TRANSIT is a new video series by Vans that aims to explore the different forms of public transportation in China, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. The series follows members of its Asia skate team as they explore and rip up the pavement in iconic cities across the four countries. At the helm of the videography efforts is Tommy Zhao, a Shanghai-based skater, photographer, and filmmaker who’s been documenting the Chinese skateboarding scene for nearly a decade. Having witnessed firsthand the growth of Asia’s skate scene over the years, Zhao believes that there are better things ahead for the sport, especially with brands like Vans helping to champion local skaters. “I’ve had a really good relationship with Vans since they’ve started up in China, and they’ve been really supportive of not just my skate videos but the whole skateboard scene,” says Zhao. “Having a skate team, going on tours, and doing grassroots events, Vans has given the opportunity to a lot of skaters in China to live the dream life of skating and traveling to some of the best skate spots in the world.”
Vans最新推出的《TRANSIT》影片系列，旨在探索中国、韩国、新加坡和马来西亚，这四个亚洲国家的公共交通是如何重要，它们成功帮助了滑板选手穿梭于各地。该系列还介绍了亚洲滑手，在这四个亚洲国家，他们用滑板在人行道上探索，冲出一条新路。这一影片系列的掌镜人是Tommy Zhao。他是来自上海的滑手、摄影师和摄像师，曾以影像记录了中国滑板近十年的时间。Tommy高兴地说道，“滑板运动在亚洲正处于上升阶段，这太令人惊喜了。现在的滑手肯定比以前多。十年前的上海，你都很难在晚上的大街上找到滑手，但现在，你去任何一个三线城市，都有可能看到滑板爱好者在当地的广场上闲逛。”
Having witnessed firsthand the growth of Asia’s skate scene over the years, Zhao believes that there are better things ahead for the sport, especially with brands like Vans helping to champion local skaters. “I’ve had a really good relationship with Vans since they’ve started up in China, and they’ve been really supportive of not just my skate videos but the whole skateboard scene,” says Zhao. “Having a skate team, going on tours, and doing grassroots events, Vans has given the opportunity to a lot of skaters in China to live the dream life of skating and traveling to some of the best skate spots in the world.”
这些年来，Tommy亲眼见证了亚洲滑板界的成长，他觉得滑板运动在未来会有更好的前景，特别是当Vans这样的品牌也开始为当地滑板选手提供帮助了。Tommy说：“从Vans进入中国以来，我一直跟他们合作得很愉快，他们不仅支持了我拍摄滑板运动，也对整个滑板界提供了很多帮助。Vans组织了一支滑板队，举办巡回活动，去各地举办活动，让中国很多滑手可以去圆他们的滑板梦想——去世界各个最好的滑板场地玩滑板和旅行。”
By bringing together skaters from each featured region and giving them the chance to explore one another’s home turfs, TRANSIT captures the strong sense of community that’s intrinsic to the sport, demonstrating skateboarding’s status as a universal language that transcends cultural barriers. “When you get taken around by local skaters versus being there just as a tourist, you kind of become a local for that short amount of time,” Zhao comments on the experience. “It’s also refreshing to be reminded that even though we may all be from such different places, when we all sit down for a meal or to hang out, everyone’s the same. We just want to have a great time and share it with friends and family.”
在《TRANSIT》中，来自不同地区的滑手齐聚一堂，去往对方家乡，体验当地的滑板场地。影片展现出了滑板运动所特有的强烈团体感，证明滑板是一种超越文化隔阂的通用语言。Tommy说：“你不再是像个游客一样，而是能够跟着当地的滑手到处逛，在这段短暂的时间里，你几乎就变成了当地人一样。值得一提的是，即使我们来自不同的地方，但是，当大家坐下来吃饭或一起玩的时候，所有人都是一样的。我们只是希望玩得开心，并且与朋友和家人分享这份快乐。”
However, as to be expected, local authorities tend to be less than enthused with skaters visiting their neck of the woods. “Getting kicked out of spots is just part of skating,” Zhao says, shrugging. “It might rain, someone might get hurt, security might show up, or all of these might happen at once. When you travel around with eight to twelve people on these trips, it doesn’t make it any easier. It draws a lot of attention and a lot of the times you just have to figure out how to deal with security guards or the police.”
