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Preview: Converse

Clemens Dyckmans — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:33:44 +0000

This spring Converse approached us and asked if we’d like to review some of their upcoming product. Since it has been a while after the CTS and Pappalardo reviews, there’s a new project with Cons on the horizon. For now it’s just a small teaser, keep your eyes open for more really soon.

Lakai Linden review

Clemens Dyckmans — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:45:20 +0000

The review about Lakai’s newest best seller, the Linden, is now viewable online. As originally published in the February 2012 issue of Transworld Skateboading.

Picture: Lakai.com

Etnies Bledsoe Low review

Clemens Dyckmans — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:00:48 +0000

There has never been a review of a SoleTech brand on Weartested before. It never worked out for some reason, although attempts have been made several times. Now it finally happened with the Etnies Bledsoe low. Thanks again for the samples Etnies.

PDF file: Etnies Bledsoe low review

Etnies Bledsoe Low teaser

Clemens Dyckmans — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:07:05 +0000

Originally intended for a different project, the review of the Etnies Bledsoe Low – which came out just a few weeks ago – will be online soon. Here is a small teaser clip to get you hyped.

Etnies Bledsoe low

Video by Marton Burlin Lindkvist

SAVE THE SKATEBOARD MUSEUM Stuttgart!

Clemens Dyckmans — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:57:42 +0000

Today we are contacting you about a very important initiative to secure the future of one of the world’s most unique collections of pieces of skateboard history: the SKATEBOARD MUSEUM Stuttgart.

Until December 2011, the lease for the museum’s location in the basement of the Filmhaus Stuttgart had been footed by the City of Stuttgart. But when the building came under new management in January 2012, the SKATEBOARD MUSEUM needed to negotiate new terms for our lease. And while we were able to work out an adequate solution, the new conditions are still rather challenging financially for the museum and the initiative running it.

In short: The City of Stuttgart will work out their new financing for cultural projects and the arts in 2013. Until then, the SKATEBOARD MUSEUM is on its own. It is up to us to raise an annual 12,000 EUR for rent, as well as overhead costs such as electricity in order to secure the museum’s survival.

The skateboard initiative behind the museum has been able to raise 1,000 EUR so far from membership fees and donations. The City of Stuttgart has also announced some support for the museum. However, this leaves a couple thousand Euros, which we need to raise via donations – not to mention the entire sum of costs for the year 2013.

The SKATEBOARD MUSEUM has been open for eight years now, and of course we will mobilize all our contacts to raise the required sum.

Under these conditions, every donation – no matter how large or small - will make a difference when it comes to securing the future of this amazing collection of skateboard history and culture. Otherwise, we would have to close the SKATEBOARD MUSEUM Stuttgart!

We are committed to provide full visibility of the total amount of donations, which we will update regularly on our museum website, as well as the SOS SKATEBOARD MUSEUM Stuttgart Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Skateboard-Museum-Stuttgart/344563378917326

Dontations via PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=museum%40fauxami%2ede&lc=DE&item_name=SKATEBOARD%20MUSEUM%20Stuttgart%20e%2eV%2e&item_number=STS%20SPENDE&no_note=0&cn=Mitteilung%20an%20den%20H%c3%a4ndler&no_shipping=2¤cy_code=EUR&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donate_SM%2egif%3aNonHosted

Donations via bank transfer from countries in the Euro Zone:
SAVE THE SKATEBOARDMUSEUM ( STS ) – DONATIONS ACCOUNT:
Reason for Payment – “DONATION STS”
Skateboardmuseum Stuttgart e.V
Volksbank Boeblingen
Account Nr. 380023008
BLZ 603 900 00
BIC / SWIFT: GENODES1BBV
IBAN: DE38603900000380023008

Thank you very much for your support!
Yours,
SKATEBOARD MUSEUM Stuttgart e.V.
Jürgen Blümlein (Treasurer) and Daniel Schmid (Chairman)

picture: Smileskateboarding.com

a preview of 2012

Clemens Dyckmans — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:35:49 +0000

As the followers of our facebook page already know, we went to the biggest European skateboard trade show, the Bright, last week. Needless to say that it was very interesting. Thanks again to all the guys of the different brands. Bellow you find a small selection of products that will release in 2012 and that we considered postworthy.

