Vans Doubles Down On Equal Pay, Equal Platform!

Today the progressive souls at the most successful roots brand in the biz, Vans, announced they’d be taking the traveling circus known formally as The Duct Tape, aka the Duct Tape Invitational, aka Joel Tudor’s now decade-long logjam, to Chinese shores. 

And along with the 16 male luddites dragging 10′-foot-plus coffins through Chinese customs and down to Riyue Bay, will be sixteen of the most stylish single-fin sisters from all corners of the globe. This falls on the heels of the first all-female Vans Duct Tape Invitational at the US Open earlier this year. 

The fisrst all-women’s Duct Tape Invitational finalists, at the 2018 Vans US Open: Ivy Thomas, Karina Rozunko, Sierra Lerback, and Kelis Kaleoppa.

Photography

Jimmy Wilson

Here’s the Vans PR team on the gender-gap-closing event: “The Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational longboarding series heads to a brand new location on the island of Hainan, China November 10-11. For the first time in Duct Tape history, the invitational will present both a men’s and a women’s division, showcasing a diverse group of progressive surfers from around the globe. The Duct Tape Invitational longboarding competition in Hainan will encourage each 16-person division to emphasize their style and creativity in a traditional surfing aesthetic. 

Contest director and surf icon Joel Tudor will gather 32 of the world’s most innovative longboarders to meet in Hainan’s renowned Riyue Bay, the birthplace of Chinese surfing. Running on a two-day window beginning November 10, the 17^th edition of the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational will welcome previous 2018 DTI winnersHonolua Blomfield and Andy Nieblas to surf alongside regional wildcard riders Yuzuru Shinjo, Tie Zhuang, Monica Guo and Timmei Chou. The Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational in Hainan will also introduce several new faces to the longboarding circuit, including Blake Michaels, Grant Noble, Lola Mignot and Victoria Vergara.”

The men’s finalists at the Duct Tape Invitational Zarautz—Tyler Warren, Andy Nieblas, Alex Knost, and Ryan Burch—being sent into the brine by Joel Tudor.

Photography

Jimmy Wilson

Duct Tape Invitational Zarautz winner, Andy Nieblas.

Photography

Jimmy Wilson

As always with the Duct tapes, mandatory use of traditional, single-fin logs without modern attachments are enforced rigorously; and no interference allowed. Additional points are awarded for best shared wave, encouraging surfers to ride the same wave with style and creativity.

Here’s the invitees:

Women’s Division

Chloe Calmon

Hallie Rhor

Hiroka Yoshikawa

Honolula Blomfield

Karina Rozunko

Kelis Kaleopaa

Lola Mignot

Makala Smith

Mason Schremmer

Monica Guo

Roisin Carolan

Sierra Lerback

Summer Richley

Timmei Chou

Tory Gilkerson

Victoria Vergara

Men’s Division:

Alex Knost

Andy Nieblas

Blake Michaels

Grant Noble

Harrison Roach

Jared Mell

Justin Quintal

Kyle Perez

Myles Doughman

Tie Zhuang

Tom Payne

Tory Elmore

Tyler Warren

Yuta Sezutsu

Yuzuru Shinjo

Zach Flores