Boardslides and Bank Shots: Vans Heads North For The Bunt Jam 2024
If we recall, it was only last month that Vans was spotted in Paris planting its emblematic checkered flag at the celebrated Sacré Coeur, rallying the ultra-stylish youth for a one-of-a-kind experience during the city’s quintessential weeklong fashion exhibition. Still, that was then, this is now, and the distinguished skate shoe brand is on the move once again, seeking to further establish its innovative and free-spirited ethos that can be summed up in two simple words: Always Pushing.
Fresh off the release of its latest campaign, a captivating vignette that communicates this proactive philosophy, Vans trekked north to Toronto for the next stop on what has been an unrivaled global tour de force thus far in 2024. Taking over Dunbat Skatepark, a local favorite for those closely tied to the Queen City’s longstanding skate community, the originators of off-the-wall style saw the perfect opportunity to introduce its encouraging mantra at the third annual Bunt Jam Presented By Vans.
No stranger to The Six, as the two previous hybrid exhibitions proved, Vans once again teamed up with its friends at The Bunt Podcast, a weekly series highlighting the latest happenings across the popular action sport, for another two-day event blending athletic boundaries. On the first night, a trove of Toronto’s diverse youth culture crowded the city’s downtown district to witness one of the most enthralling sporting spectacles in modern history: The Bunt Jam 3v3 Basketball Tournament.
In a showdown that swapped out board slides for bank shots, this unexpected competition saw the world’s best skaters turn into borderline ballers for one evening in Toronto––respectfully, we’re using the term “ballers” loosely here. Featuring legendary skate photographer Atiba Jefferson as a guest referee, teams from all across North America representing popular brands associated with skateboarding like Thrasher Magazine, WKND Skateboards, and, of course, Vans clashed in a three-round playoff chock-full of gripping moments and down-to-the-wire finishes. In the end, it was ultimately Miami’s Andrew clothing brand that usurped the championship throne, closing out the first half of the weekend with a game-winning sequence reminiscent of a similar buzzer-beating frenzy that took place just up the street at Scotiabank Arena back in 2019.
But the best was still yet to be seen.
Stepping out into the hot sun for day two, onlookers observed as a cast of skate pros tore up the concrete for the entire afternoon, looking comfortably in their element as opposed to the previous night’s wavering on-court display. Gathering top names from the illustrious Vans roster, including Zion Wright, Curren Caples, Shiloh Catori, and Elijah Berle, The Bunt Jam’s final day was infused with that same boundary-pushing fervor synonymous with the skate shoe brand since its 1996 inception. Coming face-to-face with custom obstacles like the famous Barn Burner and a specialty Penalty Box, constructed to house those busting out the filthiest tricks, each rider took their shot at wowing the crowd while securing some timeline-worthy clips to boot.
With Wright bringing the 2024 MVP Award back to Costa Mesa, The Bunt Jam’s latest edition concluded with a high-energy performance from the emerging rap-rock duo Paris Texas, befitting the unconventional Canadian stay. Bursting onto the stage with a moshpit-inducing rendition of the song tenTHIRTYseven off their 2023 album MidAir, the daring Los Angeles-based pair comprised of Louie Pastel and Felix seamlessly fit into the weekend’s already dynamic slate. Ending with fan favorites (Panic!! and girls like drugs), the nascent musicians brought just the right amount of hardcore zeal needed to shut down the annual skate jam.
Now, where will Vans end up next? That is still left to be determined. But no matter the location, the street-style fixture will surely bring that coveted edge across land, sea, and pavement. Oh, and the big shoe. Please, don’t forget the big shoe.