VANS Stage 4:

One of the oldest -if not the oldest- skate shoe brands out there surprised after years of sticking to the classics with a technical but still subtle model. The Stage 4 features the new “wafflecup” sole, an almost one-piece upper and new sunken eyelets.

Converse KA1 vulcanised:

Cons has an equal approach as Vans: stick to the classics and keep it low-tech. Again, this brand tries something new in 2012 with a new vulcanised sole unit. Same pattern, different rubber mixture for more grip and a bright, baby-blue color. One of the first models to adopt it is the KA1 vulc, as seen in the picture (please excuse the bad quality…). Furthermore, the KA1, Kenny Andersons original model, has been redone and features an improved cupsole in fall 2012.

adidas Lucas Puig:

adidas skateboarding presented itself stronger than ever: bigger booth, classic as well as innovative models, nice colorways and always the best craftmanship. The highly anticipated Lukas Puig promodel didn’t dissapoint in person. I don’t want to reveal too many of the technical features right now, but it is light and thin, but still offers support…and the never-seen-before toebox design looks great and unique.

Lakai Marc:

Lakai didn’t disappoint either. It is one of the last true “core” skate shoe companies which has been brave enough to believe in cupsoles since years. Their unique and time-proven XLK sole unit spreads trough the whole collection now. The team loves it, so the models have it, it’s that simple. Many styles are offered in two options now, vulcanised or XLK-cupsole. Newest member of the XLK-family is the Pico. Pictured above is one of the few remaining, but still exciting vulc models, the “Marc”, which has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

Nike Blazer:

Picture: www.dunkbar.de

Nike will fuse the Nike SB and 6.0 programs into one in 2012. The first hints were already visible at Bright. Nevertheless, they overall impression of their booth was: they will continue to make very good skate shoes. Lunarlon, which has been introduced with the Koston 1, will spread into more and more models and the Blazer, one of the classics, got redone, too. It features now a toe stiching resembling the original Blazer design with the toe bumper, the vulc sole seems slightly thinner and ,one of the best features, the collar features now a very soft and stretchable, achilles tendon-friendly, heel panel, as seen in grey in the pictures (to the left).

Habitat Austyn Gilette:

Since no pictures leaked so far of this new model and since it is not an “everyday”-design, we will stick with a brief description of it for now. It features a sole unit similar to the Garcia and is overall boat-shoe inspired. At the same time it doesn’t look like a Janoski or another Vans Chukka low at all…a very unique design. It has 3 lace holes and the lacing is pushed far towards the heel, rounded up with a sidepannel design that reminds of the OG Emerica Johnson.

All in all skate shoe design is more brave again in 2012 compared to the last few years. Companies try again to be different, innovative and exciting, which we appreciate a lot.

Nike SB Salazar LR checkout

Clemens Dyckmans — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:30:11 +0000

With the recent update of the original Omar Salazar pro model, we decided to update the existing review as well. The main idea was to highlight the differences and the improvements in this checkout; it`s not a full size review. Thanks to the Nike SB Europe guys Bjorn and Agra for the test samples. Check also our facebook page for regular updates.

PDF file: Nike SB Salazar LR

What’s next: Nike SB Salazar LR checkout

Clemens Dyckmans — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:58:23 +0000

Next week we’ll publish a check out of the new Salazar LR, an update to the existing review so to speak. Also, check out our facebook page for more information and making-of pictures.

Lakai Linden review, February TWS

Clemens Dyckmans — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:03 +0000

Go to your local skate shop and pick up a copy of the Februay issue of Transworld Skateboarding. It features the Lakai Linden review on page 44. We hope you like the new “10 hours of skating” format and the rating system Feel free to comment here or on our facebook-page and share your thoughts.

Preview: Lakai Linden

Clemens Dyckmans — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:38:37 +0000

A new model for 2012, the Lakai “Linden”. The full review will be published at the beginning of the new year.