I started walking into this VIP section at Vans Triple Crown at Northstar in Truckee CA and the bouncer stopped me and asked who I was. I pointed across the room and said “All my friends are in there”. I had no idea who Steve was but he was standing by the door. He walks over to the bouncer, gave us both a huge smile and said “Well it’s not a party without your friends!”. Then he asked me if I wanted a beer. I will buy Vans forever as long as this guy gets a cut. Like 15 years later my friend got a job at Vans and he said the hardest part of his job was getting Steve to stop giving people free stuff. What an awesome guy.
I know that man. I lived in Kings Beach Tahoe Vista Canelian Bay Truckee. I have been living in Japan for 15 years tho so I tend to communicate in terms of what people can easily find on a map lololol
I don’t even speak English that often anymore that was a long time ago. Another life. I’ve forgotten all the street names I used to know highway names I don’t think about it much
For sure. Dude appreciates what skaters did for his company so much that he gives back to the community,always. Dude tothe point of helping people in need, we need more people like steve van doren in the world. Alot of rich people don't give at all.
Dude this seems like the most genuine nice man in the whole world. I would be honored to meet this guy. I was born in '01 so I really appreciate the nine club teaching me about my og's that I need to look up to without saying "this is who you should think is a legend" y'all just let em tell their story and let us fall in love with em. I swear everything y'all are doing is so fucking dope
I work at vans and have met him he is exactly like this in real life. Super nice guy. He went to every single 500+ vans store just to say hey to everyone after we came back from covid. We call him "the ambassador of fun"
I want to thank Steve, his father, and Vans for being apart of something I love dearly and doing so with absolute credibility. Listening to this enthralling 2.5 hour walk through history has been a true delight. Steve is as cool as Vans itself. Listening to him makes me wish they had never sold the company but I'm glad Steve is a major factor in carrying on the integrity and character of his father's (and partner's) company. Chasing pigeons just ain't their game. Absolutely amazing podcast. One of the best I've heard in a long time. BTW I love my Vans, wearing the Rowan currently. This podcast was off the fucking wall!!!!!!!! Great job Nine Club.
I stopped working at vans but I was able to still get in contact with Steve. He gave me a huge sk8 hi so I can customize it to raise funds for a friend who passed away. I’m forever grateful that people like Steve exist.
I stood next to Steve on side-stage at a Pennywise concert and had a great quick conversation. He's the sweetest human and a legend. This story is amazing. 🙌
I helped film a vans europe video in milan and Steve came to the premiere. He knew everyones name that was involved in the video and personally thanked everyone there. Great guy.
Hands down one of the best interviews you guys have done in awhile. The story and the history of our life style needs to be told and remembered. Steve is amazing and not giving enough credit for all he has done for so many. Thank you for this.
Steve is a champ! I remember seeing my first pair of Vans when the bike shop started carrying skateboards. The owner of the shop said they were "BMX shoes" so I got my dad to buy some for $9.99. I was kinda bummed when I saw the skateboarder on the box, but the next year I abandoned my bike and got my first skateboard. That was 39 years ago.
Stacey would be the more interesting interview. George wasn’t super involved with the skate part of the company. Stacey built the teams and hired the artists for the design. George funded it and dealt with production.
Steve has done more for skateboarders and skateboarding than anyone in the world. We are blessed to have him still going today. I was there for that Warped Tour Food fight. What a day with Frazier, Cab and the other athletes. Thank you Steve and Kristy :)
Interviews like this are what will always keep me coming back to nine club. Whatever they do with the live show may not ever be the experience but I will ALWAYS come back for these. This shit is important to document
For the most part I've only skated vans for the last 20 years. Chuck Taylor's might be the only other shoes i I can skate. I loved emerica's back then too though.
This has got to be one of my favorite nine clubs. Such a warm and humble dude and I love seeing all the good work vans does outside of skateboarding. Truly warms my heart
There’s a certain likeability to steve, i feel like i could trust him even tho I’ve never met him. Seems like the vans guys really like him and he takes an active part in the actual skateboarding part of vans. Mad respect
What an incredible journey. I never knew the history of vans and what amazing people Steve and his dad Paul were. Thank you for this 9 club, loving this history lesson. Inspiring story too
Bro sent a ton of swag to us in November for a local skate comp fundraiser we did. We couldn't give it all away so about half went to a local charity for kids. Spread the love
in 1982 they were two pairs for $30.00 dollars and give you a ton of stickers. They were on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Burbank Blvd in North Hollywood.
