DC Shoes

DC shoes are a hallmark item of the extreme sports subculture. In designing shoes and apparel for hobbies such as skateboarding, snowboarding, and stunt BMX biking, this company is as much a brand as it is a trendsetting name for the wild youths of America. It's no wonder that some of the most internationally acclaimed athletes proudly wear DC shoes.

Behind the Brand

The DC company was co-founded in 1993 by Ken Block and Damon Way. Damon Way is the older brother of Danny Way, a professional skateboarder who has been acclaimed for his remarkably high aerial maneuvers. Damon's own skateboarding career ended short of going pro due to a severe head injury.

In fact, DC is a name that has protected the credibility of skate subculture from larger ubiquitous brands such as Nike. DC Shoes are respected for their dedication and limitation to the field of extreme sports. Unfortunately, due to the minimal popularity of extreme sports, in comparison to football, baseball, and basketball, the skate/snow subculture depends on adequate and credible sports representation in order to separate this daring lifestyle from the image of teenagers fooling around with skateboards on the street.

The DC Shoes Skate Story

DC shoes are largely recognized for their skateboarding models, which truly took off in 1994. Standing as the first specialty performance-geared skate shoe, DC shoes were specifically designed to streamline stunts and improve overall skate performance, following the same concept behind the Jordan basketball shoes. Key enhancements, such as placing nylon loops on the places where a skater's shoes laces would first deteriorate or designing shoe soles that will grip the board deck easily, define the efforts of DC shoes towards the facilitation of these taxing sports.

In fact, the first shoe models were such a success that retailers immediately had them on back order. After only a year in circulation, DC shoes had raked in nearly $7 million. Today, DC sponsors are key figures in extreme sports. Moreover, the company hosts the first ever privately owned snowboarding product testing and training facility--aptly called "The DC Mountain Lab".

The Signature Line

The Rob Dyrdek signature model is crafted using Performalite Polyurethane and particularly resilient leather. This shoe features heel airbags and a sole specifically designed for harsh ground contact. With shock absorption and flexibility and abrasion resistance, a skater's feet have never been so pampered!

The Ryan Smith model is simpler in its appearance, but, once again, this shoe includes superior features such as a Dynamite Grip Technology (DGT) and a drop-in cushion system. Apparently, these shoes can both cling to the board deck while helping your feet survive difficult and painful landings.

Also included within the DC Shoes Signature Line are the Josh Kalis and Colin McKay lines. Each signature shoe is represented and named after a professional skater.

For the Snow

DC has an entire line of snowboarding boots that implement cutting edge technology to help you get the best out of your boarding time. Features can include:

• Super light cushioned phylon midsoles
• Arched shanks
• Thermoplastic urethane ankle support panels
• Strategically placed padding
• Maximum traction soles

Each boot will include one or more of these characteristics. In fact, the individual DC snow boot models are crafted according to specific needs, whether you're boarding at the park or in the rugged mountains.

For Women

Moreover, DC Shoes aren't limited to men's products. The company has a line of sports shoes crafted for females. This line includes a plush style similar to that of the men's line, but with the addition of precious pastel colors that are irresistible even to the toughest of skater chicks. And with features like vulcanized sole construction and padded collars, these shoes aren't just for lounging.

Where to Purchase

DC products can be purchased at any skate or snow specialty stores nationwide. They can also be obtained online directly from the DC company by accessing their online store.

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