Vans

On the heels of becoming STAB’s 2023 Surfer of the Year, Nathan Florence just received another major accolade when he was named Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA) Waterman of the Year during the 35th annual Waterman’s Gala.    His consistent pursuit of dangerous waves around the world has earned him the much-deserved recognition of his peers and the surf community. As a brand dedicated to pushing culture forward, we’re beyond proud of Nathan for all he does to progress surfing to the next level. Congratulations Nathan!

As a brand dedicated to inspiring and empowering the next generation to live “Off The Wall”, we are beyond proud of our athletes who are elevating their sports to the world and pushing culture forward. 

Congratulations to our Global Skate team rider Elijah Berle for landing the October 2024 cover of Thrasher Mag. Photo: Michael Burnett https://lnkd.in/gGfYd6HV

We’re honored to see three of our Classics — the Authentic, Old Skool, and Slip-On— named to Footwear News’ “Greatest Shoes of All Time” list released earlier this week.   The curated line-up features the most iconic styles that have stood the test of time and reflect historical significance as well as current trends. As a brand committed to inspiring the next generation and pushing culture forward, we’re humbled to see these timeless styles continue to influence today’s youth culture.

In a new documentary from The New York Times, Vans Global Surf team rider and one of South Africa’s most stylish surfers Michael February shares his journey of perseverance and self-discovery, including becoming the first Black South African on the World Surf League Championship Tour.   Bringing together Michael’s love for the ocean, his family’s history in Cape Town and his desire and optimism to elevate what’s possible for the next generation, the new film - aptly titled “New Wave” - is a powerful example of pushing progression and positive change by living “Off The Wall.”   Watch it now: https://lnkd.in/gMB6J_kj

On the heels of our “Always Pushing” Brand Anthem launch, our team celebrated a new global approach to storytelling at The Bunt Jam 2024 in Toronto, gathering more than 5,000 fans over this past weekend.   An example of our free-spirited mindset and commitment to pushing progress and bringing the global skate community together, the invitational event featured incredible skating from a talented roster of skateboarders and a party-like atmosphere with live music performances from Paris Texas and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Check out The Bunt Jam 2024 coverage over at Thrasher https://lnkd.in/ejtDBehf and a video recap from the event below.

Today, we’re unveiling our “Always Pushing” Brand Anthem, a new approach to our brand’s global storytelling.   An ode to the free-spirited mindset of progression and youthful optimism that drives skateboarding culture, Always Pushing is a tapestry of content that spans cities worldwide from Paris to LA to Tokyo. Developed in partnership with creative director ALEX/@TONE and featuring music by Paris Texas, the anthem embraces the ethos of the next generation of creatives and their fearless commitment to pushing culture forward.   Check out the hero story below and read more about the making of Always Pushing in this Hypebeast interview with ALEX/2TONE: https://lnkd.in/gWmBRCjA

We’re celebrating the launch of Vans World 2.0 on Roblox, the latest iteration of our immersive experience bridging the real and virtual worlds of skateboarding which was recently nominated for Roblox’s Innovation Awards 2024. In partnership with developer studio The Gang, the game blends skateboarding across global iconic landmarks, unlocking virtual access on the platform to cities from Paris to LA to Tokyo.    Highlighting our dedication to always pushing the sport and culture forward, Vans World 2.0 marks a major milestone with the first-ever virtual launch of our all-new silhouette, the Mixxa. The shoe will launch globally at physical locations and online later this month. Additionally, the game introduces Vans Global Skateboarder Lizzie Armanto, showcasing her unique style to inspire the next generation.    To learn more, visit Vans World 2.0 on Roblox here: https://lnkd.in/dQ9gK8hj

Congratulations to all our athletes who took top honors at Summer X Games in Ventura, California.   The weekend saw standout performances from Vans global skateboarders Arisa Trew, who took 1st place in Women’s Vert and Park for the second year in a row, and Pedro Barros, who secured 3rd place in Men’s Park.   Marking the inaugural year for Women’s BMX at X Games, Vans team rider Perris Benegas earned 2nd place in the first-ever Women’s BMX Park contest. Global team rider Kevin Peraza took home three medals, placing 1st and earning Best Trick in Men’s BMX Street, and taking 2nd in Men’s BMX Park.    We’re beyond proud of our athletes who are constantly pushing progression for themselves and their sports, and who truly embody Vans’ “Off The Wall” mindset.

Ad Age reporter Adrianne Pasquarelli recently sat down with our Global Chief Marketing Officer Drieke Leenknegt to catch up on our upcoming brand anthem, “Always Pushing,” which is set to launch in July.   As Vans brings skateboarding to the forefront of global culture, “Always Pushing” is anchored in our free-spirited mindset of progression and youthful optimism to inspire future generations through unique storytelling and irreverent experiences.   Read the full Ad Age story at the link below.