Nike SB Reflects on Sandy Bodecker's Legacy
Watch the short film remembering “the man who put the SB in Nike SB.”
Originally hired as a product tester back in the ’80s, Sandy Bodecker undoubtedly left a lasting influence during his time at Nike. The VP of Special Projects was especially noted for spearheading the SB side and championing skateboarding culture in its early days.
When Mark Parker first came across the detailed reports Bodecker would submit from outside user testing of running shoes, he knew he needed to hire him. Due to his work ethic and ideas, he quickly became involved in nearly every project that Parker and Phil Knight were spearheading. After successfully growing Nike Soccer as a brand in the European market, he saw an opportunity in skateboarding. Rather than trying to take from skateboarding culture as other companies had been doing, Bodecker knew he wanted to give back to it and give skaters a voice. As he read up on skate magazines and talked to skaters, he was able to understand the depths of the lifestyle and connect with the people. After visiting different skate shops, he decided to take the Dunk and release models exclusively for them. By commissioning artists for limited models, he was able to bring collectors to the stores and create a different kind of market where independent shops would benefit. He also ensured that Nike treated skaters as they would with any other high-level athlete, allowing them the ability to skate professionally as a career.
The short film provides testimonials from skaters like Richard Mulder, Lance Mountain, Paul Rodriguez and Eric Koston as they look back at Bodecker’s legacy on Nike and the rest of the skateboarding world.
