Avia

If you love the feeling of flying, then Avia shoes are for you. This was the feeling American businessman Jerry Stubblefield wanted people to feel while wearing his running shoes, so he chose the Latin word for “flight.”

1979 saw the birth of Avia with Jerry working together with his son, Don, and inventing such breakthroughs as the cantilever sole and other revolutionary creations. The father and son collaboration hit it big and soon Avia was an industry leader. In the 1980s, the walking and aerobics shoe to have was the Avia. The company made a breakthrough with basketball also, sponsoring Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler as on-court promoters.

The Avia Group was later purchased by Reebok in 1987 and sold again to American Sporting Goods Corporation in 1996.

The company engineered radical footwear performance technologies, including the Cantilever Heel (heel support), the ARC – Anatomical Rebound Cradle (comprehensive foot cushioning and arch support), and Avia’s FOM technology (shock compression). This changed the face of athletic shoe companies and their registered and patented innovations are widely copied until today.

The Cantilever cushioning system acts as a shock absorber and stabilizer when the runner’s foot hits the ground. It bounces back into shape, adding energy to the stride. This unique design adds comfort and performance. The Avibolt, or light weight trainer, Avitrail, or off-road running shoe, Tuned Trainer II, the new and improved Tuned Trainer, the Avi-Rhythm, built with ultra lightweight microfiber, air mesh and Gore-tex, the Avi-Stoltz, which was co-designed with three-time XTerra Champ Conrad Stoltz for extreme trail running, and the latest toning shoe, the AviMotion are the main products of the Avia Group.

The AviStoltz Trail Shoe

All shoes are certified by the American Podiatric Medical Association and are known for their comfort and fit. The footwear basically aims to have injury-free runners who can enjoy the sport in any weather, on any terrain, and under any condition. Based on the cantilever principle, the concave heel design provides shock absorption and stability thereby blending simplicity and function. Its next generation of technology uses an air bag as a second cantilever (the Dual-Cantilever System) on top of the heel.  And the latest in innovations is the Ecto-Cantilever System or the ECS. Thermoplastic plates add cushioning and stability, one plate built into the outsole with the concave heel in contact with the floor and the other inverted under the heel of the fool. The mechanical cushioning system makes the shoe more durable than before.

Eduardo Sturla in the Top Ten of Ironman Hawaii in Kona wearing his Avias

Concentrating more today on triathletes, who depend on the lack of pain to be able to finish this extreme test of endurance, Avia is getting back into the world of sports today. With a very long list of names of athletes from around the world, it’s getting even longer by the year: just in 2010, Lesley Paterson, 2009 Triathlete of the Year Nico Lebrun, Josiah Middaugh, Virginia Berasategui signed on to the award-winning Avia stable. Ironman Eneko Llanos and his brother, champion triathlete Hektor Llanos, 2009 Triathlete of the Year RacerGirl Melanie McQuaid, triathlete Joanna Zeiger, King of XTERRA, Caveman Conrad Stoltz, Australian triathlete Pip Taylor, Argentinian Eduardo Sturla, Canadian Angela Naeth, Saul Raisin, Canadian “Mantis” Heather Wurtele, Trevor Wurtele, Andrea  “Fish” Fisher, Nicholas Thompson, Steven Sexton, Victor Plata who’s been competing for over 10 years in triathlons, Jillian Petersen, Amanda Felder, and amazing amputee JP Theberge.

And since the beginning, there has been veteran marathoner  and duathlete Kenny “Kenny Kaboom” Souza, who has been an Avia athlete for almost 30 years and the inspiration for the Avi-Bolt.

The latest AviMotion

At present, Tyler Stuart, champion triathlete is the spokeswoman for Avia’s latest, the toning shoe with a rocking motion known as AviMotion. The negative heel and lightweight construction promotes muscle activation and flexes the foot to tone your body while you walk.

Staying true to their aim to provide the best footwear to serious athletes, Avia aims to shoe the runner, triathlete, weekend warrior, endurance enthusiast, and anyone who wants to start running. The Avia Group also sponsors races and endurance sport teams with racing and training shoes.

AVIA Wildflower Triathlons is the “Woodstock of Triathlon” and usually draws the most pro competitors, second only to the Ironman World Championships. Set in Lake San Antonio, California, more than 35,000 competitors and viewers are set to come together for an exciting weekend of racing and camping.

A major sponsor to Team TBB, in the latest Ironman Malaysia, Hiro Nishiuchi and Jocelyn “The Wongstar” Wong placed second and fifth, respectively, despite the heat and humidity.

Avia is also a presenting sponsor at The Vineman 70.3, which is one of the most popular and highly competitive triathlons worldwide. Held in Sonoma County in July and passing through vineyards and wineries, it takes the 2100 entrants through a tour of California’s beautiful wine country.

Avia receives the most raves from people with walking problems, lower back or foot pains, or those who generally have pain while walking. The concave heel never allows your heel to touch the ground and provides you with a literal cushion of air. It is, literally, flying while walking.

Avia can be purchased at all sporting goods outlets around the world and can also be found online at www.avia.com and any website that sells quality athletic footwear.

The corporate headquarters are:

2323 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6222
Telephone : 888-855-AVIA (888-855-2842)
FAX: 949-756-8609
E-mail: service@avia.com
www.avia.com