On the principles of nature and personal freedoms, I am pro-marijuana. However, I do not advocate “in-your-face” marijuana use. I like to think of myself as an underground smoker. I actually don’t smoke too too much–but it seems by the way I talk that everybody assumes I am a huge stoner. I am OK with that. I let the people underestimate my drive and calculated approach to the world.
Whether it was the “MAY CAUSE RELAXATION” alert on the beautiful cork insoles, or the “HIGH POTENCY” woven labels on the backside of the heel, BAIT and adidas didn’t shy away from the medical marijuana theme of their “420” Stan Smith collaboration. The purpose of this assignment was to embrace the theme of the shoe and not only skate in it, but also partake in the subject matter.
On the principles of nature and personal freedoms, I am pro-marijuana. However, I do not advocate “in-your-face” marijuana use. I like to think of myself as an underground smoker. I actually don’t smoke too too much–but it seems by the way I talk that everybody assumes I am a huge stoner. I am OK with that. I let the people underestimate my drive and calculated approach to the world.
Whether it was the “MAY CAUSE RELAXATION” alert on the beautiful cork insoles, or the “HIGH POTENCY” woven labels on the backside of the heel, BAIT and adidas didn’t shy away from the medical marijuana theme of their “420” Stan Smith collaboration. The purpose of this assignment was to embrace the theme of the shoe and not only skate in it, but also partake in the subject matter.
Despite my appreciation for these shoes, I was initially hesitant to skate them. Generally speaking, smoking while skating can go two ways:
1. You get blazed and your inner skate angel begins to boost ollies over anything in a smooth path of creativity. Your mind and your system are alive. Riding a skateboard becomes second-nature and you wonder, “God damn why can’t I skate like this all the time?”
Or
2. You put down the joint just in time to realize your legs feel like they are tied down to earth and skateboarding is, “actually really difficult.” You get shook like the first time your mom finds a beat report card, and you find the nearest bench to text some girls you met at Enid’s a few weekends back.
My session with these shoes began after rolling a cannon of some brand name weed like “Green Crack,” “Blue Scout Cookies,” or “Alaskan Thunderfuck” on my rooftop in Brooklyn. Fortunately, I was lifted by the jah-gods this time, and my system was running great for a little wear test on a sunny Tuesday evening.
I left the house with a smile headed for a neighborhood park in hopes of getting a warm-up session before hitting the streets. Skating flatground is like a pitcher warming up in the bullpen—the goal is to get the body warmed up and the mind focused for the day.
A seasoned skater can throw a pop-shuv into the mix with relative ease, and that’s a solid method of testing the waters. This is a good time to press out some basic thoughts for the day like, “Do my legs work? Do I like these pants? What should I eat later?”
Anybody who has ever smoked a hot blunt must admit the uncanny ability of marijuana to turn a mind against its user. I actually enjoy these increased bouts of paranoia and self-criticism–I’m convinced this mental war is what trains a strong mind. If you have ever spent two hours and 36 minutes thinking about your own haircut, you are prepared to clap back if somebody criticizes it.
Finally, after a quick roll through the park, I hit the streets to get the review going.
The 360 Flip is a staple in modern skateboarding. Commonly referred to as a “Tre Flip,” this is best to bust out when trying to impress a hot girl on the street, link two ledge tricks while filming, or destroying your shoes while learning. Fortunately, I have utilized the Tre in all three scenarios over the 10+ years I have skateboarded and it comes as second nature at this time. It is one of the best-feeling and best-looking tricks—dropping a few of these while incredibly stoned builds confidence for tricks later in the day.
The fakie flip is a bit trickier. All of a sudden you are rolling backward and fighting gravity in a reverse universe. I actually learned the majority of switch and fakie tricks while rocked out of my skull, which helped me detach my mind and body from linear-orientation and become ambidextrous. [*Puts down blunt*] Does that make sense?
There are details to the BAIT x Stan Smith I really appreciate and wish adidas would incorporate into all skate models. The tongue and heel straps are tech and add a high-sport feel to the classic silhouette. The stash pocket (an homage to Chad Muska’s éS pro-model) is cool, does not affect performance, and can be utilized in a variety of fashions.
What is cool about this collab is it does not overtly say “FUCK YEAH WEED” like a HUF sock in 2009. Instead, it pulls from medical marijuana subtleties and translates them into smart subtitles.
After a skating the shoes for a solid two hours they broke in fantastic and did not wear too much. The all-over print seems to function as an extra layer of protection from the griptape, in concept extending the lifespan of the shoe for an actual skateboarder. After the sesh, I cruised over to my homey’s spot in Bed-Stuy to sip a 40oz and talk shit. He used to work for adidas Originals and is always on top of new releases. I cruised into his apartment and was introduced by “What's good? Oh shit, those are pretty hot…”
