From Ballin’ to ‘Boardin’: The Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 High Returns This Week

The new NIKE SB X AIR JORDAN 1 HIGH pack follows 2014’s collaborative edition with Lance Mountain and CR Stecyk with two new editions of the versatile ‘scratch-it-and-see’ high top design.

If you weren’t skateboarding in the 1980s, the connection between one of the most important basketball shoes and the skating world might seem tenuous. But looking back through the archives of skate history, denying the Jordan 1’s presence would be shortsighted, as the shoe found itself being worn by some of the best skaters of all-time. The often-referenced photo of Stacy Peralta’s Bones Brigade simultaneously handplanting at the (Animal) Chin ramp might be one of the most visible demonstrations of the Jordan 1’s validity. As pro skaters during the ’80s boom, they could probably have been paid to wear any shoe on the market: instead, they shopped for the Jordan 1. In the words of Powell Peralta artist and collaborator, Craig Stecyk, ‘When Air Jordans went out of production, the original ones, we would go from ‘burg to ‘burg looking to find deadstock Air Jordans, ’cause we appreciated how they functionally worked — the ankle protection, the leather.’

A high top always offers decent ankle support, so to apply this style to skate footwear is a no-brainer. Back in 2014, the crossover between Jordan Brand and Nike Skateboarding came to fruition thanks to some creative concepts from Bones Brigade skate legend Lance Mountain and the aforementioned artist Craig Stecyk. For this 2019 release, we find Lakers-themed purple and yellow hues that will reveal black and red sections as the top surface of the leather is worn away. A second Light Bone edition features the same treatment, but with a pink hue underneath. Both versions feature Nike SB tongue labels and Zoom Air insoles for maximum comfort. A classic Nike design, constructed in premium materials and presented in strong colours guarantees that these are gonna fly off the shelves.

The NIKE SB X AIR JORDAN 1 HIGH OG LA TO CHICAGO is scheduled to drop on FRIDAY 16 AUGUST. Hit the banner below for stockist information.

The iconic J. Grant Brittain photo of the Bones Brigade at the Chin Ramp in 1986