Sneaker Freaker is just one of the global media invited to Beaverton this week to peep the new Olympic footwear and apparel range. There's a few highlights from Day One that really took our breath away, but the unexpected sucker punch was that there are now Nike models specifically designed for ALL sports... yep, that's ALL sports, every single one, even the weird pursuits such as sailing, archery, badminton, horse riding and weightlifting! And wait til you see the BMX stuff! Along with a gaggle of assorted media and more cameras than Tim Sha Tsui, we viewed the initial onslaught today and absorbed several presentations from key Nike staffers as well as a Q& A with a witty and entertaining Kobe Bryant, talking mainly about the craziest ball shoe we've seen for yonks, the new Hyperdunk. Given the timelines, we don't have time for in depth analysis right now, but we thought we'd whet your appetite with some of the more obscure discoveries. For a full report, clock sneakerfreaker later this week. To view the entire range, click here.
In the meantime, here's the full PR blurb for this shoe!
Nike Ballestra
Sport: Fencing
The sport of fencing requires athletes to perform a constant series of advance, retreat and lunging moves during the course of a competitive match. Each move creates an impact on the athlete’s body. However, the impact of a lunge on a fencer’s lead foot is one of the most powerful in all of sport, reaching up to seven times the athlete’s body weight. Such force requires footwear that can withstand this type of impact. Working closely with world champion fencers, Nike designers developed the Nike Ballestra. It is not only more comfortable and lighter than anything currently available, but it also meets the demands of the sport.
To soften the notoriously heavy blow of fencing lunges, the heel of the Nike Ballestra’s outsole is rounded to absorb impact. Designers also updated the traditional vertical cushioning system of most fencing footwear in the Nike Ballestra by adding an additional 10mm of foam in the back of the heel to accommodate the rolling motion of a fencer’s footwork. Along with a Zoom Air unit, one of Nike’s best cushioning technologies, Poron foam is stacked in the heel to act as a dampening agent that slows down the foot as it moves through heel impact.
Fencing athletes stressed the need for sure footing during competition. The Nike Ballestra is built on a very flat outsole, incorporating a traction pattern that delivers unmatched stability on the metal competition surface during advancing, retreating, and lunging moves. On the medial forefoot of the Nike Ballestra, notched TPU wraps up from the sole to resist abrasion as the back foot is dragged during advances. Breathable mesh on the upper makes the shoe more comfortable for the athlete while reducing the overall weight, making it up to 2oz. lighter than the market standard.
Special colorways of the Nike Ballestra were designed for the Chinese, US, and Ukrainian teams for this summer’s events. Team China will wear a version with a White/Metallic Silver upper that incorporates a Comet Red stripe on the tongue and laces, an extension of the red stripe that runs down the front of the Chinese fencing uniform’s socks. Sockliner graphics specific to the Chinese team are inside the footwear and are designed to inspire athletes every time they lace up. The exclusive Nike Ballestra for Team USA is a mixture of Obsidian and Photo Blue, Sport Red, and White. When worn during a match, red outsoles create a bright, flashing effect as the athlete elevates the toe of the front foot during a lunge. USA graphics on the sockliners complete the package and personalize the team experience. The Team Ukraine fencing footwear is Royal Blue with white accents and a Yellow Zest Swoosh. These have special sockliners as well, inspired by tribal art.
Look for Italian gold-medalist Margherita Granbassi to be wearing a pink and black version of the Nike Ballestra when she goes for her second gold this August.
Key Features
-Breathable upper with seamless lining offers secure and comfortable fit with no peeling sockliner
-New flexible, abrasion-resistant materials in high-wear areas of the shoe
-Highly flexible forefoot and rounded heel promote nimble advance and retreat
-Zoom Air unit and Poron foam add cushioning in high impact areas
-Stable base of support in forefoot
-Outsole designed to maximize traction on competition surfaces
-Weight = 275 grams
