wish I could say it was :
![](http://skately.com/img/library/shoes/large/es-shoes-accel-plus-black-white-red.jpg)
but in reality those came first :
![](http://www.abyssinia-merkato.fr/images/category_11/Homme%2077073%20Hot%20Sale%20Nouveau%202017%20Mode%20Etnies%20Mike%20Vallely%202%20MV2%20White%20navy%20Size%209%20US_2.jpg)
because that was the only pair I could afford as a kid with my birthday money at the time. I had been skating in nothing but mall Vans or cheap tennis shoes for 5 or 6 years at the time, for my first 'real' shoe I really wanted the Accel +'s but they ended up being too expensive. the shop couldn't sell those Etnies full price because one of them had a yellow spot from staying in the sun (back when shops would proudly exhibit shoes like this behind the window), they were the only ones I could get and I remember hesitating before reluctantly taking them, I was actually pretty grossed out by how bulky they were and the fucking thunderbolts. it took me a month just to break them in, then they lasted me for over six painful months, until I could finally afford the Accels.