Image via Complex Original
lead
Back in the '80s, before every skater and his photographer had a shoe deal, it wasn't that unusual to see a top-name pro in the big-time mags like Thrasher (or on the cover, for that matter) in a tore-up pair of top-of-the-line basketball shoes. And long before the original Nike Air Jordan became any sort of collector grail, pro skaters on the West Coast — from Natas Kaupas to Lance Mountain to Christian Hosoi — were tearing up pairs they found on clearance. In celebration of father of modern street skating's Rodney Mullen's 45th birthday, Nick Santora of Classic Kicks NYC put together the following gallery of skaters shredding your grails. Click and weep.
1
Nike All-Court Canvas High
WHO: Jay Adams
WHEN: 1970s
2
Nike Blazer
WHO: Steve Olson
WHEN: 1978
3
Nike Blazer Canvas
WHO: David Hackett
WHEN: 1979
4
Nike Blazer
WHO: Shogo Kubo
WHEN: 1979
5
Nike Blazer
WHO: Doug Saladino
WHEN: 1980
6
Nike Blazer
WHO: Deano Mueller
WHEN: 1980
7
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Tommy Guerrero
WHEN: 1985
8
Pony City Wings
WHO: Jesse Martinez
WHEN: 1986
10
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Tommy Guerrero
WHEN: 1986
11
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Bones Brigade
WHEN: 1986
12
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Christian Hosoi
WHEN: 1986
13
Nike Terminator
WHO: Chris Doherty
WHEN: 1987
28
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Rob Gangemi
WHEN: 1987
14
Puma First Round
WHO: Steve Caballero
WHEN: 1987
15
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Joe Johnson
WHEN: 1987
16
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Lance Mountain
WHEN: 1987
17
Nike Air Force II
WHO: Christian Hosoi
WHEN: 1987
18
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Bryce Kanights
WHEN: 1987
26
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Chris Miller
WHEN: 1987
19
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Leif Treinen and Anita Tessensohn
WHEN: 1987
20
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Natas Kaupas
WHEN: 1987
22
Converse Dr. J Classic
WHO: Rodney Mullen
WHEN: 1988
27
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Christian Hosoi
WHEN: 1988
21
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Jeremy Henderson
WHEN: 1989
23
Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Chris Miller
WHEN: 1989
24
Converse ERX
WHO: Rodney Mullen
WHEN: 1989
25
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star and Nike Air Jordan
WHO: Jason Jessee and Chris Miller
WHEN: 1989
