Chad Tim Tim, GR57, the power, the planet

The new issue of GR has an interview with pro skater Chad Tim Tim (left). As is often the case, he's a friend of a friend: Element shoe designer Paul, who I met through another longtime friend of mine/supporter of GR, Ray Barbee (not the dude in the center, who is my new friend Charlie). Confusing? Doesn't matter. The point is that Chad is a kick-ass skater and a super nice guy who happens to be Asian.


After the interview, the guys broke out Chad's new signature shoe, which drops in the new year. It's totally smooth, functional, and versatile--kind of like Chad's skating. Paul must have noticed me ogling them because I got a package from Element on Friday... Nice!


Included in the box were some brand new Tim Tims, which I believe are samples since (1) the colorways aren't in the 2009 catalog and (2) it says "sample" on the label under the tongue. The benefits of wearing a size 9--and having friends that do cool things.


The first pair has a nice herringbone pattern. A little classy, but still totally solid, quite light, and very skateable. It's kind of like the opposite of a mullet: skate party in the front (rugged suede) and business in the back (the patterned flannel). I screwed around in them for just a moment over the weekend, and they broke in shockingly fast.


Also in teal, which is a little more bold. I noticed Charlie had a Ducks calendar at his desk--and that Element skater Mike Vallely is even collaborating with the Anaheim skaters--but he might consider sending a pair of these up to Devin Setoguchi at the San Jose Shark Tank (aka The Toaster)...


Paul and I also talked about was Element's Power To The Planet initiative as well as the Earth initiative, brand-wise efforts to make more sustainable gear for skateboarding. Because the sport is so rough it's impossible to make footwear out of hemp and flower sap, but Paul says they can use organic materials and less toxic processes to make a difference.


If it weren't for the labeling, you wouldn't even be able to tell that this is a pair of "green" kicks. They seem like solid, nice looking shoes, right?


But if you look at details like the insoles, you can see that the materials are visibly reconstituted with more emphasis on simplicity than tech.


The soles use trimmings but have the exact same grip, feel, and functionality. The cold cure process used for all of Element's shoes is much less impactful on the environment than vulcanized rubber.


These blue ones are interesting. They are the only pair I got with sewn-in tags. Maybe it's an experiment, an aberration, or just a denim thing, but it says volumes that it's as simple as can be without unnecessary stitching, materials, etc. By far these are the lightest pair of shoes in the box--way lighter than Vans authentics--so I don't know if you'd want to wear them to a serious sesh or park visit. Great for chilling afterward, though.


The black version is probably my favorite. How the exterior materials are sustainable, I have no idea because they're super, super nice. (The stitching looks great with the exposed stitching on a sweater, too.)


Here's a better view of the dimpled leather and suede. Yes, the shoes feel great, too. Nice, light, and skateable without trying to a Dunk in any way. It's perfect for a grown-up skater (not to be confused with grown out of skating) like me. What is this shoe called? I'd have to revisit the box because it's not in in the 2009 online catalog. Maybe it didn't make the cut or maybe it's 2010. But enough product talk: back to skating, which is what it's all about. Below, I present to you Chad Tim Tim. Read about him in GR57, on newsstands now.