His passion & integrity is infectious and inspiring:) He is a true testament to running a business with a good attitude while having fun and enjoying the progression of treating others with a wholesome quality.
@michaelteasdale2919 he literally told all of us at the store ib Bakersfield free tickets to warped tour back stage passes best tacos ever this and that never happened. My manager said that he does that everywhere he goes
I’m sure the creative inside the offices is great but I worked at the retail side of it as a manager for 5 years and it was a corporate office disguised as a skate shop but i will say Steve’s pop in visits were some things we looked forward to plus the people you meet and work with something I cherished other than that it wasn’t that awesome
I started wearing Vans when I started racing bmx in 82. Never at one point in my life did I not have at least 1 pair since . These days, I got 6 pair, I wont wear anything else. Steve is one of the most down to earth guys there is. Vans is a part of our history. Skate, surf , snowboard or bmx, they were and are always there for us.
I worked on every vans park, plus many of their contests and special photo shoot set ups from the late 90s thru early 00s. They had become a faceless corporate giant by that time. Having the highest rate of HR turnaround in the skate industry made it hard for anyone who wasn't sponsored by them to maintain relationships with anyone working on the inside who could flow some shoes. We couldnt even get socks from them when we were working crazy hours for 4-6weeks away from home. From a purely business perspective, we were just hired contractors. But we felt that being a crew of hardcore skateboarders made us valuable to them from a marketing angle. Even though we never got free shit, when Steve showed up, he really made us feel recognized and appreciated for our work. After putting in 30-40 hours straight to be ready for the opening party, it was Steve's lovable personality and seeing his happiness that made it all seem worth it. When you're miserable and exhausted and Steve hands you a hot dog, you'll swear it's the best you've ever tasted.
Undoubtedly one of the very best humans to go thru time with. I've been repping the brand since the early years (72-73ish) which wasn't easy since I'm from the PNW. I've been part of a Vans Family video project and I will continue to rep as long as I roll thru this life. Steve has kept the Vans family prominent in our lifestyle, and we all couldn't have enough admiration for him. His passion is something to take life lesson from. By far one of my favorite club episodes with all the history he shared💯🤘
Hands down the best show yet! I got my first pair in 77 i lived in Upland so i think it was in Ontario. This was the best history lesson ever, what a role model. Im proud and inspired, good job, and Steve Thank you sir.
I got my first pair in '76-'77 via Skateboarder mag. mail order. We lived on Kauai, and I swear it took 4-6 weeks to get them. Been wearing them ever since. I used to take a black felt tip marker and checkerboard mine. Damn I'm old.
I've been riding BMX and skating since the 80s and always wore vans................and still do. This interview was needed and thank God the dudes at The Nine CLub made it happen!!!
I've been wearing VANS since the early early 80's. My first pair were the black/white checker shoes bought in Mission Beach at Hammel's on the boardwalk. Vans changed me. I'm STOKED Nine Club interviewed him. He is very special.
The first memory I have of wearing Van's is one morning in 1982 at about 8:30 AM when I was about 12 years old and about to ride my Mongoose Motomag BMX bike to school my mother stopped me on my way out the door because she had noticed that I was wearing NO socks with my brand new black & white checkerboard slip-on Van's (because that was the style and NOBODY wore Van's with socks at the time) So after a bit of arguing I agreed to to put on a pair of socks rather then be late for school. Fast forward to later that day at about 3:30 in the afternoon when my Mom met me at the door as I was getting home from school asking me very calmly why I was no longer wearing the socks that she knew for a fact that I wearing when I left that morning for school. I guess with all of the incredible things that happen during a 12 year-olds day at school I had completely forgotten that I had stopped on my way to school taken off my socks and buried them under some leaves in a field in between my house and my school with a solid plan to simply stop on my way back home to put them on again. The next several days I was more than happy to be wearing socks with those Van's since I was grounded from my bike and forced to walk to and from school.
