Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Rolls · 08-21-2004, 09:02 PM

I think I heard a rumor about Nike making a fencing shoe. I'm not sure where I heard it or when (it may have been on this board).

Does anyone have any concrete information on whether Nike is going to produce a fencing shoe?

Personally, I would love to see a fencing shoe made by Nike. Especially, if they did a little R & D to make it worthwhile. I think this is an easy field for a big shoe company to sweep. There's very little competition in the fencing shoe market (at least in the US). Basically, it consists of Adidas, cheap alternatives, and other non-fencing/court shoes.

Rolls.

prototoast · 08-21-2004, 09:06 PM

Mariel Zagunis wins a gold medal... she's from oregon... Nike's from oregon... I predict Nike will have a shoe out within 2 years.

edew · 08-21-2004, 10:04 PM

Nike once made them internationally, but it's a tough nut to crack (the fencing shoe market). They either have to make cheap shoes, which is not in their marketing strategy, or have to compete head on against Adidas. Unfortunately for them, Adidas has a complete lock on the minds of the prospect (i.e., the fencers).

Adidas can easily counter with a nice fat check to Mariel, since she is seen wearing Adidas, and will then continue to wear such shoes.

On the good end, it'll keep up the technological advances.

swordsen · 08-21-2004, 10:10 PM

Addidas may have the corner in alot of fencers minds but I expect many people would rush off to buy the Nike "just because". Until I am convinced it is better I'll stick the the Victory shoe.

hpfencing · 08-21-2004, 11:07 PM

I say, Just do it. I'd buy Nike fencing shoes

KShan5[PrFC] · 08-21-2004, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edew

Nike once made them internationally, but it's a tough nut to crack (the fencing shoe market). They either have to make cheap shoes, which is not in their marketing strategy, or have to compete head on against Adidas. Unfortunately for them, Adidas has a complete lock on the minds of the prospect (i.e., the fencers).

Adidas can easily counter with a nice fat check to Mariel, since she is seen wearing Adidas, and will then continue to wear such shoes.

On the good end, it'll keep up the technological advances.

Wouldn't that make her lose her NCAA eligibility.

Rolls · 08-22-2004, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KShan5[PrFC]

Wouldn't that make her lose her NCAA eligibility.

Something tells me that Mariel is going to forget about the NCAA eligibility REAL fast. Think about it. She's going to get a LOT of monetary offers from different people/organizations/corporations. Would you pass them up to remain NCAA eligible? It's not like NCAA fencing offers that much anyway. She still would be able to compete in USFA Nationals, World Cups, future Olympics, etc.

Rolls.

noodle · 08-22-2004, 12:45 AM

mariel could become the first real pro fencer with a little effort, if she wants to.

and my school is sponsored by nike. we could possibly get some deals if they make the shoe so i'd like to at least see 'em try

EpeeConvert · 08-22-2004, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolls

Something tells me that Mariel is going to forget about the NCAA eligibility REAL fast. Think about it. She's going to get a LOT of monetary offers from different people/organizations/corporations. Would you pass them up to remain NCAA eligible? It's not like NCAA fencing offers that much anyway. She still would be able to compete in USFA Nationals, World Cups, future Olympics, etc.

Rolls.

I personally dont think the US is ready for professional fencers. I'd love to see the day but as Keeth Smart (Or Ivan Lee my apologies for my poor memory) They economically can't sustain themselves just by fencing. And I highly doubt any company or companies would pay madam Zagunis enough money to live off of. If I were her, I'd keep my NCAA eligibility and have Norte Dame give me a free ride, get my degree first, then if the money is still on the table take it. She has 4 years to develop her skills in the NCAA's and perhaps another repeat in the olympics. 2 Gold Medals would certainly attract some sponsers.

qatet · 08-22-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpeeConvert

She has 4 years to develop her skills in the NCAA's and perhaps another repeat in the olympics.

Only problem being that our collegiate system generally makes our top competitors worse, not better, and she'll be leaving the coach that brought her to her medal.

Boo Boo · 08-22-2004, 09:40 AM

As a non-American, can someone tell me what is so important about NCAA status?

