Skateboarder

Skate shoe

While the skate shoes design afforded better connection and traction with the deck, skateboarders themselves could often be identified when wearing the shoes, with Tony Hawk once saying, "If you were wearing Vans shoes in 86, you were a skateboarder". Because of its connection with skateboarding, Vans financed the legendary skateboarding documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and was the first sneaker company to endorse a professional skateboarder, Stacy Peralta. Vans has a long history of being a major sponsor of many skateboarding competitions and events throughout skateboarding history as well, including the Vans Warped Tour and the Vans Triple Crown Series.