Golden Goose Returns to Its Skater Roots at the Pink Motel

Golden Goose sneakers are peak “if you get it, you get it” fashion, and if you don’t, you really don’t (and you’re probably vocal about it). They’re deliberately distressed and come with the kind of scuffs people usually try to remove from their shoes—not pay extra to have added. But that’s just Golden Goose’s signature style, with each sneaker worn in by the hands of Italian artisans.

The shoes look not unlike the kind you see on skaters trying to ollie on the rim of a skateboarding bowl, which is exactly what happened last night in Venice, California at a party for the brand held at The Pink Motel. Skaters wearing Golden Goose sneakers and ready-to-wear performed in front of an audience gathered to celebrate the next chapter in the brand's "From Venice to Venice" journey. Last year, there was a similar party in Venice, Italy—a city that's more known for its tourism than its its kick-flips—but this year they headed straight to Lords of Dogtown territory for the stateside iteration.

As it turns out, the skateboarding bowl was actually the emptied-out pool of The Pink Motel, which has been used in its own fair share of skate films. Stacy Peralta’s The Search for Animal Chin, which starred a young Tony Hawk and is known for being one of the first skate films to have a plot, was shot at the motel.

While it clearly makes a great film location, it's also ideal for a party. Guests were greeted by a pink Cadillac in the driveway before heading inside for dinner at the motel’s diner, Jack’s Cadillac Cafe. Afterwards, they walked through a tunnel that felt like a pop-up exhibit about Golden Goose’s story and, of course, its journey into the world of skating. When they emerged, they saw skateboarder Cory Juneau, leader of the U.S. National team, skating along with other members of Los Angeles’s skateboarding community. Juneau actually won his Bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 while wearing a pair of Golden Goose sneakers custom made for him.

He also helped design the Ball Star Pro, a Golden Goose shoe made for everything from 360 flip-and-shove-it tricks to casual skates to the boardwalk. Last night, Juneau was wearing the newest version of the sneaker, which was released in conjunction with the event. Some might write it off as simply a skate shoe, but while unboxing a pair on the brand’s Instagram, Juneau unveiled its real purpose, written on the back of its tongue: “For dream use only. Not designed for other activities.” Sick indeed.

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