Would a College basically pull any sponsorship/scholarship because an athlete was unable to compete in the NCAAs (even if they were Olympic champion and one of the top fencers in the world?)?

Admitedly we don't have the same scale of University sponsorship/scholarship here in the UK and our University competitions/leagues are not considered important, but sponsorship/scolarship tend to be dependent on national/international results instead.

Boo

cowpaste · 08-22-2004, 09:51 AM

More competition is always good for consumers of course, but I really don't think a fencing shoe from Nike will be afordable for most of us. They would have to make the shoe very well designed for fencing, which probably means something like the Asymetrics. Ugh, these things will cost a fortune from Nike, and then they will pull out from the market when they realize people don't like their rip-off prices.

Rolls · 08-22-2004, 10:25 AM

As for the price of a Nike shoe... Well, people DO pay the price for the assymetrics. Plus, Nike would have a homefield advantage in the USA. A significant portion of ANY fencing gear is the cost of shipping it from overseas. See the threads where people get lower prices by buying directly from Europe (they still have to pay huge shipping costs).

Anyway, it may not be about making money for Nike. It may just be about the image of having the US's top athletes wear Nike gear.

As for Mariel, I'm not suggesting that she would get enough offers to live off of (although being the first female fencer to ever win gold she might), I'm suggesting that ANY monetary offers she gets would be worth giving up NCAA eligibility. Even if those offers are small compared to what other athletes get.

Rolls.

S. Hunter · 08-22-2004, 10:33 AM

Nike could possibly make a good shoe - I don't care who makes the show as long as its good. I just wish there was a way to try on fencing shoes before you commit to buying one - I'm incredibly picky on what I want and live 500+ miles away from the nearest fencing supplier, if nike sold shoes it might be big enough for one of the more massively gigantic suppliers to buy, with nike and adidias in it. Probably not, but I can hold out hope.

edew · 08-22-2004, 11:59 AM

Maybe Nike can make a Nike "Saber", a Nike "Foil" and a Nike "Epee" for the different weapons. Being specialized like that might make for a better marketing approach. They will all be slightly different, and if they're asymmetric, that'll be better as well.

MyraTrue · 08-22-2004, 04:07 PM

Quote:

As a non-American, can someone tell me what is so important about NCAA status?

Boo- I think the issue is that Notre Dame isn't going to supply her with a full ride unless they can use her as a fencer. And if she takes on professional status, she can't compete for Notre Dame- they've got no reason to pay her. And while the money would be nice, no one can stay professional forever, and you need a day job in the end, thus why I think most people think keeping the NCAA status would be good.

It'll be interesting to watch our women's sabre team's reaction to getting to (having to?) fence her this year. It should be interesting.

HDG · 08-22-2004, 04:34 PM

I fenced in Nike sprinting shoes for years; I liked them better than any fencing shoes I ever came across. They were "Waffle Runners" or maybe "Waffle Racers". They were asymmetric before that was a term of art, incredibly light, had good cushioning despite having fairly minimal midsoles, and they had amazing traction. The only reason I had to give them up is b/c Nike switched to using spikes and rigid soles for their sprinting shoes.

cowpaste · 08-22-2004, 07:32 PM

Weapon specific weapons would probably be to much. Imagine if a fencer wanted a pair of shoes...they would have it get their size, their handedness, AND their weapon. There are just too many damn permutations that way. I bet it would drive suppliers nuts to have to have so many shoes in stock.

prototoast · 08-22-2004, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowpaste

Weapon specific weapons

For the record, I don't recommend trying to fence epee with a sabre--you won't score any points.

edew · 08-22-2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowpaste

Weapon specific weapons would probably be to much. Imagine if a fencer wanted a pair of shoes...they would have it get their size, their handedness, AND their weapon. There are just too many damn permutations that way. I bet it would drive suppliers nuts to have to have so many shoes in stock.

Suppliers (the equipment vendors) already have that information for jackets and such. They already know how many of whatever size jackets, left- or right-handeded, and number of foil and saber lames (to indicate weapon). With that information, they should have no problems offering the distributors the relative proportions, and the distributors would have no problems asking the manufacturers for the proper amounts.

A different shoe for each weapon may be easier to do than to make different sized shoes, it seems to me.