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Wow, I just found something that’s making a groupie out of me again (like how I inadvertently became a basketball groupie, chasing basketballers for photographs after a game).

I’m having an unexpected day off today, you see, so I went to poke around the Nike Tribes website. I’ve seen it mentioned in other blogs but didn’t have time to check it out until today.

I’m in love with street sports culture!

I’ve always liked street fashion because there’s creativity and individuality even in its conformity. Street sports is like an extension of that.

You know, every time I pass by skateboarders or inline-skaters having a skate fest in the streets, I always pause to watch with some wistfullness, always wishing I could be one of them.

I was into inline-skating for a time, but I finally gave up after getting too banged up from trying to perform crazy stunts. Pain doesn’t agree with me very much.

So, the fact that Nike (which everyone knows is my favourite sportswear brand) is endorsing street sports and has even dedicated an entire site to the youths who perpetuate this culture is quite exciting news for me (although it makes me die of envy because I can only be a spectator and not a player).

This is what the website looks like:

I like what Gerald said in an interview:

“You definitely see the world differently. You’ll suddenly notice kerbs, walls, rails, stairs, transitions, etc., like part of a huge playground.”

That is such a cool quote. I love when people give a different perspective on things.

Gerald is one of the stunt riders featured in the Nike Tribes website.

I don’t know if that’s Gerald in the above picture. It could be his bike buddy Chee Keong, who recently took part in the Asian X Games 2007 in Macau and took home a silver and bronze medal. Or it could be Huffy or Lawrence, the other two in the team.

I got all these photos off the Nike Tribes Facebook group and most of them are not tagged so I don’t know who’s who.

I also found these pictures with very cool slogans.

These boys are my latest heroes. If I were a bored teenaged girl with nothing to do after school, I would go stalk them and watch them play every day.

Haha, just kidding.

Being a stalker is boring. If I were still a teenager, I’d join in the fun myself and use the streets as my playground.

Nike calls this the “new generation of urban tribes”. Hence the name Nike Tribes. It’s made up of street skaters, riders, dancers and footballers, and I think it’s a very fitting name.

Well, I can’t join in the fun directly, being hopeless at extreme sports and dance, but I suppose I could troop down to a Nike shop and check out the gear. Shopping and buying clothes are certainly activities I’m good at. Haha.

At least I’m good at something!

Anyway, check out the Nike Tribes website for some cool videos of the urban tribes at play. Turn on your audio, too. It’ll make you wanna fly!

Well, it did to me.