We got a huge response to last weeks Outerwear Shop Stop – some good, some bad. This week, I thought I’d hit up a few Victorian skate stores to find out what’s working for them in hardware and footwear. Don’t feel left out if you’re in other states – I will be talking to others over the weeks but with the density of skate stores in Australia I thought it would be good to move state by state on this. So, I spoke with Andrew Tebb from Fast Times, Chris McLean from Street Machine and Jimmy from Hemleys. Click below the cut for the guys pick’s on what’s hot in skate hardware and footwear.
Starting out with Chris at Street Machine, he’s been going through a stack of Alien Workshop boards since the release of Mind Field. Below is the Saari OG – one of the best selling boards in the country at the moment.
Alien Workshop: Saari OG Board.
However, the staff have really been stoked on Roger Skateboards from Goliath. We did a post on their launch here but basically they’re a new company run by Michael Sieben and Stacy Lowery. Chris said, “Everyone’s been stoked on the boards instore.. great art, good humour, great wood, and shapes. can’t go wrong!” Below is the Ghost Boner and Scooter Roach Boards.
Roger Skateboards: Ghost Boner and Scooter Roach Boards.
When it comes to trucks and wheels; Thunder, Autobahn and Spitfire have been going big. Chris tells me that Thunder are pretty much outselling every other truck 4 to 1!
Thunder 145 Red Lights Hi.
There is so much to cover in footwear that it really could have had an article all on it’s own. For Street Machine, the staff we’re really into Nike SB, Vans, and Adidas Skateboarding. Chris said, “Nike SB has still been killing it steadily, Vans sales are just ridiculous, and there has been so much demand and hype for the new Adidas range… when it drops in July it’s the first season Street Machine will have a fully, heavily stocked Adidas range and I’ve got really high expectations for it.”
Adidas Roster Mid Shoes White/Satellite/Red
The best selling shoe for the guys have been the Nike SB Harbors in any colour way. Chris says it consistently has a 100% sell through!
Nike Harbors in Black/Sunset
Fast Times shop decks are the best selling decks at their store but the staff are into Girl, Antihero and Alien. Below is the Girl Carroll ’93 Till Infinity Deck.
Girl Carroll ’93 Till Infinity Deck.
As far as trucks go – the guys were pretty into the Ventures but also Indy’s and Thunder’s. When it came to wheels, Spitfire were it. Below are the Indy 139 Lo’s.
Independent 139mm (LOW) Raw.
For shoes, the guys liked the Nike Harbor (Black/Orange – as seen above), Cons Ox (Black leather) and the Lakai Manchester Select (Black/White) which you can see here.
Lakai Manchester Select in Black Suede.
However the best selling shoes have been the Nike Dunk Mid’s, Vans Chukka Lo’s and Emerica Laced. See here:
Nike Dunk Mid in Khaki/Medium Denim.
Vans Chukka Lo in Black.
Emerica Laced in black/black.
Jimmy at Hemley’s tells me that their shop boards are their best selling deck as well. He said, “They’re priced at $69.95, coming in 7 sizes from 7.5″ to 8.25″ and made from Canadian Hard Rock Maple. It’s a great quality deck at a really good price!”
Hemley Shop Boards – $69.95
The staff pick for boards are the Krooked Pro Boards. All pro boards sell at their store for $119.95. Jimmy said, “Krooked is just a sick brand, how can it not be with ‘The Gonz’ running the show. All the graphics are done by Gonz himself and and the wood is part of the deluxe group, so you know it’ll be poppy as!”
Krooked Worrest Gonzanimals Deck.
As for a ‘staff pick’ on trucks, the guy selected a brand I hadn’t heard of before – Randal Trucks. Apparently built for longboarding, Jimmy said “The Randall trucks are 100% trustworthy, tough and turn really well, no doubt a sweet longboarding truck!”
Randal 125mm R•II Truck
As for wheels, the guys selected Type-S. Jimmy reckons that they’re one of the best all terrain wheels on the market, coming in a great range of sizes and with a durometer of 98a these puppies grip your carve lines like no tomorrow.
Type-S Wheel – 50mm
The staff are all about the Converse CTS OX in perforated black leather (see below) from the new Converse skate range. They feature a new memory foam concept for your heel that will mould to the shape of your foot to ensure extra comfort and custom feel. As for best sellers, they too selected the Vans Chukka Lo (see above). Jimmy said, “By far the best selling shoe, not just for the month but for the year! They absolutely kill it for skateability, style and durability. A shoe of a generation that would match the Vision Suede Hi or DV9 of the 80’s for popularity.”
Thanks to Tebb, Chris and Jimmy for taking the time to send in their responses – you can find contact details for all their stores below. The next skate one I’ll be checking in with a few NSW skate stores.
Street Machine:
7/397 Smith St Collingwood VIC 3066
Ph: 03 9416 4724
Fax: 03 9416 4723
E. shop@streetmachine.net.au
Shop 157, Level 1 Melbourne Central
211 LaTrobe St Melbourne VIC 3000
P. 03.9639.2488
302 Chapel St. Prahran VIC 3181
P. 03.9510.5517
Fast Times:
Bayside Shopping Centre
Shop F18/ 28 Beach St
Frankston VIC 3199
P. (03) 9770 2101
E. fasttimesskateboarding@bigpond.com
121 Swanston St
Melbourne VIC 3000
P. (03) 9639 7121
Highpoint Shopping Centre
Shop 1225/ 200 Rosamond Rd
Maribyrnong VIC 3032
P. (03) 9317 3002
Hemleys:
259a Brunswick street, Fitzroy, Vic 3065.
P. 03 9419 3121
E. contact@hemley.com.au
W. www.hemley.com.au
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