Whether you’re practicing your first Ollie or are already a Ripper, your most important piece of equipment, aside from your board, are your shoes. The Adidas Superstar Skate range is designed and produced specifically for the ultimate skateboarding excitement and safety. Aside from the traditional rubber shell toe cap, the superstar skate is wider, with a thicker sole and shock-absorbing gel in the heel. Additionally, the upper is constructed from either tough leather or abrasion-resistant suede, reinforced by triple stitched side panels and lace protectors. In other words, the Adidas Superstar Skate shoe is the perfect footwear for any level of skater, built for skating comfort and maximum security and balance. Skaters of all levels were consulted by Adidas designers to insure that all desired components were built into this superb sport shoe.

The latest in the family of Superstars, the Skate Range joins the other Superstars in the iconic line that started in 1969 as the first low-top basketball shoe to hit the boards. The distinctive protective shelltoe, together with the all-leather upper and non-marking sole, quickly made it a favourite among the biggest names in both the NCAA and the NBA, one of the biggest being Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Before long, the shoes were adopted by three-quarters of all pro B-ball players and went from the court to the streets in the speed of a slam-dunk.

The movement from sports wear to fashion statement was reinforced by the rap group Run-D.M.C. who started to wear them onstage in lieu of performance outfits, removing the laces and allowing the tongues to protrude, in emulation of prisoners, an early exposition of ‘gangsta rap’. The shoes became so enmeshed with the trio, they wrote a song called “My Adidas” which led first to a groundbreaking million dollar endorsement deal and subsequently to an entire Run-D.M.C./Adidas clothing line.

Distinctive styling, colour and pattern choices and comfortable construction have made Superstars a large part of today’s fashion culture as they’re seen on stages, sports arenas and streets across the nation. Now, as the skateboard industry explodes, Adidas Superstar Skate Range has become part of the phenomenon. Any skater who doesn’t own at least one pair is missing his potential to become a first-class Ripper; the best board in the world can’t improve your technique the way these shoes can.