From the Vault: Nike SB Dunk Low “Cali”
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By Stadium Goods |From the Vault: Nike SB Dunk Low “Cali”
A look at this rare Dunk and how it pays tribute to California skate culture.
Matt DeSciora
Skateboarding and the culture that surrounds it exists in nearly every corner of the world. But before becoming a global phenomenon, skating was a niché sport birthed by surfers in California in the 1960s who were looking for something to do when the tides weren’t cooperating. “Sidewalk surfing” wasn’t the idea of one person, rather a shared concept, one that gained popularity as it evolved. And it evolved quickly on the Golden State’s turf. After switching from boards with wheels made from metal to urethane in the ‘70s, skating entered a new era that saw a huge progression in popularity and the skill of tricks performed.
By the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the likes of Vans, Thrasher Magazine, Bones Brigade, and other California-bred luminaries were firmly rooted and informing skate culture. This all eventually led to the advent of Nike SB in the early 2000s, the brand that created a shoe dedicated to California’s contributions to skating: the “Cali” SB Dunk Low.
Released in 2004 and inspired by the California state flag, the “Cali” SB Dunk has brown suede side panels that represent the bear that appears on the flag, plenty of white leather panels to balance the look, and a green midsole that’s inspired by the grass the bear is standing upon on the flag. The “Cali” Dunk has a loose resemblance to another throwback colorway, the Nike SB Dunk Low “Heineken,” with its red embroidered star on the side and green accenting, which may have helped its popularity some back in the day.
But we have a feeling there’s another reason as to why the “Cali” remains a hot item for collectors: its limited production. A true product of its era, when SB Dunks were produced in small quantities, the “Cali” was rumored to be limited to just 444 original pairs in 2004—although other reports claim there are around 4,000 units in the wild. Either way, 18 years later, there are far fewer pairs in existence, especially in deadstock condition.
Nike SB’s toast to California’s rich skate history didn’t end with the “Cali” Dunk. The brand re-released the colorway as a high-top in 2014, and before that, worked with several California-born skaters including Eric Koston and Paul Rodriguez on signature skate shoes, commercials, and more. But the influence of the SB Dunk “Cali” is clear, just like that of California’s influence on skateboarding.