KATC Feature: The International Sneaker Battle/Sneaker Pimps Atlantic City

 

 

From its inception, the [International Sneaker Battle]/[Sneaker Pimps] has consistently attracted some of the best sneaker collections and custom sneakers out there. Now in its third show, the ISB Atlantic City managed to surpass and improve upon each of the previous ISB's by bringing out several impressive and rare sneaker collections, as well as, some of the most intricate and ingenious custom sneakers KATC had ever seen. As a judge of the ISB, KixandtheCity had the extremely difficult task of determining the best sneakers/collections/customs from amongst the amazingly fierce competition.

 

Continue Reading for more from the ISB/Sneaker Pimps Atlantic City

 

 
 

Placed at the entrance and occupying a large physical space at the Funkmaster Flex International Custom Car and Bike Show, the International Sneaker Battle/Sneaker Pimps Atlantic City brought with it an impressive array of over forty booths featuring everything from vintage Lotto's, to vintage Jordans, to vintage LA Gears, to Player Exclusive's, to HyperStrikes/QuickStrikes/everything in between, to custom sneakers that doubled as fish tanks. From the more educated sneaker conniseur, to the casual sneaker consumer, to celebrities such as GhostFace Killa and Lupe Fiasco, ISB/Sneakerpimps was consistently surrounded by a large number of curious onlookers, holding its own amongst the jaw dropping customized cars and bikes.

 

The allure of potential bragging rights, and of course, cash, drew many of sneaker culture's more prominent collectors including SoleSupreme, s50H, Shut Down the Game, All Day, Quinn, Leo of Starks Laces, the SNKR Pimp, Sneakadream, RUDOLPH1996, and Carra of Laces Female Sneaker Boutique. Collectors competed in categories such as "Best Display", "Best Dunk/Air Force 1", "Best Jordan", "Best Other Sneaker", "Best Overall Collection", and "Best Rare Collection". Along with the collectors, the ISB drew a large a pool of very talented customizers including Chico, Hyro, D Style, Rebel Aire, and Karl Lucero among others. Customizers competed for "Best Custom Theme" and "Best Custom Sneaker". In addition to the ISB customizers, the Sneaker Pimps traveling sneaker art show featured works from the likes of SBTG, Methamphibian, and Triumivir. Judges of the event, Mike the Executive (Founder of the ISB), Yu Ming [Freshness], Retro Gurl [Nitro:licious], Roman234Life, Tommy Rebel, and MaZe [Kix and the City], circled booths throughout the day examining entire booths and sneakers almost piece by piece. As nervous and eager ISB contestants sat watching, judges had the daunting task of trying to clearly distinguish the quality/rarity of a Denim PE Kobe Air Force 1 from an Entourage Air Force 1, or, an OG Fire Red Air Jordan III from a Darius Miles PE Air Jordan IX.

 

As the event drew to a close and all of the judge's votes were tallied and confirmed, the winners were announced:

 
 

Best Overall Collection – Quinn Harrington -- $600.00

Best Other Collection – Sole Supreme -- $400.00
Best Display – Nunos Bazels -- $400.00

Best Custom Pair – Karl Lucero -- $200.00 “Stuffed Pigeon Feather Pigeon Dunks”

Best Custom Themed Pair – Michael Mccullough -- $200.00 “Last Supper Air Force 1’s”
Best Air Force or Dunk Pair – Christopher Howard -- $200.00 “Dog Hair Air Force 1’s”

Best Jordan Pair – Steven Hilburn -- $200 -- “Jordan XXI Ray Allen Player Exclusive”
Best Other Pair – Russell “Shut Down the Game” -- $200.00 -- “Grey Sheffield Nike 2k4’s”

 
 

With the judging over and as contestants began to break down their booths in anticipation of the next ISB, ISB founder Mike the Executive finally took a break to breathe and talk about the ISB commenting, "The past three shows have been a great learning experience for myself and the ISB. I was able to try some new ideas and figure out which work best. The next show will have many added features and surprises. I have been really happy with the caliber of collectors, customizers, and vendors that have entered the battle. They have all come through with some extra crazy and rare kicks and gear."

 

Until the next ISB....

 
 

ISB Collections

 
 

 

 

 

Frank "All Day" Rivera's Collection

 
 

 

 

Sole Supreme's Collection. Winner of "Best Other Collection"

 
 

Leo Gamboa's Booth. Winner of "Best Rare Collection"

 
 

Shut Down the Game's Collection. Winner of "Best Other Pair"

 
 

 

Mandella's Collection of OG Jordan Baby Kix

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Hilburn aka s50h's Collection. Winner of "Best Jordan Pair"

 
 

 

 

Quinn Harrington's Collection. Winner of "Best Overall Collection"

 
 

 

The OG Sneaker Pimp's Booth

 
 

 

SneakaDream's Collection

 
 

Carra's, of Laces Female Sneaker Boutique, booth

 
 

Rudolph1996's Booth. Winner of "Best Air Force Pair" (AFs not pictured)

 
 

Misc Collections

 
 

 

 

 
 

ISB Customs/Sneaker Pimps Customs

 
 

 

Michael Mccullough's "Last Suppers". Best Custom Theme Winner.

 
 

Hyro "Goliath" Air Force 1

 
 

 

Chico Customs

 
 

Karl Lucero's "Sole Collector" Dunks. Winner of "Best Custom Pair" (winning pair not pictured)

 
 

Nike Air Force 1 "Fish Tanks"

 
 

Tiffany and UNDFTD Highs

 
 

Nike Air Force 1 "TVs"

 
 

 
 

 
 

Of note......