words // Luis Sanchez
images courtesy of adidas Skateboarding
as published in Sole Collector Magazine Issue 47 - The Skate Issue
For Lucas Puig, his deal with adidas Skateboarding is more than just your usual endorsement. It’s a testament to not only how far he has come in skateboarding, but to adidas’ growing stake in the sport. The combination of the world-renowned brand and a relatable talent like Puig pushes both the stylistic and technical elements of skate shoes to new heights.
Born in Toulouse, France on January 31, 1987, Puig’s first shot on a board came after borrowing one from a close friend. His ascent was rapid. By 14, Puig was signed to Cliché Skateboards (for whom he still rides, twelve years later), and at 15, he dropped out of school to pursue sidewalk surfing full-time.
Don’t expect high-flying escapades from Puig. He’s the kind of skater that favors low-impact spots that allow him to utilize a full arsenal of subtle skills. Technician is a good word to describe his style. Some have called him a wizard. Others, specifically the good folks at Quarter Snacks, have labeled Puig one of the greatest street skaters working today. He, however, sees things more simply.
“We just don’t give a fuck,” Puig said, describing French skateboarders. “We just skate everything that can be skated.”
That attitude propelled Puig to international recognition, thanks in no small part to his partnership with adidas Skateboarding. “It was a huge thing for me, because in France, adidas is very famous,” Puig said of signing with the German brand in 2012. He notes French footballer Zinedine Zidane as the reason the Three Stripes really got on his radar, though he also skated adi as an amateur. “I was probably 13 when I skated my first Stan Smith.”
The iconic Stan Smith model and other adidas classics naturally inspired Puig’s Lucas Pro model. “I wanted it to be as simple as can be,” said Puig. “We got inspired by some old adidas tennis shoes I found, and then the team mixed them up and the Lucas Pro came out. We also tried to build a light shoe.”
Though simple in look, Puig's pro model is a technical marvel thanks to the employment of a Sprintskin upper. “SprintSkin is a technology used in our F50 soccer cleats,” explained Jesse Rademacher, adidas’ Skateboarding Category Footwear Manager. “This allows us to minimize a lot of layers, fillers, and backers on the inside of a shoe, making the process much more crisp and the product much lighter.”
The upper allows for a perfect blend of style and function, and sits on a cupsole tooling. “I skate my shoes without insoles,” revealed Puig, explaining his preference for cupsoles. “Vulcanized soles are thus too thin and hurt my foot.”
Originally introduced in the summer of 2012, during Puig's first year with adidas Skateboarding, the Lucas Puig LTD has been produced continually and with a string of impressive colorways. Collectors took notice quickly, thanks to the silhouette’s use in Cliché’s 15 Year Anniversary celebrations.
Complete with a special-edition tongue tag, bold neon lining, and gold embossing at the heel, the September 2012 release made it apparent that Lucas’ pro shoe was one that could carry co-branding.
“It was cool,” Puig said of the shoe. “It was a good collab.”
It was also enough for the Lucas Puig LTD to transcend just its intended use and propel it into the sneaker blog fold.
A year later, a Stan Smith-inspired version released as part of the iconic adidas Tennis model's return brought the Puig story full-circle. Done up in classic Stan Smith fashion, the shoe also featured Puig's portrait on the tongue. “It was just an honor to have the Stan Smith colorway,” said Puig, though “it is always an awkward feeling to see my face.”
Recasting classic colorways on new models doesn’t always work. However, Puig’s history with the Stan Smith and the tennis influence on his pro shoe made the makeup a success. Two years in, the Lucas Puig LTD has solidified a place in the court-style skate shoe pantheon.
Aside from adidas and Cliché, Puig skates for Autobahn Wheels, Fourstar and Independent Truck Company. He also runs his own hat company, Helas Caps and collaborated with adidas Skateboarding as part of the release of the limited edition Stan Smith capsule. While his independent work gains recognition, Puig’s status within adidas continues to grow—just check the Zinedine Zidane-inspired Cliché jersey from the 2014 Skate Copa.
As tennis silhouettes re-emerge as street favorites, the Lucas Puig LTD is also sure to increase in popularity. Deceptively plain, it is a shoe that works just as well dressed in all black as it does commemorating cross-brand achievements. If that doesn’t suffice, think about this: At only 27, Puig has already been labeled as one of the greatest street skaters ever, a legacy worth space in any sneaker collection.
