Sneaker Christmas Tales from 10 Sneakerheads

Written by Kevin Smith (@officialkls)

The Christmas holiday season is about feelings of family, charity, joy, and cheer. But for the sneakerhead community, the holidays means all those things and then some.

In the stories that follow, we got in touch with some respected sneakerheads in the game and asked them to share their most memorable Christmas stories. Some are from the past and some more recent, but ultimately all of the stories are interesting and are sure to incite a favorite sneaker memory in us all. Here are Sneaker Christmas Tales from 10 Sneakerheads.

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Affiliation: Jason Markk
Twitter: @Jason_Markk

"A couple years ago, the Air Jordan "Bred" IVs released on Black Friday. The night before on Thanksgiving I was telling my girlfriend at the time (now my fiancé) that it was a must cop for me and that I was gonna give it a shot early the next morning. Of course, I overslept. Without me knowing, she had waken up, and not only copped my size 9, but got herself a 4Y. The best part is that she held off telling me until Christmas Eve."

Affiliation: DJ Neil Armstrong, adidas
Twitter: @DJNeilArmstrong

"Right before the holidays in 2009, I got to film my first big campaign with adidas while I was still out on tour with Jay Z. The ad was for the upcoming Star Wars x adidas release. Part of it we filmed on blue screen. Later, the blue screen was filled with this this mock party on a roof of with a bunch of kids and Mr. Hudson. Fast forward to March 2010 and the sneakers get released. I get put into the cantina scene on Mos Eisley (the Star Wars world) as one of the band members playing music. Me and some aliens, Daft Punk, and Han Solo were all in the ad, all at this sick rooftop party. To make it even better, for the Star Wars version of the ad, adidas had the Death Star blow up behind me while Snoop Dogg was crip walking. This was the craziest thing for me because it brought all my loves together at the same time: Hip hop, Star Wars, sneakers."

Affiliation: NBA TV, Bleacher Report
Twitter: @LanceFresh

"In elementary school, when the Jordan XI's first dropped around Christmas; I went to every sneaker store in downtown Brooklyn and couldn't find my size. To make matter worse, everyone in my entire school had them. Unfortunately, I didn't get a pair. I couldn't go back to school without something. So, I picked up the Grant Hill Filas instead. I spent days arguing with my friends about why the Grant Hills were just as dope. When they came back out a couple years ago i paid extra to make sure i had a pair. I ended up ruining them the first time wearing them during All-Star weekend in Houston, but it was all about the memory, not preserving the freshness."

Affiliation: Sole Collector
Twitter: @SoleCollector

"I have tons of great sneaker memories around the holiday time. Just so many grateful people out there that want to make your holidays special and I try to do the same with them when I can. I won't have to go too far back for this memory— as in, I'll go back to five days ago. I get an e-mail that says, 'You are the first person I'm reaching out to disperse some shoes that just arrived for Christmas gifts. How would you like some Red October Yeezys for Christmas?'. Needless to say the answer was a resounding yes, with a very gracious thank you. This is one of the many aspects of the holiday season that totally makes me happy. An awesome family, great friends, and good times. What the hell else do you need?"

Affiliation: Inside the Sneakerbox
Twitter: @SneakerboxClyde

"It was December 23, 2009. It was a chilly winter for Miami. It was surprising for us because it was actually going to be 'cold' for Christmas; and not only was I excited about that, I was also excited about the Air Jordan XI "Space Jams" releasing. It was about 48°F and my fiance was 9 months pregnant. Our local Finish Line was getting 8 pair. Yes, only 8 pair; and not even a full size run at that. The store manager took care of her best customers that year. Lucky for me, I was always in there buying little baby sneakers for my unborn little girl. Needless to say, midnight struck and I got my pair with no hassle. That shoe and that time I shared with my wife is special to us. It's more than sneakers. Its always been about the memories for me; and I'll never forget December 23 2009 or the store manager who I'm still friends with until this day."