I seen him at punk in the park 2023 vert demo. Super cool guy. He threw a vans checkered scarf and I caught it. Random I was watching the classic nine club Sal interview and he talked about cutting the top off high shoes to make mids or lows like Steve did. I always wondered why shoes had tape on top in classic vids. Pretty hectic how hard skaters had to fight to just get proper gear as the industry wasn’t in there corner.
Wow. I was born in 1982 and was definitely part of the skateboard crew that was suspect of Vans being a corporate entity that didn't care about skateboarding and culture over profits. So cool to hear the story of the Van Dorens' hard work and genuine interest in their community. Looking forward to reading the book now.
3 hrs and I still want to hear more. This episode is like an historical monument to the culture. Excellent story teller / historian, and just an amazing human being. The passion he has for his work is so genuine and inspiring, and his contributions to the culture is unmatched.
Been listening the audiobook for weeks first audiobook ever and it’s such a rad story goes in depth to each of these topics! Highly recommend was great last week with no nine clubs walking the dog 👌🏻
Steve you had done a wonderful job of carrying on the family's legacy. You have always worked so hard for the company, we are all so proud of you and our family. I worked for Jim from 1980 to 1982. I was the person who created the Vans logo for him. He made me head of the art department at Orangewood. I have so many great memories of working for Vans , from my beginnings at the store on Broadway in Anaheim, to the office at Orangewood. It was the best experience of my life 😂❤
One of the best nine clubs I’ve heard so far, and I listen weekely. Y’all are so important to our culture, people can look back in 50 years at these interviews and have a full documentation of the history of skateboarding directly from the mouths of those rhat were there all thanks to the 9club
My son and I met Steve and Christian Hosoi last summer at a Vans store in Oregon. He is the nicest dude. He gave us a bunch of free Vans stuff, super awesome.
This was a real treat. I really love Skate history. I didn’t know how much Steve was really involved. And still involved. This was some of the best Skate history in one of your episodes. I love hearing about different figures in skateboarding, even if they’re not skaters. Steve has done so much for skateboarding that I didn’t even realize how much he actually affected my own life, without knowing it, thank you Steve, and everything you’ve done for skateboarding. This is one of the greatest men in skate history.
I’d be lying if I didn’t partake in many of his grill in’ sessions 🙌🏽 a thanks for all you have done Steve, I had great times competing in all the Vans Triple Crown big air snow events 🙌🏽 still wearing vans to this day and as we speak 🤙🏽
Mr. Van Doren is an all-time living legend, and a prime example of integrity and grassroots outreach and marketing! My first pair of Vans were around the mid 80's and were the checkered slip-ons. It's 2024 and to this day have a pair of burgundy Chukka Boots! I have always been a loyal customer of Vans and will stand by it for life!
Loved this episode, didn't realize til the grill talk that i have INDEED met Steve before grilling at an event just like he said. Vans would host a yearly skate comp in ABQ every year and i'll never forget meeting tony alva, christian hosoi, and steve. They used to give out so much free stuff, love Vans ❤💯
When the movie Lords of Dogtown came out I was in 5th grade and ever since that movie I’ve been a huge fan of Vans‼️🤘🏽 I always have to have a pair, I have a vans flag in my room, i absolutely love the brand and everything they do for skateboarding. Thank you 🙏🏽🫡
Man deserves all his success, backing skating and skaters since day one. When times are tough other brands disappear from skating, go back to making runners and fashion shoes. Vans has always been there.❤
Man it's crazy how when you have a company ran by people who truly whole heartily care about what they're doing that it just stands the test of time with people. If in my life time I could even be half the man Steve is I would want nothing more in life, there's just so much damn love, vans for life
This is awesome. Totally validated alot of memories i have from the very early 80s. Growing up in La puente, Vans have always been the shoe i wanted since kindergarten in 81. All the cool older kids had vans. 😂
I had the privilege to talk to Steve over the phone during the Covid pandemic. He personally called each retail store to thank all the employees for working. Such great man.
