Do YOU want to become the next "Sneaker freak of the week". Former freaks: Charles – Mr.67 Henry from Finland finds Air Jordan irrestistable Max - from Sweden InSane Balla - from the Bronx Linus - the Bomb Cameron - Pumping Reeboks Charles - Stenamark fan Pontus - crazy hair, crazy sneaks? Carmine - Brooklyn man? Jeff - the mad collector? Mike - Shake Fan? Duncan - Puma Power? Justin - sponsored by Nike? David - designs his own? Kinyatta - wants to be sponsored? Andrew - had scary Ewings? Fedry - not so normal from Normal? Marieke - wears New Balance 576 on stage Lim - his Kangaroos got jacked Greg - Skating Sneaks Luke - Sofa Sneaks Matt - Botkyrka style Jonas - crying for clogs Nikeboy - he knows what's up in freekin Baltimore Nick - he knows lil'penny personally! Maegan - creative in Converse. Pat - Footlocker Freak. Yusuke - is he gonna get his Air Max snatched? Somaya - the Bronx is her brand Fatima - loves a water fight Nina - tooth brush lady Tobbe - you can tell a tagger by his sneakers. Humpty - gangsters wear hi-tech now. Patrik - lacing is essential. Anna - Stan is her man. Pelle - the shoe tree guy. Micadelica - Adidas with fat laces are no 1. Fredrik - from skater to trainspotter. Pim - a modern man.

Duncan Exton from Australia/Victoria/Melbourne probably doesn't look like this at all, but he didn't send me a pic so how am I to know?. Your first sneakers? The first pair that I took a part in purchasing and was oh so proud of were a pair of Puma Power Play. I was deliriously happy to score these because I didn't believe my Dad would do it. They were definetely the next step in sneaker development from the plain canvas Nike shoe for Australian kids at the time. These shoes were wide canvas in white with a soft suede toe coverage at the front in cream. They were super comfy and I was sure they made play everything much better than I had previously. They had a long light blue Puma logo down the side that reached to the back. The wonderful thing about these shoes was not only their longevity as a sneaker but also their ability mature with age, the suede sat beautifully in wrinkles along the toe and they stretched to perfectly bind your feet. Where do you shop for sneakers? I shop everywhere for sneakers, the cheap crappy sneaker/shoe shops, sports shops, trainer shops, factory outlets, etc, etc. One of my best purchases was at none other than K-Mart (non-believers wait for the story). I'm seeing pictures in my head of the perfect sneaker at the time. I have just snacked 2001 and the street is telling me that velcro is way. I have this picture in my mind of a sneaker when I was a teenager which seemed to have these characteristics. I go to K-Mart with wild ideas about this shoe that I remember from my childhood that seems to fit this description. I find the perfect one. It is straight out of 2001, the rubber soles just outwards like a K-26, they are a black and grey stripe. The outer is totally synthetic and cheap and all jet black. The only decoration are two swipes of shiny silver down the outside. There are two velcro strips across the top in black also. I look, I am beside myself with joy at finding these perfect! sneakers, they only cost $20, in US that would probably be $10. This is the best part of the story. I go into the brand new DKNY shop in Melbourne to have a sqizz and I see a pair of runners that look surprisingly similar but the best part was being followed around the store by two staff members who have no interest in me besides my footwear which they stare at while I stay in the store. Moral to the story is not to limit oneself to a small range of experience and keep an eye out. Duncan's first sneakers were Puma Power Play. Why are sneakers important? Sneakers are important because they represent many things to our culture/socieities. Firstly they represent a pervasive style. Sneakers are all about the style of the next milenium, there is a sneaker for every engagement, for each event that takes place in ones life, there are so many places to go for sneakers where shoes can't go. Sneakers carry the emblems of our corporate vanguards, our times, they say we acknowledge we are part of this process and we are joyously undertaking our part. They are important because they are a step out of what footwear has been in the past and where it will go in the future. They are symbols, they are style and they are ace. Your best sneaker story? This is more like an accumulated story/memory. Each time I purchase a new pair of sneakers and I wear them out for the first time. This is always a special moment and I associate several feelings with it. The sneaker seems like it is your entire outfit, you are wearing nothing else. People either understand this or recognise that you have hard on for your new pair of runners whether they care or not. I usually have this feeling of slight anxiety even though I am always delighted with any sneaker purchase. What will be the outcome from the gallery, so to speak. When I first wore my Converse High Tops out I'm sure people were intimidated by the size of these things and if they didn't say they liked them then they certainly took notice of them which is what yant your runner to be doing. Saying to the crowd, 'here i am and i am wearing sneakers and they are monsta.' The best part of this process for me is when people comment on your runners, i.e. I dig! your runners the most. Then I can tell them the story that I went out and bought the phat (that«s Lim) laces just for these suckers and thay look many times more spectacular than they would have otherwise. That nervous tension is then disapated with joy and pride at the first comment and subsequent story tellg episode. The life of a committed sneaker wearer. Australian sneaker varieites are probably not quite as up to date as US varieties. I love those sneakers made of raincoat/parker material that are big and round like bubbles, in fact I am sure they are the Mazda 121 of sneakers if you know what i mean. Top sneaker of all time My top sneaker is the Converse All Star React, all leather version in black and white. This is a classic shoe, it is the right shape, it is the right colours and it has sumptuous lines swooping thru the leather and rubber. This is a shoe which on purchase is of the chunka variety without question and wearing them feels like being 14 and some people may not dig this; I do. The white channel all the way around the tongue is oh so right and the white eyelets for the laces. Some may not enjoy the lack of tiger (i.e. rrrrrrr )in the rubber however on the release of this shoe there was a clear choice taken to create smooth lines contrary to the popular belief that monsta rubber wrok was a necessary item on every high top basketball shoe. Finally there's nothing like havin a an All Star badge on at least one pair of your sneakers. How many 5 pairs - looking to buy whenever finances allow How do you clean your sneaks? On the odd times that I do clean my sneakers I have used a damp cloth to clean away dust and mud. I have thought about washing machines but have not yet ventured into that unchartered territory. Duncan is always looking forward to new Cons. Sneakers you are most looking forward to? I am usually looking forward to sneakers that are not yet produced. I think of a style and then I wait for its appearance. I have a penchant for Cons and eagerly await their forthcoming styles. Submit your own opinions in the worldwide sneaker report