The Nike Skateboarding History Is Rich with Hot Goss!

Today, we’re gonna dive deep into the history of one of the hottest divisions at Nike. You know, the brand is famous for giving the best performance and lifestyle kicks, as well as classics. But this division is in another league. From breaking the barriers of the mainstream definition of athletes to giving us the hottest releases, Nike SB has done shit that no other brand did. So today, we’re gonna take a dive into the Nike Skateboarding history and find out what it added to the sneaker industry! Y’all, that shit is interesting, so you’ll really wanna strap in for that ride.

Nike Skateboarding History – Breaking the Rules in Style!

The Nike Skateboarding history is split into several eras, each with its own story. Don’t worry, though, we’re gonna tell you the whole tale because you can’t be a sneakerhead and not know that shit.

The 90s Era – Never a Failure, Always a Lesson

Fun fact: Did you know that skateboarding was invented in the late 1940s by surfers who wanted to “surf on land”?

Okay, let’s talk skateboarding history quickly before we talk about Nike’s attempt. Although the sport was invented in the 40s, it didn’t catch on properly until the 70s. In the 80s, the underground skate culture started taking shape. That culture was spearheaded by icons like Tony Hawk, Mark Gonzales, and more. But it was in the 90s that the sport started going to the surface and becoming relatively mainstream.

Now, with the 90s boom in popularity, people started paying attention to skaters and their lifestyle, as well as brands. And unironically, Nike was an organic success among skaters who wore Dunks and Air Jordan 1s to skateboard in! That was because the kicks were sturdy, cool-looking, and their flat rubber soles were exactly what skaters needed.

After noticing this, Nike attempted to get in on it officially by launching skateboarding-specific silhouettes in 1997. The Nike Schimp, Air Choad, Air Snak, and Air Lien are examples of that attempt. In addition to that, we got the “What If” ad campaign in 1998 that attempted to cement skaters as athletes who are equal to those in other sports.

Unfortunately, these attempts failed because skaters were very cynical of a big brand trying to infiltrate the culture. You see, they still considered Nike an outsider to the game despite liking some of the brand’s kicks.

The 2000s – The SB in Nike SB Stands for Sandy Bodecker

Although the 90s were relatively a flop with Nike, that was all about to change thanks to Sandy Bodecker. So, Bodecker started out at Nike in the 1980s as a shoe tester. But his thorough reports and insights caught the attention of the higher-ups, and that was his start up the Nike ladder. Eventually, his success and his understanding of the skateboarding culture led to the brand putting him in charge of the second attempt to get into the market.

And that, ladies and gents, is how the Nike SB division was born.

This was naturally a pivotal moment in the Nike Skateboarding history. You see, the division focused on actually listening to what the skateboarding community had to say. Under Sandy Bodecker’s leadership, the Nike SB division went all out! From collaborating with skaters who designed their own kicks to iconic collabs with skate shops like Supreme and more, the division hit its golden era. And well, Nike succeeded in reaching the community.

Modern Day Nike Skateboarding History Impact – Never Gone, Never Forgotten

After cementing its legacy in the skateboarding culture, Nike SB became synonymous with hot releases. And even today, although it’s not shining as bright, we still get some pretty dope collabs that remind us of the legacy. Of course, the division is still relatable and constantly working on more collab. Some of the latest modern-day collabs include the new blood of the culture like Rayssa Leal, Yuto Horigomi, Sky Brown, and more. And naturally, veterans are still there like Paul Rodriguez, Stefan Janoski, among others!

So, when we say that the Nike Skateboarding history is rich, we mean it. After all, every sneakerhead now has at least a pair of Nike SBs, whether they actually skate or not!