Awesome interview. Truth be told I never thought about vans because I was never aware of the history. Now I laugh at myself for never doing the research. Fool! 😂 Nine Club is killing it and I’ve got a pair of Half Cab Neons in the mail. 🤙
Vans don't have another Steve, i hope they know what they'll do after Steve. Steve is basically the company, THE VANS. i hope he'll be there for another 50 years. Could hear his stories for days....what a wonderful guy.
Such a great human being, meet Steve along with Sonja Catalano during early Warped tours in EU. I did end up skating for Vans 17 years, also working as a team manager in my country 2000 till 03. Big fan of Vans still because him.
I was born in ‘88. Been wearing Vans since I can remember. It was the affordable shoe that was functional for my favorite pass time. In the late 90’s, I got laughed at for wearing them. Kids called me poor and a poser, because I didn’t have the flashy DC’s. Still skating to this day 😅
2:21:32 that was hurricane harvey. Lost my house that was off of the San Jacinto river west fork in northeast Houston. Not only does mattress mack help in times of disaster, he also does a lot of school speaking for different age groups about the future, success, business ethics and morals etc etc. I think it’s safe to say I shall cycle out my shoes and rock vans all the way through and out. Can’t beat an origin story and top it with the founder’s son still keeping the family feeling alive. Big thank you and respect to Vans and Steve Van Doren for looking out for all of us🫡
I started walking into this VIP section at Vans Triple Crown at Northstar in Truckee CA and the bouncer stopped me and asked who I was. I pointed across the room and said “All my friends are in there”. I had no idea who Steve was but he was standing by the door. He walks over to the bouncer, gave us both a huge smile and said “Well it’s not a party without your friends!”. Then he asked me if I wanted a beer. I will buy Vans forever as long as this guy gets a cut. Like 15 years later my friend got a job at Vans and he said the hardest part of his job was getting Steve to stop giving people free stuff. What an awesome guy.
Northstar isn’t in truckee
I don't get it, so he didn't know you but pretended he did? This guy's a liar!
I know that man. I lived in Kings Beach Tahoe Vista Canelian Bay Truckee. I have been living in Japan for 15 years tho so I tend to communicate in terms of what people can easily find on a map lololol
@@speezomale4750 why wouldn’t u just say tahoe
I don’t even speak English that often anymore that was a long time ago. Another life. I’ve forgotten all the street names I used to know highway names I don’t think about it much
This man is the Santa Claus of skateboarding. He has such a big heart.
Except he’s never skated
hahha!! word
@@lamBETTERthanY0UDoesn't matter, he's still an absolute legend of the culture.
For sure. Dude appreciates what skaters did for his company so much that he gives back to the community,always. Dude tothe point of helping people in need, we need more people like steve van doren in the world. Alot of rich people don't give at all.
Dude this seems like the most genuine nice man in the whole world. I would be honored to meet this guy. I was born in '01 so I really appreciate the nine club teaching me about my og's that I need to look up to without saying "this is who you should think is a legend" y'all just let em tell their story and let us fall in love with em. I swear everything y'all are doing is so fucking dope
Well said by a youngin’
I work at vans and have met him he is exactly like this in real life. Super nice guy. He went to every single 500+ vans store just to say hey to everyone after we came back from covid. We call him "the ambassador of fun"
The fact that he gives back to the community so much bc he himself is so grateful says all I need to know abt him. Legend
I want to thank Steve, his father, and Vans for being apart of something I love dearly and doing so with absolute credibility. Listening to this enthralling 2.5 hour walk through history has been a true delight. Steve is as cool as Vans itself. Listening to him makes me wish they had never sold the company but I'm glad Steve is a major factor in carrying on the integrity and character of his father's (and partner's) company. Chasing pigeons just ain't their game. Absolutely amazing podcast. One of the best I've heard in a long time. BTW I love my Vans, wearing the Rowan currently. This podcast was off the fucking wall!!!!!!!! Great job Nine Club.
I stopped working at vans but I was able to still get in contact with Steve. He gave me a huge sk8 hi so I can customize it to raise funds for a friend who passed away. I’m forever grateful that people like Steve exist.
I stood next to Steve on side-stage at a Pennywise concert and had a great quick conversation. He's the sweetest human and a legend. This story is amazing. 🙌
I helped film a vans europe video in milan and Steve came to the premiere. He knew everyones name that was involved in the video and personally thanked everyone there. Great guy.
