Nike SB: Elissa Steamer’s Gnarhunters Blazer Mid Shoes

Set for release on June 29th, the Nike SB x Gnarhunters Blazer Mid Shoes follow the notable feature length all-female team documentary from Nike SB entitled ‘Gizmo’ which pays homage to legendary skateboarder Elissa Steamer, alongside an all-female selection of international skaters such as Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Hayley Wilson and Sarah Meurle. Designed by Steamer herself and no doubt inspired by the rich, vibrant community of creatives residing within her current city of San Francisco, this collaborative model is customised with patterned suede swoosh ticks and rough, stylised ‘Nike’ text on the back of either heel, set against white suede. The monochrome colour palette results in a low-key finish whilst premium suede and leather provides durability across a supportive mid-top silhouette. A bright white tacky rubber outsole offers flexibility and traction and the triangular Gnarhunters' logo has been sprayed onto the gum rubber tread for subtle, DIY-style branding.

“The Blazer is what I ride in. I’ve always liked how thin the upper is and how flexible the sole is. The toe is in the right place — there’s nothing hitting my pinky toe weird. It’s also rad to me that the shoe is being offered in unisex sizing.” - Elissa Steamer

First introduced as a collaboration project with the SF Skate Store, Elissa Steamer’s Gnarhunters was founded in 2011 and later became its own brand. Boasting a team that includes the likes of Andrew Reynolds, Max Schaaf, Arto Saari, Sara Taylor, Nat Russell, Rick Howard and Vanessa Torres, a considered range of skate and surf inspired accessories are on offer, alongside collaborative capsule collections that reflect those surrounding Steamer and her influence within the local San Francisco scene. Marketed with a strong sense of humour - check out the mockumentary series behind the Thomas Campbell collab featuring Elissa, Campbell, Nathaniel Russel and Chico Brenes in thirty years time - Gnarhunters follows the tagline of “Skateboarding came from surfing. Gnarhunters comes from skateboarding.” which is perfectly captured through a relaxed, rough-around-the-edges design style. Making her debut in ‘Toy Machine: Welcome To Hell’ in 1996, Elissa unknowingly changed the face of the industry throughout the ‘90s and early ‘00s after winning four gold medals at the X Games, being the first female playable character in the Tony Hawk series and was named Female Skater of The Year by Check It Out Girls Magazine in 2003.With the Tokyo Olympics only a year away and a variety of athletes being highlighted within recent campaigns such as the Nike ‘Dream With Us’ ad, 2019 marks a particularly prominent time for both skateboarding and pivotal figures within the industry. Remaining one of the most influential skaters of them all, Elissa Steamer was the leading influence for Nike SB’s feature length film ‘Gizmo’, titled after a nickname given by her father. The film pays homage to Steamer both as the first woman in history to attain professional status and as a current figure head for many. As a celebration of what’s to come, a host of notable pioneers within the current scene such as Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Hayley Wilson, Sarah Meurle, Josie Millard, Nicole Hause, Aori Nishimura and Rayssa Leal can be seen riding through cities in North America, China, Western Europe and Australia. Captured by L.A based filmmaker Jason Hernandez, whose upbringing of skateboarding has led him to working with the likes of Nike and Transworld, an authentic connection with the team and brand, not to mention immersive videography is apparent throughout and captures the energy that has been bubbling under the surface in recent years and is now coming to light.

 

 

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