Vans: Official Shoe of BMXers and break dancers?

ABC News has a crush on Vans Shoes. They have a two page spread on the 40th anniversary of Vans Shoes titled Skateboard Style Hits Middle Age. It’s a fluff piece obviously, but it’s got a brief history of the shoe and a gallery of some old ads that are worth checking out for comedy nostalgia, plus they have a Jeff Spicoli reference in the first paragraph. I’ve pulled out the highlights after the jump.

Yeah, I’ve heard that this also appeared on Skate Daily yesterday. Guess what? They probably get the same Google Alerts that I do. Difference is I’m pretty sure someone is actually getting paid to make those posts. And again, I’m just jealous.

Here’s the only skateboard related ad in the collection.

Although first adopted by Southern California surfers, Vans soon catered to skaters with more padding and edgier colors and patterns.

Plenty of BMX ads though.

Vans’ sticky waffle sole makes the shoes favorites of BMX riders as well as skaters.

Here’s the one you want to see. I’ll bet these would fetch a prretty penny on eBay.

In the mid-’80s, West Coast breakdancers made their mark in Vans. Vans had its own breakdance team at the time.

Another BMX targeted ad. Where were the skate ads? I guess they are making up for it now.

An 80’s advert. What a bunch of cool dudes!

This Vans print advertisement from the early ’80s celebrates the Southern California surf lifestyle.

Ha. This is mildly amusing. Is it?