Everything You Need to Know About Andre Agassi’s Nike Air Tech Challenge II
Originally debuting on the hallowed clay of Roland-Garros in 1990, the is primed for yet another momentous comeback in 2024. An undisputed classic of the vast arsenal, the Tech Challenge II hit the airwaves during a golden period for tennis, when athletes were dropping jaws with big hitting and even bigger style. Still, no one rivalled ‘The Las Vegas Kid’ when it came to on-court swagger. Armed with his signature denim shorts, a lightning neon palette, and an otherworldly mullet, Agassi also had Nike’s not-so-secret weapon in the player’s box: A fan-favourite among sneakerheads, the Air Tech Challenge II was the sophomore signature sneaker for Agassi, and continues to inspire sneaker culture and design to this day. In fact, the Air Tech Challenge II inspired one of the most sought-after silhouettes in a then-fledgling canon: The Nike Join us in the commentary box as we turn up the mics on an all-time 1990s classic from ‘The Punisher’.
Flight School: Tinker Serves Another Ace
Can you spot the influence of the Air Jordan 4 on the Air Tech Challenge II? Another Tinker tour de force, a modified version of the Air Jordan 4's 'wings' can be seen affixed to the Air Tech Challenge II – albeit more subtle than its Air Jordan counterpart. Like the other larger-than-life sneakers of the era – most notably John McEnroe’s – the model was built to reflect the recalcitrant, anti-country club attitude of Agassi. Highlighted by evocative splatters of paint on the midsoles, classic colourways like the OG ‘Hot Lava’ were were further emboldened by Agassi’s sonic wardrobe and punishing game style.
'Image Is Everything'
Agassi’s effortless style and charisma made him a marketer's dream throughout the 1990s. A cult favourite was no doubt the Nike ‘Agassi vs. Sampras’ series, in which the two tennis champions faced off in a run of challenges often involving tennis. Agassi also got involved with several other brands in the era, including Pepsi, American Express and Canon cameras.
In terms of the Nike Air Tech Challenge II, Nike would run a collection of classic tongue-in-cheek print advertisements that poked fun of the stuffy, conservative upper crust of institutions like the All England Tennis Club.
‘Tennis has changed,’ ran one such print advertisement in 1990. ‘It used to be conservative and traditional. Now it’s performance, Agassi, and the Air Tech Challenge.’
Agassi’s Air Tech Challenge line was even complete with a striking Nike apparel line that extended the visual vocabulary of the shoe, with blazing red and black polos and patented denim shorts anointing the new rockstar of the tennis court.
The Yeezy Connection and Presidential Co-Signs
Of course, contemporary sneaker culture is always looking to crack into the archives for inspiration. The most high profile homage to the Air Tech Challenge II was Ye’s Air Yeezy II. Now enjoying mythological status in the sneaker space, Ye lifted the entire Air Tech Challenge II midsole for his Swoosh opus, and the classic midsole was paired with an anatomical spinal heel that recalls Batman’s armoured suit. Another notable tribute was Nike which imitated the indelible red splatter across its heels.
Plenty of celebrities have also laced the ATC II, including 41st US President George HW Bush and Megadeth metal god !
Retroactive Rundown
The first time we saw the Nike Air Tech Challenge was in 1990. The initial retro occurred much later in 2008 and then again in 2014. Since then, we’ve seen a steady run of retros in 2016 and then again in 2019. This year marks the sixth time the Air Tech Challenge will receive the retro treatment.
Currently, no concrete release details are locked in, but make sure to keep it locked to Sneaker Freaker for updates.
For more on Andre Agassi’s scorching sneakers, make sure to check out his .