Doernbecher Freestyle XVII: Servin’ Nothing but Heat!
It’s already been 17 years since the Doernbecher Freestyle program launched! And year after year shit is getting crazier. With a history of amazing sneakers and releases, the program is the gift that keeps on giving. Besides the cool kicks, we get to know little heroes who fought illness like champions every year. And now, the Doernbecher Freestyle program is in its 17th edition, and it has a lot to offer. So let’s check out this year’s masterpieces yo!
Doernbecher Freestyle XVII: Free to Be a Champion
If this year’s motto ain’t enough, we’ll let you in on more info. So this year we have 7 kids who designed their kicks with their personal touch and taste. If you don’t know what that means, it means we’re getting some seriously cool and colorful sneakers! The collection is currently being auctioned on eBay, and they’re all 1-of-1s. Each Doernbecher Freestyle pair will come with a special pack of apparel for the winning bidder. The biddings will close on March 5, 2022, so be quick if you wanna be a part of that. If you don’t mind the wait, the kicks will drop for retail later in Spring 2022.
Sam David Phelps: Lebron 19 with Some Bling-Bling!
The whole message is loud and clear: never give up on your dreams peeps! Sam David wants to play for the US men’s wheelchair basketball team someday. And what’s a better shoe choice to reflect that dream than a pair of Lebron 19s? The kicks will come in a mix of black and red, with gold panels for extra bling!
Cidni O’Brien: Air Force 1s Also Work as Soccer Tributes
A soccer player in her hometown’s (Lebanon US) high school team, Cidni’s tribute to both was a no-brainer. And the kicks are lowkey fire if you ask us. Add to that the cool nods to her favorite dish, the shrimp pasta, and her horse Tank. You’ve got yourself a cool AF1 colorway with a nice story!
Michael Wilson: Spitfire Needs a Hot Silhouette to Catch Up!
Okay, this is possibly the most hyped sneaker of the collection. Partly because the Jordan 5 has always been one of the hottest Jordan silhouettes. And also because the design is dope as shit! Obviously, Michael did his best to tell us how much he loves mac ‘n’ cheese, airplanes, and sharks. Kinda fitting, since the AJ5s have the shark teeth design on the sides, so win-win!
Zoe Taaffe: Who Knew Dunks and Zebras Looked That Good Together?
If you don’t think that people will remember this Nike Dunk, we gotta talk. The yellow and green as a shout-out to the Oregon Ducks (full-circle moment). The zebra print is a nod to Zoe’s individuality. Y’all know that each zebra has its own stripe pattern just like a fingerprint! And finally, the Dunks will have glow-in-the-dark soles to make them even more epic.
Maylee Phelps: Lowkey Kickass Kicks Just Like Their Designer
If we needed a reminder to keep pushing forward, Maylee Phelps is there to give it to us! And you know that this gets you places. After all, Maylee is ranked #2 in US wheelchair tennis and #11 in the world! So, her Nike Court Zoom Vapor Cage 4 should be as special as she is, and it totally is. From her personal touches to the phrase “only the fearless can be great”, we can learn a lesson or two from this champion!
Catalina Vazquez: Exotic Kicks for Exotic Dreams
So one of Catalina’s dreams is to visit Galapagos Islands because she loves nature there. And from there we get the inspiration behind the whole Nike SB Stefan Janoski design! The butterfly, just like Catalina, goes through metamorphosis and changes. And on the midsole, we have the DNA helix along with the statement: “The cure is in our genes”.
Ayman Wamala: Super Heroes Should Get Super Kicks!
Just like every superhero, Ayman is making his own origin story, but not without some lit sneakers. And apparently, his alter ego that we can find on the Nike Blazer ‘77, is a great mind reader. Meanwhile, the UV-glowy black stripes just add to the superhero’s mystery, don’t you think? Maybe Marvel should add him to their next-gen roster. After all, Ayman wants to be an actor!
How to Get the Doernbecher Kicks when They Hit Retail?
So we don’t have an exact release date, and that shit sucks, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be ready! That’s why we recommend you have a Nike bot ready on hand. And make sure you hook it up with some great proxies and Nike accounts. If you don’t, you know you takin’ Ls on Nike SNKRS drops. Oh, and don’t forget to play the address jig card if you’re going manual, it definitely helps. See ya when we see ya!