John Kim 
Last October, Sneaker News was invited to an exclusive event by Nike Skateboarding for the unveiling of the Nike Koston 2 paired with a keen exploration of the skate culture of New York City. Fast forward to late March and switch time zones to the Left Coast and we were once again to experience an incredible two-day extravaganza out in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of Eric Koston’s second shoe and the latest installment in an unending string of impeccable Nike adverts – this one called “The Legend Grows”. As usual, Nike came correct with presentation and festivity as we participated in exclusive interviews with Koston and Nike designer Shawn Carboy and ended the experience with a big bash at Nike Skateboarding at Sixth & Mill.
In this recap of the Nike Skateboarding Eric Koston 2 Media Launch Experience, we’re going to give you the best step-by-step walkthrough of Wednesday, March 27th and Thursday, March 28th. Of course, a few visuals are missing, but you’ll get the best idea of what Nike SB had planned out for the select group of media that was gathered in LA. Later, we’ll give you a nice interview that we had with Eric and Shawn that talks more about Nike SB and the sport as a whole, but if you want something a bit more focused on the shoes, check out our interview with the two from last October. If you’re ready, click below and enjoy!
The Nike Koston 2 is available now on Nikestore and skateshops worldwide.
The experience started off with a quick gathering of a small yet impactful group of select media at the hotel lobby (The Redbury – Hollywood and Vine). A quick two-block stroll down Vine St. to the Montalban Theater – an interactive space where Nike holds many events – marked the beginning of the festivities, and despite the theater being entirely empty, the atmosphere could not have been more intimate.
We sat down front and center and were greeted by Mark Goldman (North America Brand Lead for Nike Skateboarding), who introduced Eric Koston and Nike Senior Footwear Designer Shawn Carboy; after showing us the new Nike Koston 2 ad titled “The Legend Grows” as well as the behind-the-scenes footage, we broke off into individual sessions to chat with Eric and Shawn. Sneaker News got first crack at ’em, and with us being the sneaker technology and design geeks that we are, we sat down with Shawn for a good twenty minutes, discussing everything from the quirky connection between skateboarding and golf and the recent in-house collaborations between the two categories, the key upgrades on the Koston 2 made from the Koston 1, innovative projects for the future, and opinions on Nike’s first foray into the sport and the state it’s in now.
Afterwards, we chatted with Eric about his non-skate sneaker rotation, the worst shoe he ever skated in, the golf obsession, and the impact of being recognized as the “Michael Jordan” of skate. Full interviews with Eric and Shawn will be revealed later.
In a tandem effort between Skateboarding and Sportswear, Nike presented each media member with a unique custom design experience – an Eric Koston 2-inspired custom Nike Sportswear Destroyer jacket. Any Nike nut knows that the leather-sleeved Destroyer is essentially a no-question must-have piece of apparel in the closet – but to have them custom made? Unthinkable. Only two spots in the U.S. had this Bespoke experience available (Montalban and Nike Stadium in Manhattan, although the NY location doesn’t have it anymore). With a pre-selected grouping of Koston-centric patches with the pink and white #THELEGENDGROWS patch firmly stitched below the right front pocket slit, we were allowed to get creative with the other options with the help of Erik Siador of Nike Montalban.
Nike set up a great product showcase for the Koston 2, honing in on the unique connection between skating and golf. The Nike Koston 2 IT (or Integrated Traction) is a spin-off of the Koston 2 known as the Nike Swingtip. This version has the Koston 2 label on the tongue and will release on April 15th for $110.
Day 2 started much earlier, starting with a quick bus-tour around Los Angeles led by Erica Yary, hitting some of Koston’s favorite local spots. We started with some coffee at Intelligentsia on Sunset, drove by Rudy’s Barber Shop, and made a final stop at Stoner Park Plaza in Los Angeles; the park was already packed with skaters young and old, with several swooshed-out skaters doing their thing while enjoying the flawless weather. Lunch came in the form of a West Coast specialty – In ‘n Out Burger (one double double, animal style, no onions, with hot peppers if you’re curious as to what we ordered). There was, in typical LA fashion, plenty of time in commute, so Nike used that time to gift us some other goodies, like special edition Oakley frogskin shades and Skullcandy headphones, but we also stared intently at the flat-screen TV when the Manolos highlight video came on.
So with golfing being such a consistent theme throughout the event, what else could be in store? We hit the driving range with Eric and the Nike SB team – some drove the ball down 200 yards, others settled for chilling back and downing a few Tecate brews. Koston was wearing a Koston 2 golf shoe in White/Black, whle Sean Malto and Shawn Carboy settled with the Koston 2 for their swings. Also, a gratuitous shot of Flyknits on the turf – only because it looks cool.
The next stop was some drinks and apps at the Rooftop Bar at the Standard Hotel, kicking it with some Nike Skateboarding legends like Hunter Muraira (the man who drove the Team Manager series of 2005) and team riders like Paul Rodriguez. It wasn’t just media either; Nike invited several Nike SB retailers from around the nation to join in on the Koston 2 experience. Unfortunately, no photos of this particular portion of the day – too busy having fun.
The final stop of the night was at Nike Skateboarding Sixth and Mill. It’s considered to be a “training ground” for Nike riders, as it was tailor made just for Nike’s head honchos and up-and-comers. The entrance was converted into a museum of Koston’s career, with some notable artifacts and exhibits giving us a summary of some of the major events of his travels. The final stop of the museum portion was a mini-golf course – three holes designed after Koston’s most legendary skating moments. The entire space was flooded with pink – the signature color for the Nike Koston 2.
Sixth and Mill eventually became packed to the brim, with an outdoor area providing drinks and snacks. Koston arrived a bit later in a golf cart, with his peers and fans cheering him on and congratulating him on the Nike Koston 2. The shoe is available now in three colorways at Nike Skateboarding retailers as well as on Nikestore.com.
Many thanks to the Nike Action team for this experience.
Additional images: Jeremy Pavia for Nike
