Vans x Breana Geering
Hailing from Kelowna in the southern interior of BC, Canada, 22 year old Breana Geering is an unquestionably talented skater best known for her humble persona and her contributions to the contemporary skate scene. The first female skater to ride for California’s Girl Skateboards and a prominent team rider for Vans since 2019, 2021 marks the punctual arrival of two debuting signature skate shoes for the skater under Vans’ latest ‘Skate Classics’ collection; a Vans Skate Era and a Vans Skate Old Skool.
Haphazardly stumbling upon an old dusty skateboard in the garage of her childhood home when she was aged just 12, Geering’s passion for skate is one ingrained in her plucky persona and is indicative of her untainted sense of generic fearlessness. With the powers of YouTube still evolving during the early ‘00s, Geering’s main inspiration hailed from the likes of the legendary Elissa Steamer, X-Games pioneer Marisa Del Santo and other girl skaters that uploaded online stints filmed off of their family heirloom handhelds. With her roots in West Kelowna home to only a rundown BMX park and an abundance of parking lots, there’s no question as to how the flatlands inspired Breana’s now highly evolved technical skate style, with manuals and impossibles now a mainstay of her style. Moving to Vancouver after finishing college in search of a new start and big city openness, the likes of Antisocial Skateboard Shop owner Michelle Pezel continues to inspire, with her community inspired initiatives a pioneering gesticulation for the evolving female skate scene that Geering finds herself embedded within.
Officially inaugurated through her 2018 ‘Wisteria’ solo part for Thrasher, a follow-on from her part in 2016’s Bakers Dozen full length for The Bakery Skateshop, Breana became the first female rider to be signed to Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, Megan Baltimore and Spike Jonze’s Girl Skateboards a year later, joining the likes of Cory Kennedy and Sean Malto, with her creative yet collected skate style showcased in edits such as Girl’s ‘Out for a Rip’ and their recent ‘Nervous Circus’ part. That same year, Geering found herself as the only female skater on Thrasher’s ‘Am Scramble 2019’ rosta, with her signing to Vans arriving around the same time. Despite a seemingly short relationship thus far, the skater’s pairing with Vans’ has been nothing but fruitful, with her appearance in the ‘Show Us Your Style’ Girls Skate Clinic, Vans’ all-girl South Pacific ‘Arms Wide Open’ stint and 2020’s ‘Credits’ film directed by Aussie Shari White featuring Breana alongside the likes of other women’s skate personalities such as Beatrice Domond, Una Farrar and Fabiana Delfino.
Styled with creamy-marshmallow toned mixed material uppers with a luxe-like cracked snakeskin trim, the Vans Breana Geering Skate Era arrives as one half of the skater’s signature skate shoe debut in partnership with the Anaheim brand. Part of the new and improved ‘Skate Classics’ collection, these remastered #95 Eras feature advanced DURACAP reinforcements across the overlays and underlays, whilst the deep knurl texture across the toe bumpers and the higher sidewall foxings combine to ensure elevated abrasion resistance straight from first wear. A longer lasting tread depth keeps challenging terrains and back-to-back sessions at bay, whilst the POPCUSH energy returning footbeds and internal cushioning makes for a softened day-on-day skate. A locked-in fit is achieved through the innovative strapped tongue, with the metallic 5 eyelet lacing system providing additional security to suit. Brushed-back suede complements the bumper and heel-brace, with checkerboard flag labelling across the textured quarter mirrored by Vans’ all new ‘Off The Wall Skateboarding’ rubberised heel scab. A two tone release that pairs all black trims with quirky textured panelling in honour of the team riders energetic persona and non-conformist vibe.
For fans of the iconic #36 silhouette, the latest Vans Breana Geering Skate Old Skool pairs rebellious undertones with performative precision to ensure a comfortable and well controlled wear. Complementary to the collection’s classic tone Era counterpart, these mixed material Old Skools combine an all black rubber outsole with ‘Skate Classic’ collection advancements to the DURACAP overlays, toe knurl, tonal foxings and the traction focused Waffle tread. A shade of rich burgundy supplies a sought after element of depth to the ageless design, with Vans’ iconic bold black side stripe styled with the new checkerboard trim. Cracked snakeskin quarters are in keeping with the Era’s aesthetic for this two-part release, with the StickSick rubber compound, internal heel shank and the moulded heel counter ensuring a secure and stable wear regardless of skate style. Contrasting flat white laces pair well with the strapdown lock tight tongue to provide an improved fit, with the black leather collar trim adding to the release’s high end feel.
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