Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II – Nike Soccer London Launch Event Recap
LOOKING FOR MERCURIAL VAPOR SUPERFLYS? SOCCERFANATIC.COM IS YOUR ONLY PLACE TO STILL GET THE VIBRANT YELLOW VERSION!!!!
Nike has certainly began to push the envelope and take things to the next level when it comes to building excitement and launching new products. In the lead up to yesterdays big event, Nike pushed fans to the Nike Soccer Facebook and Twitter pages where they could watch/read the action live.
In what was dubbed a “new chapter in Soccer history”, Nike unveiled it latest and greatest soccer gear from a secret location in London. The “secret location” of yesterdays 2010 Football Innovation Summit (as it was called by Nike) turned out to be the old Battersea Power Station in London, which was outfitted in violet lights to match the color of the new Superfly II’s. Media from around the world convened to see what Nike would have to offer in the lead up to this summer’s World Cup. Nike CEO Mark Parker was joined by Nike soccer front man Cristiano Ronaldo infront of a breathtaking wall of Nike sponsored club logos, as he made a short presentation reinforcing Nike’s commitment to the sport.
On display at the event was the New Mercurial Superfly II cleats and Nike’s new National Team gear. Read on to see the official press release for the event out of the UK.
LONDON, UK (February 24, 2010) – At a global media event featuring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in London, NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today unveiled the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, a lightweight boot featuring a new, unique adaptive traction system designed for explosive acceleration. The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II features a reengineered upper for enhanced fit and ball control for fast feet. The vibrant ultra-violet color boosts visibility on the pitch.
“NIKE, Inc. is the world’s largest and most innovative football company,” said Mark Parker, NIKE, Inc.’s President & CEO. “Our success in the world’s most popular sport is based on creating innovative products and experiences such as the new, incredibly light and responsive Mercurial SuperFly II boot and Nike Football+ which connects the digital and physical worlds of football. These are among Nike’s most advanced products to date and will help write the next chapter for Nike football.”
Traction on demand
In developing NIKE SENSE adaptive traction technology, designers created an adaptive stud that can extend and retract by up to 3mm, based on ground conditions and pressure exerted by the player. Directionally positioned blades maximize cutting and allow for quick changes of direction, while secondary toe traction provides added toe-off power for those first critical steps. The result is a boot that enables greater speed in all directions.Nike’s design and engineering teams talked with some of the fastest players in the world, who emphasized that acceleration around a defender is just as important as beating him in a straight line. The Nike Sports Research Lab researched the world championship finals in 2006 and found that there were 845 slipping events over 63 games, or roughly 14 per game. Building on these insights, the Nike team collaborated closely with elite athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato to create a boot that enables toe-off acceleration and minimizes slippage in game-changing situations.
“For me, it’s all about first-step acceleration, but twisting and turning around a defender is also important,” Cristiano Ronaldo said. “The Mercurial Vapor Superfly II helps me do both, so I can beat my opponent and create scoring opportunities.”
Athlete insights also pointed to the desire for a close fit around the foot without compromising on durability or support. Next-generation Nike Flywire technology incorporated into the boot’s streamlined upper provides a lightweight, strong and more dynamic fit. The carbon composite tuned chassis provides a lightweight platform with traction elements and allows players to stay closer to the ground.
Access to the elite through Nike Football+
The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II also gives consumers unprecedented access to the training insights of the world’s top players, teams and coaches through Nike Football+. Each pair of boots comes with a unique user code that can be used to unlock trade secrets from inside the game and the next installment of Nike Football+, Master Speed training content on NikeFootball.com.The Nike Football + Master Speed program provides exclusive access to Brazil national team stars Robinho, Fabiano and Nilmar, putting the power of speed directly into footballers’ hands and their game day preparation. Four camps are available:
• A Pelada – Learn high-speed ways to practice fast, competitive Brazilian football.
• O Brasilerao – Meet the coaches and players of Brazil’s premier club, Corinthians. Experience four authentic drills with top club coaches.
• Na Gringa – Only the best Brazilians go to Europe. Get the inside track on the real difference between the continental games from the superstars who experience it – and apply it to your own game.
• A Selecao –Enter the top secret world of the Brazil National Team’s training hideaway in the mountains, Granja Comery. Experience squad drills and 3-man exercises with a top CBF coach.Building on the Master Speed program, “Inside the Elite” is a new feature offering exclusive inside access to players. Athletes including Robinho, Javier Mascherano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic offer candid insights on their game and match preparation.
In addition to these Nike Football+ Master Speed programs, footballers will have access to country-specific Nike Football+ activities like training sessions, trial events and player appearances. Nike Football+ is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch on iTunes®.
The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II boot is available at retail globally and at www.nikestore.com from April 1st 2010. Nike Football+ can be accessed at www.nikesoccer.com.
Here’s the problem with all football(soccer) cleats … a lot of attention is spent on the outside of the cleats. The inside is this no-support, flat surface, and totally low-tech solution. Zero comfort for your feet. Why?? Any $30 shoe offers better comfort for your feet than these $150 cleats.
It doesn’t make sense.
The first manufacturer that figures this out, will make a fortune!!!
they focus on the inside too obviously or they wouldnt be 300 dollars. i have a pair of superflys and they are very comfy. how about i stick to my superflys while u stick to ur 30 dollar talarias or whatever you wear