Shoes
Man, I Needed VANS Breakers
I love how there’s a shoe designed for every activity that somehow allows the user to perform at optimum levels. Whether it’s leisure, extreme or any scenario in between, relax and let the shoe’s ergonomics deal with the situation at hand.
My promising breakdancing career ended tragically when I was 13 and it was out of sight out of mind until I found this ad from 1984. Now the nightmares are back and they always start the same way: it’s my turn to represent during a heated break battle. So heated that a real fight almost breaks out… but never actually does. My best move was the moonwalk and I could do it better than Neil Armstrong. It was super smooth M.J. style, not wack choppy like most of the biters. We flipped the tape in the ghetto blaster (sadly auto-reverse had yet to be invented) and it was go time.
My move was working like a charm. My lower extremities functioned like a well oiled machine while my uppers were business as usual. Then I took one wrong turn and ventured off the mat on to rough concrete. My soles had way too much traction making it impossible to make the necessary adjustment resulting in a sprained Achilles. After numerous failed comeback attempts all that is left of my career is this vintage breakdancing photo taken seconds before the accident.
I can’t help but think if I was wearing these VANS, I would still be breakdancing today. This pair is for sale.
Our bi-weekly auction round up covers some of the rarest vintage shoes on the planet.
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![[ LINK IN BIO ] In honor of May the 4th we connected with a gentleman named Shawn whose father, Ira, worked for ILM. He designed the Biker Scout, need we say more? Shawn shared an epic tale of a bootleg Star Wars tee his dad heroically stashed away despite George Lucas' attempt to have it destroyed.
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RIP Ira Keeler. Long live the resistance.
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kd
March 10, 2009 at 3:28 am
Wicked story (and storytelling)!
And you’re definitely right about the moonwalk: Gotta make it smoove!
Aaron
October 13, 2009 at 9:14 am
I have been looking for anything linked to Vans Breakers for a couple of years now. I was a member of the vans breakers back in 1984. I was 4 years old so i dont have too many memories but i do remember a few things. I have photos and about a 4 minute video of me breaking at studio k with vans back when Byron Allen was the host. Its great to see stuff like.
thanks
Pingback: Throwback: Vans “Breakers” Shoes | More Than A Stance
Carlos Barrientes
November 7, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Where can I find a size 10 or 11
Vu
November 7, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I see you Carlos! haha, where can I find a 9-10 or 4-5. PLEASE HELP.
Sincerely,
Longing for the Old School.
sentino
January 23, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Don’t remember no Aaron being in Vans Breakers!!
aaron
January 24, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Realy Sentino, If you want I can send you some pics of when we were perfoming at the Angel Stadium or like i said, the footage from Studio K. Do you remember that?
Ryan
February 25, 2010 at 12:55 am
Hey Aaron: Whazzup. I was a Vans Breaker too in the 80’s. I was with SCP–Sam City Players from Westminster. I was in the Angel Stadium Show too, for the Boy Scouts of America. If you have any pics, I’d love to see them. I also performed at Studio K and the Anaheim Convention Center for the sporting goods convention. Once, Steve Van Doren took us to Palm Springs to perform for Frank Sinatra’s mother. Drop me a line: Nakasoner@aol.com
Flex Roc
February 25, 2010 at 2:38 am
Wuddup Ryan! Flex-Roc here aka “Kwik” HAHA! Braddah those pics bring back some memories dawg!!! I see Junior Lata, Jay Repina, Crazy Crow and is that me to the left in the front?! So long ago can’t remember! HAHA!!! I too performed a couple times as a Vans “popper” not a breaker, for a bit~ Reprezentin “SCP” Sam City Players! We performed at the Vans store in Westminster on Brookhurst and at Studio K and remember it bein televised! I remember goin to Knott’s when the Snoopy breakdance show was goin on and the New York City Breakers were performing and after the show we battled them… went toe to toe with Mr. Wave!!! HAHA!!! And we battled them at the “K-DAY” event too! And remember Grand Central Station in Long Beach! HaHa! Good times! Mand wish there were more pics!