Affiliation: SneakerTubeTV, The Combat Jack Show
Twitter: @PremiumPete

"One sneaker memory that sticks with me brings me back to 1989. I was 14 and the only two things I wanted that year were the black Air Jordan IVs and the Sega Genesis game system. I remember asking for that for Christmas from my parents and they looked at me like I was crazy. With these two prizes possessions in mind, I knew had to have them so I started working a newspaper route. I saved every single penny I got, I think the only money I spent was on Bazooka gum. When Christmas came around I was able to give my parents half the money and they covered the rest. When Christmas arrived, I was in heaven. I played Altered Beast in my pajamas, wearing my Jordan IVs for a month straight, and no one could tell me nothing. I was fresh! That memory always sticks with me because the kid in me wanted my parents to pay for everything but by making me pay for half, they taught me a valuable lesson and an appreciation for what I had. I always use this lesson to keep in mind if you put in the work, you will get something out of it."

Affiliation: Obsessive Sneaker Disorder
Twitter: @OSDlive

"A Christmas time story is really a birthday story for me. See, my birthday is December 28 and the year was 2011. It was a big Birthday for me, my 40th. A couple of months prior to my bday, the 1986 Adidas Superstars (shell-toes) released to much fanfare. The day of their release, I was actually at a Hip-Hop Education Summit hosted by New York University, and considering the fact that there are only 1,986 pairs, I was certain that this was one release I'll have to deal with not owning. 1,986 pairs, all gone, and easily the dopest Adidas Superstar ever released. On my birthday, OSD's Creator Dee Wells came down to NY to help me celebrate my day. Shortly after walking in the door to his aunt's house (where he was staying for the trip), he walks up to me and hands me a crispy pair of 1986 adidas Superstars. I literally put them on right there and wore them all night while we were out. And mind you, I got home at 5am the next morning. I can't even remember what sneakers I originally had on prior to that moment when Dee handed me the shoes, and it's been 2 years since."

Affiliation: Pensole Footwear Design Academy
Twitter: @Pensole_Academy

"My Christmas story was back in 1986. I was playing basketball for Inglewood High and we were in a Christmas tournament. It was the first tournament of the season and of course everyone wants to have fresh (we used the word fresh back then) kicks to ball in. I knew on the 1st day of the tournament the new Magic Johnson Converse Weapons were going to come out so I saved my money up so I could get them, but I was worried they would sell out before I got out of school so I asked my sister to go to Foot Locker to get them and deliver them to me before the game. Back then, we only had beepers so I told her to page me when she was out front so I could run out and get them. She came through 10 minutes before the game and I got my kicks. The crazy thing is our school colors are Green and White which are the same colors as Larry Bird's Weapons but being a Laker fan you can't be caught dead in anything Celtics, so I was rockin my gold and purple Weapons with my green and white Inglewood High uniform. I unfortunately did not play like Magic but, EVERYBODY was jock'n my kicks. From that day forward I had to keep my sneaker game ahead of everyone else."

Affiliation: Finish Line
Twitter: @MrBrando3

"Christmas of '95 I was 12, and just getting into sneakers thanks to Penny Hardaway and the Nike Air Up and Flight Ones he rocked before getting an official Nike signature series. Once I caught a look at the Penny Is in an Eastbay catalogue I circled those joints and stuck the mag in my mom's purse. Nothing happened at first so when the holiday catalogue came out I tried talking a slick game about all the chores I would do if that was my lone Christmas gift. Sure enough on Christmas Day I ripped open a box that contained the original Orlando colorway along with a black Champion Penny Hardaway jersey. I threw them on and played out in the driveway like it was an 80-degree day. At 30 years old, I still get pretty geeked over a pair of nostalgic sneakers from the 90s like Pennys and Iversons."

Affiliation: T Blake Sneaker Reviews
Twitter: @TheRealTBlake

"For me, the holiday season always conjures up sneaker memories. In my opinion, some of the best releases of the year always drop towards the year's end. For me, I associate the New Balance Ball and Buck 574 "Mountain Green" with the holiday season. The colorway itself features the same green coloring of Christmas Tree needles, and I can remember lining up outside their store on Newbury Street [in Boston] with fresh snow on the ground waiting for the release party. Lacing up that pair always reminds me of the holiday season and time spent with friends for the campout."