Hands down one of the best interviews you guys have done in awhile. The story and the history of our life style needs to be told and remembered. Steve is amazing and not giving enough credit for all he has done for so many. Thank you for this.
Dude, it's crazy he has been giving back to not only skateboarding but people in need, and not publicizing it. Steve is too sick
Steve is a champ! I remember seeing my first pair of Vans when the bike shop started carrying skateboards. The owner of the shop said they were "BMX shoes" so I got my dad to buy some for $9.99. I was kinda bummed when I saw the skateboarder on the box, but the next year I abandoned my bike and got my first skateboard. That was 39 years ago.
Met this dude at Bondi bowl a Rama in like 2011 and he was there on the bbq smashing out sausage sandwiches for everyone, fucking legend
You guys have been fire lately with The OGz. I'd love a George Powell episode.
Yes.
Chico next!!!
Park builders too would be interesting.
Stacey would be the more interesting interview. George wasn’t super involved with the skate part of the company. Stacey built the teams and hired the artists for the design. George funded it and dealt with production.
Larry Balma too.
Steve has done more for skateboarders and skateboarding than anyone in the world. We are blessed to have him still going today. I was there for that Warped Tour Food fight. What a day with Frazier, Cab and the other athletes. Thank you Steve and Kristy :)
Dude I cld listen to his stories for another 3 hours. What a great human being
Interviews like this are what will always keep me coming back to nine club. Whatever they do with the live show may not ever be the experience but I will ALWAYS come back for these. This shit is important to document
I haven’t bought vans in years but I’m about to tonight.
Steve is such a great human being. Be like Steve everybody. Also my next shoes are vans for sure.
For the most part I've only skated vans for the last 20 years. Chuck Taylor's might be the only other shoes i I can skate. I loved emerica's back then too though.
This has got to be one of my favorite nine clubs. Such a warm and humble dude and I love seeing all the good work vans does outside of skateboarding. Truly warms my heart
Bought my first pair of Vans in 1979 I was 9 years old, now I am 53 and still wear Vans crazy thought to think about.
There’s a certain likeability to steve, i feel like i could trust him even tho I’ve never met him. Seems like the vans guys really like him and he takes an active part in the actual skateboarding part of vans. Mad respect
What an incredible journey. I never knew the history of vans and what amazing people Steve and his dad Paul were. Thank you for this 9 club, loving this history lesson. Inspiring story too
I have watched every Ni e Club episode and this is easily in the top 5 . Absolutely riveting. We all owe Steve so much....
Bro sent a ton of swag to us in November for a local skate comp fundraiser we did. We couldn't give it all away so about half went to a local charity for kids.
Spread the love
in 1982 they were two pairs for $30.00 dollars and give you a ton of stickers. They were on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Burbank Blvd in North Hollywood.
I remember people hating on Kohl’s department store when Vans skatepark closed in Milpitas, CA. I would’ve closed shop too if my rent tripled.
Steve is the man! Skateboarding is lucky to have him.
What a lovely kind man. Always had a high impression of him but it's through the roof now.
His passion & integrity is infectious and inspiring:) He is a true testament to running a business with a good attitude while having fun and enjoying the progression of treating others with a wholesome quality.
He has no integrity he makes a habit of going into vans stores and promising employees cool stuff with no follow thru
@@californiapoontappaYou seem to be the only person on here not liking him….
@@michaelteasdale2919 I'm probably the only person that actually met him
@michaelteasdale2919 he literally told all of us at the store ib Bakersfield free tickets to warped tour back stage passes best tacos ever this and that never happened. My manager said that he does that everywhere he goes
@@californiapoontappa That's pretty wack.
I'm only 14 mins in, and I am grinning ear to ear. Steve's stories have me completely engrossed. Looking forward to listening to the whole show
He’s kind of the Leo Fender of skateboarding shoes. I can only imagine how rewarding it would feel to work for a company this awesome.
