It’s quite impressive that one of the highlights of Paris Fashion Week Men’s was not only off-schedule, but had little to do with capital-‘F’ fashion at all. Last Thursday, Vans marked the launch of their new pinnacle category, OTW by Vans, which will platform the brand’s most elevated products, including an upcoming collab with S.R. STUDIO LA. CA. by Sterling Ruby, with a rowdy party alongside the Seine.
The Vans Skate Team, including Rory Milanes, Zion Wright, Beatrice Domond, Rowan Zorilla, Lizzie Armanto, Etienne Gagne, Mami Tezuka and Diego Todd, hit the custom skatepark, while crowds gathered to see an intimate performance by Onyx Collective and King Krule. Against the golden hour backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and the Pont Alexandre III, it was all quite surreal.
To celebrate the launch of OTW by Vans, we caught up with the crew, comprised of some of the most exciting names in skateboarding today, to hear about their experiences and the future they envision.
Rory Milanes
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
Twenty-two years. My friend was showing me some tricks outside my house. I thought it looked cool and managed to buy a second hand setup from a friend at school.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
Cooking, playing records, hanging out with mates.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
A lot of people think that we are just messing about, but there is a lot of time and physical preparation, especially when you get older!
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
That you can do your own thing, all people want to see you do is having fun and being yourself.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
I’d like to see more originality in skate videos. Videos these days rarely excite me the way old ones did. Maybe that’s because there’s less anticipation with the internet and social media, but I really like how old skate videos in the 90s were all really different — they used different music, had their own style and they didn’t all film the same like they do now!
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
Your personality shines through in your style of skating, so stay true to yourself and don’t copy other people. Remember — everyone skates differently, and that’s a beautiful thing!
Zion Wright, 24
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I’ve been skating for 20 years. I got into it from my older brother.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
Surfing, golfing or making music.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
Everyone thinks we’re all bad kids.
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
Get more people involved, make it dope. People know it’s fun.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
You can do anything you put your mind to – keep going, don’t stop. Just have fun and keep skating.
Beatrice Domond, 28
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I’ve been skating for a while now, but I really became a skateboarder at 14. I think I just saw a board and thought it was cool. It’s almost like it’s just always been there, honestly.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
Reading, making art, in the gym to maintain my health. I had surgery last year on my ACL, so I’m pretty adamant on staying healthy and strong so I can continue to skate for a long time.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
That it’s easy. But it’s not – it’s pretty difficult mentally and physically.
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
None, none whatsoever. All I can contribute is me being me. And if that is in some way impactful. Well it’s just a win-win.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
My hope is for skateboarding to look like what skateboarding’s been saying it’s “looked like” for years. That’s all.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
Don’t allow outside voices to dictate your world. Skate how you want to skate, like what you like. Always be true to you. Skating is about being “the art of yourself”. Try to keep that.
Rowan Zorilla, 28
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I think I started when I was about 10 years old.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
Playing baseball, watching baseball, surfing, and spending time with friends and family.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
That we all know each other.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
People continuing to enjoy themselves.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
Have fun 🙂
Lizzie Armanto, 30
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I started skating when I was 14. My younger brother wanted to try it and my mom signed us both up for our local skatepark. The skatepark became our go to after school hang out.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
When I’m not skating, I love to go on hikes with my dog, garden, swim, cook food and go thrifting.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
One of the biggest misconceptions about skating is that you have to be young to start. If you’re trying to make a career out of it, that statement might be true, but I often hear I’m too old for skating. There’s all kinds of safety gear you can wear if you’re worried about getting hurt. One of the best ways to start is even to practice falling, so you’re ready as can be for when the time comes. A bit ago I saw on instagram an 80-year-old man in Japan learn how to drop in. If he can do it, you can too.
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
I hope to inspire others to try skating and find their passion in life.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
The future of skating is with the new generation and right now, it’s looking pretty bright.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
To anyone just getting started, remember: we all have to start somewhere. Everyone at the skatepark was a beginner at some point. The more time you spend on your board the more comfortable you’ll be skating and don’t listen to anyone that doesn’t have anything nice to say.
Etienne Gagne, 24
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I’ve been skating for 17 years. My next door neighbour was showing me Ryan Sheckler off MySpace.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
Work on punkandyo, travel, go to the gym, see comedy shows, stay in 5-star hotels — basic life stuff.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
I can’t think of any that would make sense to say out loud or, at least, that would bum me out. People can think whatever they want about it –
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
I do the tricks I can and put it out there. The rest is for people to see — either they like it or hate it. I have no play on the impact of it.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
That people have fun and enjoy themselves.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
Delete instagram and enjoy.
Mami Tezuka, 21
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I’ve been skating for 16 years. My dad had a skateboard so I would sit or crawl on it when I was a baby. I got my first board when I was five and started skating with my mom. My whole family would go skate on the weekend. Both of my parents skate and snowboard, so they had taken me to skate and snowboard shops a lot. I grew up watching a lot of skaters — videos got me into skateboarding for sure.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
I like to play piano, cook and I got one of my dream cameras last year, so I’ve been having fun taking photos. I also love cleaning and organizing, haha.
What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the sport?
One of the biggest misconceptions is judging yourself based on someone else’s stereotypes. Gender, age, origin, style, color or anything shouldn’t be a barrier to have fun.
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
I want to keep inspiring people just like how I got inspired by everyone around me. And I want to find a lot more possibilities in skateboarding.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
I hope the future of skating continues to progress and more women follow their own paths. and not just copy what everyone else is doing. Be original.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
Treasure anything that sparks your joy and keep believing in yourself.
Diego Todd, 23
How long have you been skating, and how did you get into it?
I’ve been skating for 13 years. My friend Jackson got me into it.
What are you up to when you’re not on your board?
When I’m not skating I like to go swimming or ride my bike.
What sort of impact do you hope to have on the future of skating?
I hope I can inspire kids to do their own thing.
What do you hope the future of skating looks like?
Hopefully there’s more of it and it’s more diverse.
What advice would you give to young skaters just getting started?
I would advise kids to not be afraid — to just be themselves.
Credits
Photography écoute chérie