USD Aeon Takeshi Pro 68 Prototype - Only 3 Pairs available worldwide! - Signature aggressive skate for USD legend Takeshi Yasutoko. Aeon boot, black/ red colorway, heat-moldable liner, 68mm wheels.

Blank x Rollerblade Prototype Skates. Photo: Blade_Tech.

Here are some words by Tom Hyser / Rollerblade Product and Marketing Manager:

There is a lot to reveal about the new Blank skate. The official release will be October 15th and in stores by November 4th. Stand by for in-depth details, edits and photos regarding this exciting new project from Blank by Rollerblade on October 15th.

No filter haha. Went for a quick blade and figured I’d film it for the peeps. So, stay tuned for a #quickhits by ya boi. - Montre Livingston.

Larger picture on Imgur (via Instagram).

Can you reveal to us, who is the originator of the Warlock skate?

I had the basic idea for this skate. My good friend, Kyle Sola, is a very talented 3D designer and skater. He and I have always talked about crazy skate design ideas. As of last year, Kyle is part of the innovation team at Rollerblade. He also works in the design world for a few different brands that have nothing to do with skating.

This work experience gives him access to the new wave of design processes. We got to talking about a concept skate that I’ve had in my mind for a long time. I skated Xsjado skates for about 3 years prior to my employment with Rollerblade. I really liked the skate, but always felt it was too wide, unsupportive, and aesthetically unappealing.

Kyle and I both like to speed skate and skate marathons, so we’ve spent time in high end race skates. Once you skate a heat moldable race skate, you realize how a skate should fit and react. I test all of the skates Rollerblade makes. I am also lucky to be able to purchase just about every skate that every other brand makes to test as well.

I have all these skates in my head, and this influences what I want out of a great skate product. Kyle also tests a lot of different skates and ideas. Together we are making some magic with our skate designs and innovations. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to work with Kyle. Our collaborative ideas are always progressing. […]

Tom Hyser – Full Interview on Fsknews.pl.
Polish language, scroll a bit for the english version.

3 years later, Kore is back with a new prototype skate! Larger pictures on Imgur (via Facebook).

up: Shane Coburn and the Xsjado prototype.

Some might argue that this word is pronounced as X-eS-jay-dough. To the Blader’s that know, this word is a progressive way to pronounce Shadow. Like this brand’s name, it represents in many ways the culture that this company is all about.

Shane Coburn, an inline skating guru, enjoyed snowboarding during the winters. After accidentally picking up a snowboard binding that got mixed into a box of inline skates while looking for a pair of cuffs, the idea of marrying a cuff to the boot was burned into his brain. He added an inline frame and the product was generations in advance.

Coburn, working for Senate wheels at the time, went off to do his own wheel project called Medium. From here he met Dustin Latimer, arguably one of the best Professional Blader’s that ever existed, and they began to develop a revolutionary wheel company called, Mindgame. Meanwhile, Coburn continued to try and find the right place and timing for this new skate product he had in mind and soon connected with another outdoor sports manufacturer, Salomon.

With Dustin Latimer’s Blading being generations ahead of its time, he was very helpful in engineering a new inline skating product that provided an all new experience. The design was to have the skater attached to the soul, providing better mobility. Along with another Professional Blader that was ahead of his time, Chris Farmer, they were able to demonstrate the ninja capabilities with these new skates that attached to your shoes, we call Footwraps.

Salomon later moved out of the Inline outdoor activities, with Coburn and Latimer retiring soon after, and handed the technology to Powerslide whom continues to make Xsjado Skates today. Mike Obedoza now overlooks the brand for Powerslide and with Chris Farmer, continues to support the offspring from these pioneers that are the most progressive Street Blader’s in Blading today.

Source: Xsjado.com

“Just my luck, on the dawn of (what would have been) my first pro skate, I find out that Shima Skate Manufaturing has gone out of business. Oh well, here is what it would have looked like…” - Dave Lang (Photo).

• Type: Softboot
• Frame: Salomon Frame with Side Sliders
• Wheels: Salomon Wheels (56mm/88a)
• Bearings: ILQ 7 Twincam Bearings

Specials

• Widebodys
• Liner is screwed to the shell
• new Liner (also washable and custom fit)

Photo of the Prototypes

Thanks Scott Palmer.

Dsijion Frame (Quebec): the first prototype is ready.