Let me first start off by saying that day 1 of Vans x The Bloom didn’t have much in the way of riding, actually there was none. Do I still have your attention? Good! Day 1 was about getting everyone to the San Francisco area. While the rest of the crew were already enroute from their respective countries the night before, Angie and I woke up at around 5 am to beat the infamous morning northbound traffic and to meet Maca (Perez-Grasset) at Van’s HQ in Orange County. Andrew Mapstone, Vans Global Marketing Manager, told us to be at HQ for 8:30 am – although I think we were really supposed to be there for 9 am, and Mapstone only said 9, so that a certain someone would make it on time – we just barely made the set time but managed to beat Maca who had been up driving since 3 am. I hadn’t seen Maca since Bloom Week at Woodward East last year, so seeing her again felt like a reunion. Hugs went around and soon enough we were on the road in the Vans encrusted sprinter van.
It goes without saying that we have a lot of support coming from Vans. A company and brand that deeply cares about the culture and not surface-level exposure. One of the characters that I believe helped shape what Vans is today is none other than Jerry Badders – a high-energy gem who has been with Vans since he was 12; first as a sponsored racer, now as their events manager. Without missing a beat, Jerry kept us laughing as he shared stories of his wild past and his life as a dad to two young kids for the full 6 hours until we parted ways at San Francisco Airport.
A little weary-eyed, Angie took over the steering wheel, and further north we went to meet up with the rest of the crew who were waiting for us in Napa. The metaphorical gas was running low on everyone, it was a long few hours on the road, and we were ready to get to our destination. Finally, we pull up to the hotel, and soon enough we were reunited with the crew that would be with us during the full duration of this trip – Perris Benegas, Teresa Fernández-Miranda, Linda Grabner, Naoki Gaman, Colin Mackay, and Dan Foley.
Tomorrow will be the first official day of the trip, so stay tuned to @thebloombmx & @vansbmx66 and ride along with us.
Save the Date!
Vans x The Bloom Jam @ Vans Off The Wall Skatepark
7471 Center Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
March 16 2022 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join us on Wednesday, March 16th from 5 – 8 pm and celebrate the last day of the trip with us. This event will be open to everyone and will include free food, drinks, giveaways, and more. Come out for the Cash for Tricks Jam and hang out with some of your favorite riders. The event will be live broadcasted on Brakeless TV for those who can’t make it.
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