I’m sure the creative inside the offices is great but I worked at the retail side of it as a manager for 5 years and it was a corporate office disguised as a skate shop but i will say Steve’s pop in visits were some things we looked forward to plus the people you meet and work with something I cherished other than that it wasn’t that awesome
This is the interview I didn't know I needed. Such great stories & what a nice/positive person
I started wearing Vans when I started racing bmx in 82. Never at one point in my life did I not have at least 1 pair since . These days, I got 6 pair, I wont wear anything else. Steve is one of the most down to earth guys there is. Vans is a part of our history. Skate, surf , snowboard or bmx, they were and are always there for us.
I worked on every vans park, plus many of their contests and special photo shoot set ups from the late 90s thru early 00s. They had become a faceless corporate giant by that time. Having the highest rate of HR turnaround in the skate industry made it hard for anyone who wasn't sponsored by them to maintain relationships with anyone working on the inside who could flow some shoes. We couldnt even get socks from them when we were working crazy hours for 4-6weeks away from home. From a purely business perspective, we were just hired contractors. But we felt that being a crew of hardcore skateboarders made us valuable to them from a marketing angle. Even though we never got free shit, when Steve showed up, he really made us feel recognized and appreciated for our work. After putting in 30-40 hours straight to be ready for the opening party, it was Steve's lovable personality and seeing his happiness that made it all seem worth it. When you're miserable and exhausted and Steve hands you a hot dog, you'll swear it's the best you've ever tasted.
Undoubtedly one of the very best humans to go thru time with. I've been repping the brand since the early years (72-73ish) which wasn't easy since I'm from the PNW. I've been part of a Vans Family video project and I will continue to rep as long as I roll thru this life. Steve has kept the Vans family prominent in our lifestyle, and we all couldn't have enough admiration for him. His passion is something to take life lesson from. By far one of my favorite club episodes with all the history he shared💯🤘
Thank you Vans for everything you have done for skateboarding!
Hands down the best show yet! I got my first pair in 77 i lived in Upland so i think it was in Ontario. This was the best history lesson ever, what a role model. Im proud and inspired, good job, and Steve Thank you sir.
This episode is so good. I’m only an hour in and it keeps getting better. What a guy. So happy to know all this history I would have never known.
This guy is one of the most genuine, caring MFer I've ever met.
One of the very few men I consider a Cadillac of Dudes.
I got my first pair in '76-'77 via Skateboarder mag. mail order. We lived on Kauai, and I swear it took 4-6 weeks to get them. Been wearing them ever since. I used to take a black felt tip marker and checkerboard mine. Damn I'm old.
I've been riding BMX and skating since the 80s and always wore vans................and still do. This interview was needed and thank God the dudes at The Nine CLub made it happen!!!
I've been wearing VANS since the early early 80's. My first pair were the black/white checker shoes bought in Mission Beach at Hammel's on the boardwalk. Vans changed me. I'm STOKED Nine Club interviewed him. He is very special.
The interviewer here does an excellent job asking questions and so does the interviewee answering them.
The first memory I have of wearing Van's is one morning in 1982 at about 8:30 AM when I was about 12 years old and about to ride my Mongoose Motomag BMX bike to school my mother stopped me on my way out the door because she had noticed that I was wearing NO socks with my brand new black & white checkerboard slip-on Van's (because that was the style and NOBODY wore Van's with socks at the time) So after a bit of arguing I agreed to to put on a pair of socks rather then be late for school. Fast forward to later that day at about 3:30 in the afternoon when my Mom met me at the door as I was getting home from school asking me very calmly why I was no longer wearing the socks that she knew for a fact that I wearing when I left that morning for school. I guess with all of the incredible things that happen during a 12 year-olds day at school I had completely forgotten that I had stopped on my way to school taken off my socks and buried them under some leaves in a field in between my house and my school with a solid plan to simply stop on my way back home to put them on again. The next several days I was more than happy to be wearing socks with those Van's since I was grounded from my bike and forced to walk to and from school.
I seen him at punk in the park 2023 vert demo. Super cool guy. He threw a vans checkered scarf and I caught it.
Random I was watching the classic nine club Sal interview and he talked about cutting the top off high shoes to make mids or lows like Steve did. I always wondered why shoes had tape on top in classic vids. Pretty hectic how hard skaters had to fight to just get proper gear as the industry wasn’t in there corner.
