Action and music at Go Skateboarding Day 2024
Vans Philippines spearheaded an exciting celebration of Go Skateboarding Day at the MetroTent Convention Center in Pasig City. It drew over 2,500 attendees and brought together the skateboarding community for a day filled with high-energy performances, community bonding and a shared passion for the sport.
Go Skateboarding Day, established by the International Association of Skateboarding in 2004, is a global event that celebrates skateboarding culture and supports local skate shops and communities.
Vans has been a key player in these celebrations across the Asia-Pacific region for over 12 years, organizing events in 11 countries and 20 cities this year, in partnership with more than 18 skate shops from Australia to Mongolia.
The Pasig City celebration was a testament to Vans’ commitment to fostering the skateboarding community. Alphonsus Mandigma, Action Sports marketing representative for Vans, said, “We’ve seen the growth of the culture over time; our goal is to always push the culture forward and make it something that the community always looks forward to,” he said.
The event featured collaborations with key local skate communities such as The Rail PH, Calle PH, Wang Hardware, Malachi PH and The SkateMunchkins. Attendees participated in open skate sessions, showcasing their skills and creativity.
Notable skate athletes and Vans Team riders, including Cindy Lou Serna of Skate Pilipinas, rising star Justin Estenzo and para-athlete Kevin Almazan, performed impressive tricks during open exhibitions.
Musical lineup
The musical lineup added to the day’s excitement. False Contender kicked off the performances with a high-energy hard rock set. Badwave, led by skater and musician Jerwin Santos (Kumander Kobra), followed with their unique blend of sounds. The Chongkeys kept the momentum going with their seamless transition from metal to hard rock.
Waiian, another skater-musician, delivered soulful tunes while also participating in skate activities. The event culminated in the long-awaited reunion of Kartell’em, igniting an eruption of cheers and chants from the audience.
“The true purpose of this event is to unite skaters and inspire them to keep pushing forward in every aspect of life. Seeing figures like Jerwin from Badwave and Waiian, who started as regular skaters, now giving back to the community, is a powerful reminder of why we eagerly anticipate this event every year. Skateboarding has always been about creative expression,” says Mandigma, who added that they have plans for more skateboarding events around the country.
