Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Anyone notice Tony Hawk has been wearing lakai again lately?
He's been wearing Lakai since he left Vans. I haven't seen him in any promotional material, and it doesn't seem like they're giving him a shoe, so I imagine he's just getting flowed via his son and his old friends.
from just a sponsorship perspective, surprised that lakai didn’t do more with him, surprised that vans didn’t as well. he’s visible. i don’t feel like flaco is pushing weight. but what do i know. lakai is weird as hell. i’m a fan of griffin and simon, the rest, and the shoes tho. sheesh.
I have to imagine that Tony Hawk's value selling a product like a skateboard shoe is actually pretty minimal at this point.
I both agree and disagree with this.
On one hand, he's a legend and people LOVE Tony Hawk so the novelty factor of it being "Tony Hawk" associated gear, there are plenty of people who will buy it because they're fans of him/what he rocks because he rocks it. I skated his Proto Lakai model and bought 3 colors. Skated 1 and hooked a homie up with the other 2. Pretty good shoe. I was interested because of Tony first and because I liked Lakai shoes (at the time).
On the other hand, he's not like Ishod, GT, Griffin Gass, etc. who are all in their "prime" so their skating = gear must be good if they're THAT good. "If I can float frontside airs or get tech because Ishod or Griffin's shoes, I'll get them" vibes.
Idk, I believe he has good selling power due to his visibility, his charismatic personality, honesty, and charitable efforts (Tony Hawk Foundation, giving completes away, etc.) to warrant pro collaborations with another brand he likes.
Must be dope to be a free agent and wear/skate your son's pro shoes though.
I guess my point is that, if there were big demand for a legitimate Hawk skate shoe, such a thing would already exist. It’s entirely possible that it’s no longer worth his time to put energy into promoting a shoe when he gets a five-digit appearance fee for showing up to your corporate retreat in Aspen for a weekend. It’s not as if Tony is shy about sticking his name onto things. Maybe Lakai does a limited rerelease of his Proto or something.
so i was one of the very few that thought the first proto colorway looked fucking sick. like a jordan.
lakai has some cool designs, they just insist on making their shit out of play-doh. the concept to the execution, disconnect in there.
it must not be financially feasible for them to
make a shoe, really good. im impressed that they can just continue to make the mediocre stuff. wouldn’t at some point, as an employee/owner, you just want to make it rad?
nb has their issues, and the 1010 isn’t perfect, but the level care feels otherworldly in comparison to any lakai i’ve held in my hand.
and simon and griffin are too sick.
anyways, loved the first proto cw, missed it, bought a white pair, and the shape was all fucked and super super pointy, and the sole was the cheaper version of what they could have done, and the shoe was still expensive. skated ok. no reason why i’d skate it over a dunk tho.
also, the flare could be tiny and that would really help. a lot.
tony is a weird one i guess i’m not trying to buy his kit either