I wish more Brand owners were like this…. He gets it 👏🏽 👑
God bless this man. I'm 52, and have been wearing vans since 1979..still rockin Old Schools and Sk8 Hi's. I remember when customs were $18.99
Epsiode was amazing!!
Wow. I was born in 1982 and was definitely part of the skateboard crew that was suspect of Vans being a corporate entity that didn't care about skateboarding and culture over profits. So cool to hear the story of the Van Dorens' hard work and genuine interest in their community. Looking forward to reading the book now.
3 hrs and I still want to hear more. This episode is like an historical monument to the culture. Excellent story teller / historian, and just an amazing human being. The passion he has for his work is so genuine and inspiring, and his contributions to the culture is unmatched.
This is part of why Vans is such a rad company... integrity goes a long way.
Been listening the audiobook for weeks first audiobook ever and it’s such a rad story goes in depth to each of these topics! Highly recommend was great last week with no nine clubs walking the dog 👌🏻
This episode is awesome I've been wearing vans since I started skateboarding in 1985 Love em The best shoe ever 💯🤙🛹
Love Steve Van Doren the love of his father n and what he did with him, I could listen to him talk all day love his heartfelt stories🛹👏🏽🤩Vans👟💼👍🏽🙏🏽
Steve you had done a wonderful job of carrying on the family's legacy. You have always worked so hard for the company, we are all so proud of you and our family. I worked for Jim from 1980 to 1982. I was the person who created the Vans logo for him. He made me head of the art department at Orangewood. I have so many great memories of working for Vans , from my beginnings at the store on Broadway in Anaheim, to the office at Orangewood. It was the best experience of my life 😂❤
This guy is total dad and down to earth.
This man is a complete legend from top to bottom. Amazing episode guys.
One of the best nine clubs I’ve heard so far, and I listen weekely.
Y’all are so important to our culture, people can look back in 50 years at these interviews and have a full documentation of the history of skateboarding directly from the mouths of those rhat were there
all thanks to the 9club
My son and I met Steve and Christian Hosoi last summer at a Vans store in Oregon. He is the nicest dude. He gave us a bunch of free Vans stuff, super awesome.
beautiful episode. Such deep history.
So sick! I've worn this guys shoes since I was 10 and I still do baby!
This is why we need to support the core companies 💯 This is possibly the best episode in the history of the 9 Club 👏 integrity at its finest
Had the pleasure to meet Steve at a event in grand rapids Michigan. Such a genuine and humble man. I hope people find more joy in life like this man👏🏻
My favorite Van were the “Van Doren” all white no blue stripes and a blue bottom. I wished they made that one still.
This was a real treat. I really love Skate history. I didn’t know how much Steve was really involved. And still involved. This was some of the best Skate history in one of your episodes. I love hearing about different figures in skateboarding, even if they’re not skaters. Steve has done so much for skateboarding that I didn’t even realize how much he actually affected my own life, without knowing it, thank you Steve, and everything you’ve done for skateboarding. This is one of the greatest men in skate history.
I’d be lying if I didn’t partake in many of his grill in’ sessions 🙌🏽 a thanks for all you have done Steve, I had great times competing in all the Vans Triple Crown big air snow events 🙌🏽 still wearing vans to this day and as we speak 🤙🏽
Vans are like Nike's are to some people. Super loyal. Awesome episode and Steve's the man!
Mr. Van Doren is an all-time living legend, and a prime example of integrity and grassroots outreach and marketing! My first pair of Vans were around the mid 80's and were the checkered slip-ons. It's 2024 and to this day have a pair of burgundy Chukka Boots! I have always been a loyal customer of Vans and will stand by it for life!
Loved this episode, didn't realize til the grill talk that i have INDEED met Steve before grilling at an event just like he said. Vans would host a yearly skate comp in ABQ every year and i'll never forget meeting tony alva, christian hosoi, and steve. They used to give out so much free stuff, love Vans ❤💯
Steve was my boss for a number of years back in the early 00’s. He is exactly as awesome as you think.
