ASICS Skateboarding Now Exists at NOTE

Five years ago we wouldn't have believed it if you said ASICS had entered skateboarding, especially if you had told us they had become one of the best skate shoe brands out by 2026 there with one of our own riders repping the brand. But that's exactly what happened.

ASICS have stayed somewhat under wraps over the last few years, putting out some serious edits, flowing some of the best skaters but only selling their sought-after footwear in far flung regions. But we're now stoked to say we stock ASICS and we even have a special event happening at the shop this week.

We've been keeping an eye on this lot for a while. Now that they've properly arrived in the UK and have hit the shelves, it felt like a good time to have a proper look at where they've come from, who's involved and why you should probably care.

Starting in Kobe

ASICS was founded in Kobe, Japan in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka and the name stands for 'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano' – a sound mind in a sound body. While their motto might not go down with the Piss Drunx, they've certainly got people on board in 2026. Since 1949, they've made everything footwear and clobber related for running, tennis, basketball, volleyball, wrestling – anything you can think of that might involve some competitive action. And because of that, they've got a proper sports science lab with blokes in lab coats holding test tubes probably. ASICS are no lifestyle merchants. They're a performance company.

Which brings us to 2018, when skateboarding was confirmed as an Olympic sport for the Tokyo 2020 Games. ASICS, being a Japanese sports company based in Kobe with the Olympics literally happening on their doorstep, saw an opportunity. But rather than just slapping a vulc sole on an old running shoe and calling it a day, they did something considerably more thoughtful.

After working with Olympic skater Kisa Nakamura, a park and vert skater from Kobe, the big brains over at ASICS created the Gel-Flexkee – their first purpose-built skate shoe. Asymmetrical lacing from their running archives. A rubber toe cap. A fold-over tongue borrowed from football. It looked like nothing else in skating and that was the point.

From there ASICS Skateboarding was underway but still staying put in Japan for a few more years.

The Team

In 2023, ASICS' growth out of Japan started with bringing Kaspar Van Lierop – a former Dutch pro who'd previously helped build Nike SB's European programme – into the ranks. His task was to run the global operation and bring skaters on board who fit the brand's vision.

They started with your favourite skater's favourite skater Gino Iannucci (the man with the undisputed best push in the game) and from there the team was joined by Akwasí Owusu, Emile Laurent, Shay Sandiford, Monica Torres, Kieran Woolley, Brent Atchley and the Ishizuka brothers from Japan.

With the development of a serious team came the development of some serious visual presentations and footwear to match – they were certainly on a roll by 2024.

Since then, the roster has grown considerably. Jaakko Ojanen, the inventive Finn who credits joining ASICS with reigniting his creative spark – which we're all benefiting from. Victor Campillo from Marseille. Dougie George – London's finest. Marca Barbier, the so-called skateboard mayor of Paris. And the Late Nite Stars crew (Chase Walker, Trung Nguyen and Zak Anders) whose three-shoe collaboration dropped in May 2026. The Japanese side remains deep too, with Kyonosuke Yamashita, Luca Hirata and a whole crew of younger riders keeping the Kobe connection alive.

Shoes From the Archive

Since the beginning ASICS have taken advantage of their rich heritage, diving into their archive for some inspiration and it's yielded some absolute doozies.

The Japan Pro is based on a 1981 basketball shoe. The Gel-Vickka Pro pulls from their 1980s training range with GEL technology in the heel. The Gel-Splyte borrows from the iconic Gel-Lyte III. And the Leggerezza FB – Gino's signature model – is a footy-boot-inspired number with waxed laces borrowed from ice hockey boots. It sounds like it shouldn't work. It very much does.

For all you skate shoe boffins out there, these ASICS are a cut above your usual skate shoe consideration thanks to their Institute of Sport Science (skateboarding in 2026 everyone). The blokes in lab coats have done actual motion analysis of skateboarding, determining where cushioning is needed and how insole hardness should vary across the foot. It's proper nerdy stuff – but we're on board and the Workers and Lurkers have certainly had no complaints.

