Vision

Vision was one of the biggest brands of the 1980s and one of the ones that fell hardest. Brad Dorfman started it in 1976, and Thrasher’s issue archive already carries Vision Sports Inc. ads from April 1981. For a decade the name was everywhere: decks, wheels, clothing and shoes under the sister brand Vision Street Wear.

History

In 1984 Vision released its first pro model, Mark “Gator” Rogowski’s board, with a graphic by Greg Evans; “Gator Vision” ads show up in Thrasher from the April issue that year. Mark Gonzales’ pro model followed in 1985 and the “Psycho Stick” in 1986, both designed by Andy Takakjian and both traceable in Thrasher’s June 1985 and September 1986 issues. In between came the Old Ghosts series and models for Tom Groholski, Joe Johnson, John Grigley and Jason Jessee.

The Vision Street Wear clothing line launched in the mid-’80s — Greg Evans drew the logo, taking the cue from Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “FRANKIE SAYS RELAX” tees — and its first Thrasher ad runs in September 1986. Gonzales eventually left to start Blind with World Industries, a pun on Vision. Gator’s career ended in 1991, when he committed a murder he later pleaded guilty to; it’s a documented fact and inseparable from the brand’s history.

Vision never recovered from the late-’80s crash. The trademark was sold in 2004 to Collective Brands (Payless ShoeSource), a relaunch through Finish Line was attempted in 2009, and in 2014 Authentic Brands Group picked up the rights. It has run as a license ever since: in 2020 ABG sued New Balance over Jaden Smith’s Vision Racer sneaker, and in 2022 Jenkem put Vision on its list of brands that didn’t need bringing back, citing Walmart distribution and the fact that it still prints Gator’s board.

The decks

What reaches European shops today are reissues of the ’80s graphics: Old Ghost, the Punk Skull, the Groholski Skeleton, the Mark Gonzales model and the Aggressor 2, some with the original concave. These are wide old-school shapes, running from 8.38 up to 9.75.

Who it’s for

Vision makes sense if you want a piece of ’80s history to ride transition on or hang on a wall, and the graphic means something to you. It doesn’t make sense as a first board or for modern street: there’s no active team, no videos, and what’s on sale is licensed back catalog. If you want a board for daily use, check the deck catalog.