Prototype Skates

[mykty13 0]

Ran into this photo today and was wondering if anyone had any info on it. Looks like early 90's to me, just because of the odd design. Also thought it might make for a good topic to post past prototypes and odd versions of skates.

Nike Gretzky 99 skates

Source: Gretzky 99

Description: Uniquely-designed Nike 99 model custom made skate, fashioned for and no doubt worn by the greatest player of all time, Wayne Gretzky. This black and white single boot with attached white Perfecta blade holder features a Nike swoosh design on the sides with the embroidered Nike and 99 on the upper back. Interesting is the bizarre air-filled piece rising up from the back of the boot, an odd-looking contraption designed to add extra support with variable air adjustment capability. Also unique is the sectioned tongue with a padded spine running up the inner center. Factory coding stamped inside reads 99 WG identifying the famous and talented wearer. Light but obvious use on this custom made skate. Looks like they went back to the drawing board. Comes housed in a clear display case, custom made to hold thisone-of-a-kind skate.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I don't know anything about it either - didn't he have a Nike endorsement while in Edmonton, which carried on to the Nike logo on the Oilers jerseys? (and Nike put the logo on the left side of the hem because of the Tuck) I mean, looking at the tech behind the skate, and the Nike wordmark on the boot, I'm thinking this is something from the mid-late 80s.

Maybe someone @ Bauer knows - especially if they were there from the Daoust days.

EDIT: *gasp* sold for $335?

[MLSman 22]

And what is that inner tube on the tendon guard? Looks like you need a tire pressure gauge to check the status of your protection.

[ekeating 0]

The "inner tube" looks to be one of the first "pumps" that Nike came up with shortly after Reebok released theirs in the basketball shoes. The basketball shoe with this technology released in '89 -'90 and had a hand pump to fill the bladders around the achilles.

[automorph 0]

i woulda used them

[stick9 905]

Looks like his signature, but I don't remember seeing him wear that Nike skate. He's certainly not wearing them in the pictures I have at home from his last game.

Maybe an early prototype used for testing in practice?

[Fisticuffs 0]

Looks like his signature, but I don't remember seeing him wear that Nike skate. He's certainly not wearing them in the pictures I have at home from his last game.

Maybe an early prototype used for testing in practice?

From the looks of them, I would guess a very early prototype, late 80s, perhaps early 90s.