ASICS Visuals

No skate brand is complete without some visual output and ASICS have certainly enlisted the cream of the crop for their videos with Jacob Harris steering the ship – if you've seen any Atlantic Drift, you'll know the score by now. His fingerprints are all over ASICS's visual identity including the launch video, Total Actual Comfort (2023), the 14 minute intro video that feels more like a short film rather than a shoe advert.

Since then the output has been prolific – with loads of different skaters and filmers. Shay Sandiford's Night In the Life (2024) was filmed entirely on a VX1000, entirely at night. Then came A Guided Tour (2025) with full parts from the likes of Jaakko Ojanen, Kyonosuke Yamashita, Shay Sandiford, Evan Wasser and Victor Campillo. If you haven't watched it yet, clear half an hour and get it on. More recently, Emile Laurent's 4 Course Emile (2026) saw Portland's finest tearing through Burnside and it's well worth a watch.

ASICS Now Exists at NOTE

Since 2023, the NOTE group chat has been peppered with messages asking "Can we get ASICS in?", "Any idea when the UK will get ASICS Skateboarding?" and "When's ASICS arriving?" and for a long time it felt like one of the most requested brands in the Thomas Street shop too. But we're very stoked to now say ASICS Skateboarding now exists at NOTE and it's all very good.

So whether you're wanting to see what all the hype is about or just want to see what sort of footwear ASICS's Institute of Sport Science can produce, you can now get your grubby mitts on ASICS skate shoes at NOTE.

And if you're in the North West this Friday join us at our Thomas Street shop at 5pm to officially welcome ASICS to NOTE with a jam, ASICS giveaways and the premiere of 'Mani and Denz'.

Essential Viewing

Total Actual Comfort (2023) – 14 mins. The global launch video. Gino, Akwasí, Emile, Shay, Monica and the Japanese team. Filmed by Jake Gascoyne. YouTube | Thrasher

Next Vibrant Screentest (2024) – 10 mins. Jacob Harris. Full international team showcase filmed across LA. YouTube | Thrasher

Shay Sandiford: Night In the Life (2024) – 5 mins. Solo part by Jacob Harris. VX-only, filmed entirely at night. YouTube | Thrasher

f [ U _ X (2025) – 8 mins. Filmed by Jeremiah Corea. Kalem Beange, Kieran Woolley, Glen Fox, Gary Almeida and more. Australian crew. YouTube

Tidbit (2025) – 8 mins. Filmed by Hidenori Tanaka. Japan-focused team edit — Emile Laurent, Shay Sandiford, Kyonosuke Yamashita, the Ishizuka brothers, Luca Hirata and a deep Japanese roster.

Leggerezza FB (2025) – 3 mins. Filmed by Chase Walker. Gino Iannucci, Sully Cormier, Victor Campillo and Mark Humienik in New York. YouTube

A Guided Tour (2025) – 26 mins. The first full-length. Jacob Harris. Parts from Jaakko Ojanen, Kyonosuke Yamashita, Shay Sandiford, Evan Wasser and Victor Campillo. YouTube | Thrasher

The Sound (2025) – 6 mins. Filmed by Jacob Palumbo. Simon Bannerot's first trip with ASICS. Also featuring Alan Bell, Emile Laurent, Kieran Woolley, Chris Cope and Shay Sandiford. YouTube

CRABI (2026) – 17 mins. Victor Campillo-led independent video. Huge French and international crew including Chase Walker and Max Jang. YouTube

4 Course Emile (2026) – 8 mins. Emile Laurent solo part with Brent Atchley. Released via Thrasher. YouTube | Thrasher

Spiralling (2026) – 5 mins. Filmed by Majick Templeton. Australian crew — Kalem Beange, Hunter Moore, Flemming Pederson, Jeremiah Corea, Tai Wepa. YouTube