When the movie Lords of Dogtown came out I was in 5th grade and ever since that movie I’ve been a huge fan of Vans‼️🤘🏽 I always have to have a pair, I have a vans flag in my room, i absolutely love the brand and everything they do for skateboarding. Thank you 🙏🏽🫡
Much needed interview. This man is a skateboard historian. Thankyou for archiving and preserving the history of skateboarding!
Man deserves all his success, backing skating and skaters since day one. When times are tough other brands disappear from skating, go back to making runners and fashion shoes. Vans has always been there.❤
I loved listening to the guy, just rifling off the style/color of shoe, based on a number!
thanks a lot steve and his dad paul, vans always being my heart, vans my first skate shoe and my first kickflip.
I think Steve Van Doren is my new favourite person. His enthusiasm is wonderful.
Man it's crazy how when you have a company ran by people who truly whole heartily care about what they're doing that it just stands the test of time with people. If in my life time I could even be half the man Steve is I would want nothing more in life, there's just so much damn love, vans for life
There is not a skater alive or dead who can say they never wore a pair of vans!!!!!
What an awesome man. His sincerity and integrity is inspiring.
This is awesome. Totally validated alot of memories i have from the very early 80s. Growing up in La puente, Vans have always been the shoe i wanted since kindergarten in 81. All the cool older kids had vans. 😂
the GodFather of Fun. Steve is an absolute legend! Kristy and Bob off camera are the best too!
I had the privilege to talk to Steve over the phone during the Covid pandemic. He personally called each retail store to thank all the employees for working. Such great man.
Awesome interview. Truth be told I never thought about vans because I was never aware of the history. Now I laugh at myself for never doing the research. Fool! 😂 Nine Club is killing it and I’ve got a pair of Half Cab Neons in the mail. 🤙
I have the honour and spend times with Steve over the years I worked for Vans! He is the best!! 💯Skateboarding! 🙌🏻
Great guest! Huge fan of Vans 🏁
Legend of Skate shoe LEGEND. THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL 🛹🛹🛹🏁🏁
Vans don't have another Steve, i hope they know what they'll do after Steve. Steve is basically the company, THE VANS. i hope he'll be there for another 50 years.
Could hear his stories for days....what a wonderful guy.
Such a great human being, meet Steve along with Sonja Catalano during early Warped tours in EU. I did end up skating for Vans 17 years, also working as a team manager in my country 2000 till 03. Big fan of Vans still because him.
God Bless this guy. What a righteous man.
What a legend. What a storyteller. What an amazing men 🤩🤩
I was born in ‘88. Been wearing Vans since I can remember. It was the affordable shoe that was functional for my favorite pass time. In the late 90’s, I got laughed at for wearing them. Kids called me poor and a poser, because I didn’t have the flashy DC’s. Still skating to this day 😅
He’s legit a national treasure. 🏁❤️
best episode EVER! i miss the days of when you’d see a kid wearing vans, and you “knew” but i’m stoked to hear all these stories 🔥
Maybe the Best Episode Yet, I love Vans, so interesting hearing the Story, Steve's Mind is Incredible. Thank Guys
James Jebbia as a guest is an absolute must! That would be very cool.
Dope episode it might be time to interview more owners of other iconic skate brands
Watching this interview while wearing a pair of Vans hits different 😂 Thank you Vans for everything. And s/o Nine Club for such a dope interview! 🙏🏾💚
Brings tears to my eyes how sweet this man is!!!
Saw Steve at Maloof DC just randomly walking by, he looked busy but stopped to sign my jacket! What a legend 😊
Skateboard history at it's best. Real talk!
We had the little Van shop in Corona, CA. I wore Van Dorens blue botttoms. 💯
2:21:32 that was hurricane harvey. Lost my house that was off of the San Jacinto river west fork in northeast Houston. Not only does mattress mack help in times of disaster, he also does a lot of school speaking for different age groups about the future, success, business ethics and morals etc etc.
I think it’s safe to say I shall cycle out my shoes and rock vans all the way through and out. Can’t beat an origin story and top it with the founder’s son still keeping the family feeling alive. Big thank you and respect to Vans and Steve Van Doren for looking out for all of us🫡
What a guy. Makes the company and its impact that much better.
This guy understands how to build a brand following!!!