Skateboarding has long held a bad rep among non-skaters, being defined by its anti-authoritarian, anti-establishment roots. But with its induction into the 2020 Summer Olympics, skateboarding is becoming recognized as a legitimate sport on an international level. Zhao sees both the ups and downs of skateboarding’s newfound validation. On one hand, skateboarding will receive more exposure and support, which will in turn produce more skaters and open up opportunities for emerging talents. However, once skateboarding becomes propped up in the mainstream, it’s doomed for commercialization. “It can produce a lot of greed within the sport, and when a lot of politics get involved, things can get messy,” Tommy comments. “Apparently the Chinese Skateboard Olympic team are some kids they picked from the Shaolin Temple and have never skated in their life. They will be coached and taught how to skate as if it were gymnastics. Their mentality towards skateboarding will probably be a lot different than other kids who pick up skateboarding just for fun. But who knows. Maybe they’ll win gold.”
Check out the TRANSIT series below.
然而，在大多数城市，当地政府对滑板运动就不一定那么欢迎。“滑手常常会被人赶离场地。”Tommy耸耸肩说道，“可能会突然下起雨，说不定有人会受伤，保安可能会出现，也可能这一切同时发生。哪怕有8到12个人同行时，也不会让情况变得容易。因为这样会引来很多人关注，很多时候你还需要去应付保安或警察。”
在滑板圈外的世界，滑板一直以来名声都不太好。因为它是反权威、反体制的根源。但是，随着2020年夏季奥运会的举行，滑板正渐渐成为国际上公认的一项合法运动。滑板运动近年来的兴起，Tommy既看到优点，也看到了它的弊端。一方面，滑板运动将获得更多的曝光和支持，这会产生更多的滑板运动员，并为新兴的滑手健将提供机会。但另一方面，一旦滑板成为主流，它注定要走向商业化。Tommy说：“这可能会让体育运动也受到利益的影响，而当很多政治因素介入其中时，事情就会变得一团糟。”“显然，中国的滑板奥运代表队是他们从少林寺中挑选出来的一些孩子，他们在此前的生活中，从未接触过滑板。他们会被教导如何去滑，就像体操一样。所以他们玩滑板的心态可能也会和其他玩滑板的孩子大不相同。但这事，谁知道呢？也许他们会赢得金牌也说不定。”
一起来观看完整的影片吧。
The debut episode, “Shaolin Shadows,” sees Vans skaters from China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia meet up to explore China’s Hunan province and rip up the streets of Changsha and Zhengzhou’s Shaolin Temple.
在系列第一集影片《Shaolin Shadow》中，来自中国大陆、香港和马来西亚的亚太区滑手一起去探访了中国湖南，从长沙街头滑到郑州的少林寺。
In the second episode, “Satellites,” Australian skaters Bibi Bradbury and Ben Currie join Vans riders from Hong Kong, China, and South Korea as they explore and skate the less-visited areas of Seoul.
在第二集影片《Satellites》，澳大利亚滑手Bibi Bradbury和Ben Currie加入香港、中国和韩国滑手的队伍，跟着他们去探访首尔鲜为人知的场地。
The third installment of TRANSIT, “Be Like Water,” sees skaters from Vans China, Vans Hong Kong, and Vans Malaysia join forces to conquer the streets of Guilin and Nanning.
TRANSIT的第三集《Be Like Water》中，来自中国、香港和马来西亚的滑手们联合起来，在广西桂林和南宁的街头滑板驰骋。
In “Chasing the Malacca,” the fourth and final episode of the TRANSIT series, riders from Australia, Hong Kong, and China meet up with Malaysian skaters as they cruise through Singapore, Langkawi, and Kuala Lumpur in their quest to discover the perfect skate spots.
在《Chasing the Malacca》（TRANSIT系列的第四集，也是最后一集）中，来自澳大利亚、香港和中国的滑手与马来西亚滑手会合，在新加坡、兰卡威和吉隆坡滑板巡游并找寻最完美的溜冰地点。
Website: www.vans.com.cn
Instagram: @vans_cn
Weibo: ~/VansChina
Contributor: David Yen
Images & Videos Courtesy of Vans China
