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From the Vault: Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 High SB

Air Jordan 1

From the Vault: Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 High SB

Looking back at the classic 2014 collaboration from skate legend Lance Mountain, Nike SB, and Jordan Brand.

Matt DeSciora

No two sports are more closely related to sneaker culture than basketball and skateboarding. There are literally dozens of examples of how both have positively impacted the progression of our culture if you go back ten, twenty, and even thirty years in time. But if you’re looking for the most definitive example of how the two disparate worlds have come together for the betterment of sneakers, look no further than to legendary skateboarder Lance Mountain’s collaboration with Nike SB and Jordan Brand on the Air Jordan 1 SB.

Released in 2014, Mountain’s Jordan 1 SB is inspired by the original version of the retro basketball shoe from 1985, but not the exact version you may be thinking of. The Jordan 1 that Mountain, Nike SB, and Jordan Brand sourced is actually the very sneaker Mountain and his fellow skateboarders wore in the mid-to-late 1980s that often had painted-over panels, sometimes in mismatched colors. But more on that in a second.

As for Mountain and other iconic skateboards like Mark Gonzales wearing the Jordan 1, that came about as part of a search for a shoe that was lightweight yet durable, and one that had enough padding on the collar to absorb the impact from hard landings off of jump ramps, which were a staple in the ‘80s skate scene. With its durable leather upper, cushioned collar, and grippy rubber sole, the Jordan 1 fit the bill of the kind of shoe that skaters were looking for. Keep in mind that this was before every pro skater had a shoe sponsor, and skaters were usually buying shoes themselves. The discounted Air Jordan 1 sitting on sale racks became one of the best skate shoe options from roughly 1986-88.

In an effort to preserve the sneaker’s life, and tap into the growing punk aesthetic that had crept into skateboarding, skaters would often paint over its original colors. With wear, the newer paint layer would chip away, revealing the original color beneath. Sometimes, skaters would even go as far as wearing two different Jordan 1 colorways as a way to further their individuality. This is where Mountain’s Jordan 1 SB comes into the picture.

Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 High SB “Black”

As you can see, the sneaker in question is coated in black paint on both the left and right shoe. The pairs, however, have “Bred” (left shoe) and “Royal” (right shoe) accents inspired by the Jordan 1’s original colorways of the same name. The collaboration released in two versions: one with black paint and another with white paint, each with the same “Bred” and “Royal” colorways underneath. Over time and with wear, the paint rubs away to reveal more red and blue accents. The mismatched design, and the coating of paint, is inspired by skater’s habit of customizing their skate shoes with spray paint and markers. Jordan Brand even included extra sets of blue and red laces as a way for the wearer to further customize their sneakers.

Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 High SB “White”

The Lance Mountain x Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 is a shining example of someone taking something meant for one thing—in the Jordan 1’s case, basketball—and turning into something completely different and more “their own.” Which, if you think about it, is the very essence of sneaker culture.

Shop All Air Jordan 1s at Stadium Goods