carter leuta
May 2, 2010 at 10:58 pm
yea man..vans breaker a.k.a sam city players str8 from santa ana california.where it all started at pop lockin and all at jerome park.yea i wuz an affiliate also but i wuz a youngster but my brother felix leuta wuz part of this whole movement when it all started,with some of the other polynesian’s brothaz like crazy crow who battled boogaloo shrimp and took him out not ounce but twice,also remember old world to.man alot of memories come to mind everytime i hear something about this.remember it like it wuz yesterday.lol..i jus wish there were some old video footage or more pics,i know somebody must got some.come on it was the begining of a new error and buisiness vans,in orang county..well if somebody got pics or old video footage it would b real cool to check them out..word up peace.(S.C.P)4liferz
carter leuta
May 2, 2010 at 11:01 pm
OH YEA HOW CAN I GET SOME OF THEM VANS BREAKER SHOES SIZE 13.LOL..//IF U COULD GET ME SOME I’LL BUY 3 PAIRS.
Cassie
June 12, 2010 at 3:58 am
Hello, here’s the deal how can I get my hands on a pair of these shoes? The picture of the guy on these shoes is my uncle. I’ve contacted Vans and asked if there was anyway I can get a hold of a pair, but they were unable to help me.
Flex Roc
September 28, 2010 at 3:32 am
Hey Carter! Yea man I know your bro Felix! He was our little braddah man! We used to all practice at Ryan’s house with alla ur Cuz’s and Felix would watch us from the side and then started getting pretty good dawg! After we all graduated from LQ Felix started growin and growin! HAHA!!! How is he man? And yea man Old World was where the first battle with Crazy Crow and Shrimp took place on the Boxing rink stage man! Well at first Jay Repina went against Shrimp and then pretty much ate him up and then he started doin some crazy shiet and then Crazy Crow came in and did EVERYTHING that Shrimp did and ate him up man! AHAH!!!Crazy Crow’s patented move was his “Power waves” !!! Man I wonder how everyone is man! Yea man, these shoes were pretty dope dawg and so were the shoes called “TURTLES”! They were high high tops too and had a thin toe material so you could do tip toes easy and walk on ur toes! Man I would like some of these shoes too! Hey Carter tell ur bro that Flex Roc said WUDDUP dawg!
Wayne
February 14, 2011 at 5:43 pm
All,
I have a pair of Vans breakers mint condition size 9 they are 28 years old style 438, what would a pair of these be worth in todays money.
regards
wayne
Aaron
March 23, 2011 at 1:16 pm
I just found some footage of the Vans Breakers.
Aaron
March 23, 2011 at 1:18 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wq1v8MILlI
Jimmy J
March 23, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@sentino – looks like there was an Aaron in Van breakers…
jonathan
May 23, 2011 at 3:56 am
@Wayne – your a damn liar!
Jimmy J
July 11, 2011 at 1:47 am
We finally found a pair…but can’t bare to part with them, hence the price.
http://www.defunkd.com/2011/07/10/vintage-vans-breakers-shoes/
wayne
July 14, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@jonathan – i am not a liar i can post the pictures if required and they are in better condition than the pair in the picture above http://www.defunkd.com/2011/07/10/vintage-vans-breakers-shoes/
wayne
JGasser
August 6, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Somebody found some others as well it looks like, style #439, http://www.sneakerplay.com/gallery/Runner4Life/542292/
Anonymous
August 6, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Nice, the other style, hit the jackpot for $1.
Chiefsonz
September 29, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Fasho flex i will let my uce know,respex to da o.geez of bboyz in da big O.C…
Chiefsonz
September 29, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Uce flex u got a facebook???my big uce felix is up on there..
Shawn
June 25, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Aaron you are related to Ruben aka flaco (by the family) in Anaheim?
I used to hang with David and Marcelino at the park back in the days. My cuousin is Higgy from Rocking Wizards too.
Peace,
Shawn Soulfunky Drew aka Cosmic Kidd (82-84)
Al Jones
April 13, 2014 at 8:07 pm
I have a pair of these in uk 8
Henry John WaYne Davies
September 4, 2014 at 9:10 am
yo aaron. you got any still pics of your time breaking for vans? please hit me up theothersideofthepillow@hotmail.co.uk or find my shop on facebook ‘the other side of the pillow’ or on instagram/twitter @pillowHeat