sesh, these are lit straight out of the box. I personally like to stick the laces behind the tongue allowing the logo to represent, like a number plate. Surrounded by smooth suede with perforation holes in front of the first lace, these are super simple, but perfectly efficient for street or mini ramp skating.
All you need to know is that these are 100% skateboarding. éS have brought a classic back from their wonderful archives and re-issued them in style. You need a pair in your life. Support skater owned brands so the next wave of hard working skaters can get what they deserve.
It’s worth noting that these come up a little small, so I opted for a half size up and they were perfect. Find them in your local skate shop this month in three colourways.
These will be gone faster than jab in the face from Rocky himself. Everybody Skates, AKA Alphonzo Rawls has prepped a new tee for his ongoing collection that you can pick up online from here for $35. (£22)
If you are thinking about picking up a new set of wheels for your rig this month look no further than this Spitfire X Skateistan collab, as the cause is more important than ever. Skateistan’s battle to get people rolling in Afghanistan in between mindless wars caused by greedy governments trying to take control of their country has been ongoing for decades. Their people deserve more, the children deserve everything and we can all do our bit to take their minds off the bombardments and enjoy a fun filled life, on a deck.
Pick up a set in Skateistan’s online shop this month. 100% of proceeds going towards Skateistan’s sport and education programs for youth. These 53mm wheels, designed by Lance Mountain, are also available in stores worldwide and come as Spitfire Formula Four 99 duro wheels with flatspot resistance. Ride the fire, help those in need.
If you visit us regularly you will remember that last year when the canvas version of these Lakai MJ’s hit our feet there were some serious high fives going down. Not only has this simple, slim, comfy design moved forward, it’s become a skater’s shoe of choice worldwide.
This month Lakai have released an ‘all weather’ range for the winter months ahead and thankfully these arrived freshly boxed the day before a trip to Portugal’s stormy beaches. The good news is that they came back looking like they did when we left with them on, despite walking around on wet sand whilst we took photos of really bad surfing on 3 foot waves and avoiding puddles all over Lisbon trying to find skate spots. It tanked it down.
The oiled mahogany thing aside though, Lakai have produced a classic, timeless skate shoe that is not pretending to be some lame sports shoe copy, they’ve kept their class and delivered what we need; the shoes we skate.
Ask for them in your local skate shop, the one that really knows their shit – you’ll probably find Lakai’s full all weather range there that should assist you through the coming winter months.
Blast Skates have rolled out a new 8.75′ Chronological Series rig this week with guest artist and children’s book creator, Genichiro Yagyu, who is onboard to remind you not to pick your scabs. This solid maple Pennswood MFG built tank comes 8.75′ wide, 32′ in length with free Mob Grip tape when you order one for £50 from here.
Support your local independent skate companies.
Monster Children have rolled out a dope package of goodies curated by Stereo’s Jason Lee this month. This limited edition boxset for $49 comes with:
Limited Edition Beck/Grandaddy 7” Vinyl
Photographers Notebook
Jason Lee Photo Print (1 of 4 images)
Bell & Oak Leather Embossed Keyring
Brixton Hat
Mark Gonzales Art Print
MC x Stereo Sticker
Chris Pastras Art Print
Monster Children Issue #48
Pick it up here.
Jon Horner’s latest splendid work can be found on a new Cliché Skateboards Street deck series. Look out for pro decks ariving at your local skate shop from Andrew Brophy, Lem Villemin, Sammy Winter, Javier Mendizabal, Lucas Puig and Joey Brezinski.