The USD brand, widely recognized in the aggressive inline scene, celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, marking over 25 years of excellence. To honour the exceptional members of the USD team, the company released a range of products, including a revamped version of Dominic Sagona's pro skates, now based on the increasingly popular USD Sway model. In today's blog post, we delve deeper into Dominic's character, a skater known for his unique style and significant influence on trick trends from 2001 to 2003.
Dominik quickly made a name for himself in the aggressive inline skate community. Growing up alongside notable skaters like Charlie Ashby and Randy Spizer, he had the privilege of being immersed in the heart of the inline skate industry, which was undeniably centred in Southern California at that time. As an up-and-coming blader, Dominic drew immense inspiration from the seasoned professional skater Josh Petty, standing out with his effortless style and an impressive array of innovative tricks. Being constantly surrounded by active photographers, film makers, and top-tier skaters, Dominic naturally found himself consistently featured in the skate media of the era.
A pivotal moment in Dominic's career occurred when he briefly appeared in Elements II at the invitation of Joe Navaran. This catapulted him into the spotlight, and everything changed for Dominic. His mentor, Josh Petty, recognized his prodigious talent and took him under his wing. Before long, both of them departed from their previous sponsors (K2 and Roces) to embark on a new era in aggressive skates with the birth of the USD brand.
Team USD wasn`t just a group of highly skilled skaters, but a collective of individuals with unique character. Each member possessed his own distinct style that is hard to replicate, along with their personal vision of aggressive inline skating. Dominic Sagona seamlessly fit into this dynamic, contributing refined technical tricks and introducing fresh approaches to well-known and widely accepted manoeuvres.
It's essential to remember that during the early 2000s, aggressive skating was undergoing a significant transformation. The adoption of the UFS (Universal Frame System) standard by equipment manufacturers opened up a realm of experimentation. Purposeful and dedicated aggressive skates were emerging, providing new avenues for executing tricks. Dominic Sagona often draws parallels between the years 2000-2003 and the early 1990s, where pioneers like Arlo and Brooke Howard-Smith pushed boundaries and invented what could be achieved on skates, despite facing limitations imposed by equipment constraints. However, with the rapid advancement of aggressive inline skating and the incorporation of modular components, skate gear started enabling a much broader range of possibilities.
New School
Sagona stood out as a prominent skater representing the unmistakable style of the new school movement. His arrival marked a turning point, causing the established framework of tricks to crack under the weight of his untapped potential. Growing weary of mechanical and monotonous performances, Dominic embarked on a path of experimentation. He sought inspiration beyond the boundaries of rollerblading, finding influence in the art of break dancing.
It was through break dancing that Dominic introduced groundbreaking elements to the aggressive inline scene. The spinning cess slides, shuffle spins on flat before engaging in grinds, and the iconic 540 with the Abstract grab were all inspired by the feats of b-boys. A prime example of this innovation was showcased in the widely popular 'Roller Breaking' advertisement by 2nd Regime in print magazines. The advertisement featured an impressive photo sequence capturing the 'thread to needle' trick as a finishing move in a grind. This trick, undoubtedly borrowed from break dance culture, quickly gained traction and became one of the most frequently attempted evolutions of that era.
Dominic Sagona's influence extended to another notable shift in trick trends—one-footed tricks performed without grabbing the non-grinding leg. Previously, it was considered unacceptable to execute tricks like Backslide or Fishbrain without a grab, as they were seen as improperly executed. However, everything changed when Beau Cottington's film, 'Concentration,' was released. In this groundbreaking production, everyone witnessed stylish Fishbrain and Makio tricks performed without a grab, which came to be known as Freestyle variations (e.g., Freestyle Fish). Freestyle tricks became symbolic of this period, much like the iconic Rocket Fishbrain defined grinding in the 1990s. This marked the dawn of a new era in aggressive skating, where grinds gradually relinquished their dominant role in a skater's repertoire.
Dominik's impact on the skate scene went beyond his skating skills. He also left his mark on fashion trends of the early 2000s. Who didn't try wearing a T-shirt over one shoulder or tie it around their head after seeing Dominic rocking those styles? Another trend set by Sagona was the practice of using two different coloured shells on a pair of skates. Just watching his sequence in 2nd Regime's first team video was enough to be captivated by Dominic's vibrant personality and unique style.
Equipment innovations
But Sagona's influence wasn't limited to fashion. His name is synonymous with numerous technical innovations that have always been incorporated into his pro skate models. If you've ever wondered who pioneered the idea of trimming skate cuffs to introduce V-cuts, the answer is none other than Dominic Sagona. Although he initially mentioned doing it to ensure better fitting trousers, the V-cut solution quickly proved to be beneficial. The increased freedom of movement significantly improved the flex in plastic closed-shell skates, and eventually, the V-cut became a standard feature in all USD skate models.
Dominik's first pro skates, based on the UFS Throne model, featured the forward-thinking Fiziks suspension frames. His second edition introduced the groundbreaking “pump” liners, aimed at enhancing the fit. And in his third signature model, the UFS Throne, Sagona experimented with introducing skins on USD skates. The fabric trim in the lacing system area gave the UFS Throne a distinct appearance. While the skin concept didn't endure in the long run, there's no denying that Sagona's gold skates stood out prominently in the skate market of that time.
Dominic Sagona USD Sway Allstar 2023
Introducing the highly anticipated 2023 edition of Dominic Sagona's pro model skate, based on the popular USD Sway. Visually, Dominic Sagona's USD Sway pays homage to his previous UFS Throne edition from 2012. While the USD Aeon remains the brand's flagship skate, Dominik opted for a slightly wider and more traditional approach with a standard shell and UFS frame combination. The shell shape, along with its impressively sized soul plate, are the standout features of this skate.
The Dominic Sagona's Sway comes complete with MYFIT 2nd Skin dual fit liners, offering a double size range for a customizable fit. The heel area is fully heat-moldable, ensuring maximum comfort and minimal movement within the shell. Additional lacing options allow you to secure the heel position by either lacing up the liner alone or combining it with the shell. The second-generation soul plate on Dominic's Sway has been slightly slimmed down, featuring lower side walls and a front section that seamlessly overlaps the top of the shell. The soul plate's contact area with the frame is expertly shaped to perfectly align with the overall skate design.
In conclusion, if you are a devoted fan of Dominic Sagona, still captivated by his flawless Soyales, and seeking new skates with a classic and durable construction, along with a relatively easy fit, we wholeheartedly recommend his new Sway pro model. These versatile and upgradable skates are an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced skaters alike.
