Enties has a long and storied history in the skate world, starting life in France in 1986 and now sponsoring some of the most prolific athletes in the skate, moto, snow and surf genres. It looks like mountain biking can be added to that list with the addition of Trek's slope style wunderkind Brandon Semenuk to their roster. Semenuk, who took the top spot at this year's Kokanee Crankworx, 26TRIX, Claymore Challenge, Bearclaw Invitational, as well as the FMB overall title, had this to say about his new sponsor
| Etnies is an innovator in footwear and have some of the best athletes through out the world of action sports. I'm pumped on the support and to show that Etnies Footwear/Sole Technology have some of the most progressive products, even in the world of MTB! - Brandon Semenuk |
Photography by Adrian MarcouxThe obvious question on everyone's mind is surely if Etnies will debut a soft soled MTB specific shoe on the heels of signing Semenuk. Given their huge following in the alternative sports arena it would likely be a hit, assuming that the shoe design is as sorted as their skate offerings. Signed to wear Etnies footwear only, Brandon will be rocking their Number Mid, 5 Fusion and Jameson models.
www.etnies.com
If they can come up with a nice tread pattern that actually grips when walking back to the top (not all of us have uplifts or chairlifts) possibly some sticky rubber and stiffen the sole and lower half of the shoe and they'll be onto a winner.
get the support, hopefully they will listen to him and design a mtb specific shoe.
I had a pair last year which only lasted 2 months before having huge holes in the soles where my feet contact the pedals, and next to no grip left. Not good enough for a shoe that cost over $100.
If they can get the soles right for riding and stiff enough in a nice traditional, bulky skate shoe, I'll buy them again.
And Bring back all suede skate shoes! Shiny leather/vinyl shoes look horrible
I wanna see a nice MTB specific high shoe from the etnies with a grippy stiched sole, a strap and with a nice, impact absorber insole.
www.kickzoo.com/image/cache/data/etnies-mens-jameson-2-black-gum-shoe-4-640x480.jpg
I've got a set of Etnies Fader - Rockstar and I ride pretty much everything with them on and I always feel planted on the pedals and so far have had no issues (in 3 months lots of riding) with the sole!