They say that you should never meet your childhood heroes. 

My obsession with skateboarding began 45 years ago in the late 1970’s. At school, I seemed to be the only kid interested in skateboarding, as everyone else was obsessed with football.

I brought my first pair of Vans ‘Off the Wall’ skateboarding shoes from 'Trade Winds' a skateboarding store in Fulham Broadway, in London. They were the same shoes as those advertised in the Skateboarder Magazine. They were blue and red blue and I just had to have them! 

And so began my life long love affair with Vans, and to this day I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not have at least one pair in by wardrobe.

I first saw 'Dog-Town' skateboarding legend Tony Alva, aka ‘Mad Dog’ at the skatepark named after him, The Mad Dog Bowl (M.D.B) in the Old Kent Road, in South East London. The M.D.B was built inside an abandoned cinema, which meant you could skate all year around, without the great British weather ruining your day.

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  Tony Alva Skating at The Mad Dog Bowl in 1978 Photo Credit: Wynn Miller

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Fast forward 45 Years and I’m a little older and greyer, but still wearing Vans. Over the years I have tried to find a pair of Vans the same as my first pair, in the original red and blue colour, but without success.

As the kids are currently on summer holiday we decided to arrange a trip to Covent Garden. On Thursday evening, the night before the trip and at the end of a very stressful week, I had a strange sense that the next day, I would finally find my holy grail pair of Vans. Upon arrival at Covent Garden tube station, we decided to check out the Vans store first on the off chance that I may finally find what I have been looking for all these years.

Once in store I noticed some amazing old photographs of Tony Alva, from 1978 when he was on a UK tour. Whilst chatting with the friendly staff about the photographs, I mentioned seeing him at the M.D.B. It was then that I noticed a display of the original red and blue Vans that I had been seeking all these years! 

As if things couldn't get better they then informed me that the man himself Tony Alva (T.A) and Mr Vans Steve Van Doren (S.V.D) would be visiting the store later that day for a meet and greet session. I almost could not believe my ears, not only had I finally found my dream shoes, but I would also get to meet my heroes. 

All we had to do was to kill 6 hours before the in store meet and greet.

The hours passed slowly until it was eventually time to join the end of the friendly and well-mannered queue. My amazing wife had agreed to travel into central London to join us for this special event. We finally made it in inside the store, and down to the basement, to join another shorter queue for the meet and greet. Time seemed to stand still and after a brief word with T.A who signed my limited edition T-shirt,  agreed to a photo, and a high 5 handshake with S.V.D, we were back out on the street.

3532826c-f8fe-41ec-be8d-6eee594851bd                                                    Meeting Tony Alva 

We finished the end of a perfect day with a Pizza and a a weary train ride home. Later that night I didn’t sleep too well, as the excitement from the day was still bouncing around inside my brain.

So, the lesson I have learned is everything comes to those who wait (eventually) and meeting your childhood heroes is actually cool, and nothing to be feared.

A big shout out to the amazingly friendly staff at the Covent Garden store including the store manager Bella, for her warm words and the merch!  

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 My home studio homage to Tony Alva and Vans merch. Note the double spread at the bottom of the photograph is my old school art homework book, carefully wrapped with a photograph of Tony Alva, taken at the Mad Dog Bowl 45 years ago in 1978