Vans' "Checkered Future" Jam Recap 6/25/2024 What’s the formula for a must-watch skate jam? Usually, there’s some mix of A-list talent, novel obstacles and exotic locations. Vans definitely checkered all the boxes, but also added a bit of flair by including an EDM fest at Paris's iconic Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Tag along as we cover the crowd and watch the best in the biz go off on some sacred stone. —Ted Schmitz

In Paris, you're greeted every morning with a great view of the city's most famous phallic structure 

This thing looks nice for a warmup before the big bowl jam

Mami and the rollerbladers agree. Front Smith for the fans

Not today, Satan! We're ripping under the watchful eye of mon Dieu

God's got a good view

Can't tell if dead or poly

Walkin' down, we got red-carpet treatment for the big timers

I mean Alltimers

Our first Vans hang of the night—Shari, Landon and Stafhon on the wall

She's probably a big Curren Caples fan

Cryptic images of the future. Let's investigate the lower level

Twisted Tea about to enter the hard-goods market

The green rooms look a little different out here

Doobie's got fans everywhere

Heavy hitters: Willow and Doobie

Beasts on board: Yann Horowitz and Jeff Carlyle

Elijah came clean cut

What do Noah, Max and Atiba have in common? I don't know. Just make up a pun about Limos and keep scrolling

Acosta brought the big guns for this shit

Union of elite riders: David, Diego and Enzo

Y'all color-coordinate the hang?

Good shirt for church

Vans mans Justin and Ako wouldn't miss tonight. It's their job, after all

Sup, Maité?! And friends

Steve Van Doren's never far from the action

Paris regulars Effy and Tonya linked up

Helena Long's got hella homies

The place is fillin' up. Maybe it's time to skate? Yeah, in like 15 photos

Eli's gotta say, "What up?" to Daiki first

Busy deck with Atiba and Kosta 

Can't tell where one mop ends and the other begins

Oh fuck, looks like we're starting up the hill

You guys ready?

Let him cook!

Your starting lineup for the evening: Elijah Berle

Rowan Zorilla

Daiki Hoshino

And Curren Caples. These guys are always skating marble gap-to-banks together

Curren clicks the first O

And Doobie's here, too!

Row-Zo flicks a kicky

But Elijah's got other ideas

First one off the wall into the bank, backside 50-50

Followed with a classic K

Daiki takes things a little further. Frontside 50-50 all the way out

So Elijah's back to the gap, 360 flip

Then they called in the closer. Rowan Zorilla, switch frontside flip

Can't believe they bounced Doobie

He's the best!

Good to see more people agree

Alright, everyone, turn around for the next event

I really wish they hadn't made a shirt about me

Vans boys Tommy and Daiki ready for the main event

So is Josh Wilson! 

When I heard there was a marble bowl, I thought it was a bowl for marbles to roll around in. You can imagine my disappointment

Archi didn't care, he just fired it up

Hey, Mika!

Polar bad boy David Stenstrom gave the box the ol' pivot test

Archi was blasting by the second lap

David got his backside air

He can do 'em frontside too

So can Curren

So can Mika

The lanyard homie wasn't that impressed by Mika's frontside invert, but it's my favorite trick so I'm leaving it in

High-flyin' action every run

And serious hits on the lip, front blunt

Back Smith around the bend 

You know he's got hang time

Watcha thinkin', Atiba?

Get the babies off the bowl? 

Good call

Shit's dangerous

Mami's back… Smithing!

You want another frontside one, don't you?

Yes, we do!

Oh shit, somethin' big is goin' down

Get there, B!

The best way to watch any DJ set

Even Steve got in the groove

You could hear the beats all the way to Brazil

Girl Talk ain't just a DJ name

Good looks

Astoria, stand up! Your man's in Paris

Just a normal Friday-night session

I was too scared to do drugs or dance, so it was time to bid the young people adieu

À bientôt, Paris. Let me know how the Olympics go

• Vans
• Etienne Gagne
• Shari White
• Stafhon Boca
• victor pellegrin
• Elijah Berle
• Willow Voges Fernandes
• Yann Horowitz
• Jeff Carlyle
• Noah Mahieu
• Max Palmer
• Anthony Acosta
• David Stenström
• Diego Todd
• Enzo Kurmaskie
• Ako Jefferson
• Steve Van Doren
• Efron Danzig
• Tania Cruz
• Helena Long
• Daiki Hoshino
• Atiba Jefferson
• Rowan Zorilla
• Curren Caples
• josh wilson
• Schianta Lepori
• Mika Germond
• Archi Bruno