30 Years of The Half Cab in Bangkok, Thailand
Lukman Hakim -
First and foremost, a big thank you to Vans Skate APAC, Preduce, Vans Thailand & Vans Singapore for the invite for media coverage on the 30 Years of The Half Cab. It was a very hospitable trip, as Thailand has the greatest hospitality in the world.
A trip to Bangkok, Thailand after Covid is unusually smooth than I expected. It was as if Covid never happened. The journey from check in baggage to scanning of passport to boarding of the plane is as smooth as pre-Covid times. When I arrived at Don Meuang International Airport, I was greeted with no lines at the customs. Took the bags from the baggage row and made my way to Gate 3 to be greeted by the Vans Thailand’s liaison officer waving a paper that has a Vans Logo with my name on it. Waited for 4ormedia to arrive.
As we took off from the airport to the Jasmine Grande Residences via a premium van. I was greeted with great hospitality from Jasmine Grande Residences with smooth check-ins and received the keycard to the room within a minute. Got a surprise from Preduce, Vans Skate APAC with a care package that was presented on the bed. Received a limited edition Preduce board with the design of 30 Years of The Half Cab logo, a Vans Half Cab shoe, Vans blanket and a tote bag that is filled with Thailand’s sweet delicacy & Preduce sticker pack.
As dinner time is imminent, the media team met at the lobby for the first time to get to know one another. After getting to know one another, we head to Baan Preduce for dinner that is served by Chef Napol “Joe” Jantraget from Samior Restaurant and his team. We were served with a 5 course Thai cuisine.
The next day, the Preduce team brings the media to sight-seeing around Bangkok by taking the boat ride to Wat Arun Temple, the whole crew zipping around in a tuk-tuk to Wat Pho temple where a tour guide brings us around the place. After all the sight-seeing, we would have our lunch at Supannigga Restaurant, to enjoy the local Thai cuisine.
As we head back to Baan Preduce for the event covering an interview with Steve Caballero. The legend and icon himself! For someone of such a profile, experience and a symbol in skateboarding, Steve is such a humble guy filled with warmth and presence.
With his vast experience and decades at the forefront of skateboarding history, I wouldn’t wanna waste this opportunity to seek some skateboarding wisdom, in hopes to share them with our audience and the younger generations of skateboarding to come. As it was my first interview with an iconic figure in skateboarding, I felt nervous during the interview. Steve reciprocated with his replies in such grace and quality that it calmed me down as we progressed through the interview.
Not too long after the interview, the Vans APAC team with Steve Caballero was presented to the public. They planned a meet & greet with the iconic skateboarder and the Vans APAC team.The whole team tore Baan Preduce Skatepark down! With a guest appearance by Steve Caballero himself! Tons of heavy tricks!
The best trick on the Dragon’s Spine is on the way, with the finest local talents in Bangkok, getting the specific tricks to win a cash prize after they land the trick. That is the end of day 1 of the 30 Years of Half Cab event that is happening at Baan Preduce.
Day 2 of 30 Years of Half Cab - Started with a film workshop hosted by Janchai, Preduce’s director, TRK’s Griptape workshop & Geng Jakkarin skateboarding workshop. Truly memorable workshops that were hosted by Thailand’s greatest talent.
The start of the Best Trick for the Big Section Is imminent with local Thai talents ripping the big section with amazing tricks. But the MVP of the big section goes to Indonesia’s Basral Graito, by winning 20 000 baht.
With all the skateboarding done, the event welcomes two musicians, H3F & Paradise Bangkok Molam International. It was a great scene to see how long we yearn for live music after covid. It truly brings out all the dance moves from everyone, with skaters around the world dancing with each other. Now that is the spirit of skateboarding, inclusivity. After all the skating and concert, Day 2 of 30 Year of the Half Cab is done.
I have really enjoyed the hospitality of Thailand, Preduce & Vans Thailand and I appreciate the invitation to their beautiful country and the covering media for their event. An absolutely wonderful trip that I will never forget.
Watch the full video of my interview with Steve Caballero!
Feel free to read the full transcript below.
Steve Caballero:
Nice to meet you!
SGX:
So we have a few questions. I have five questions. So first, Happy 30th Anniversary on the Half Cab. So after 46 years in skateboarding, You have achieved numerous achievements in Skateboarding. Like, being the winner of Gold Cup Contest and also being the Skater Of The Century for Thrasher. So the first question is, what are your fondest memories of your experiences in skateboarding?
Steve Caballero:
Fondest memory was probably getting on the Bones Brigade. Getting picked up by Stacy Peralta in 1979. Having him be a judge at one of the competitions and meeting him in person. Someone who I've followed over the years and skateboarder magazine I looked up to. And for him to come up and have an interest in me, in my skating and want me to be a part of this company that he was starting called Powell Peralta. And so I would say that was one of my fondest memories is becoming part of the Bones Brigade, becoming part of the Powell Peralta team back in 1979.
SGX:
So the second question will be, in your opinion, what makes the Half Cab popular among the skaters for the past 30 years?
Steve Caballero:
Um. What makes the half cab popular is the fact that it's been a mainstay for Vans. It's been a shoe that is has stood the test of time as far as function, as far as fashion, as far as the skateboarders choice a shoe made for skateboarding, for skateboarders. And the fact that it's a great looking shoe and that Vans has kept it in the line for that many years and I don't know. It's an iconic fashion statement when it becomes when you're talking about skateboarding.
SGX:
So like we talk about the past 30 years. So how do you see the Half Cab Shoe evolve in the future?
Steve Caballero:
Um, what I see is in the future of Half Cab is new colorways and new collaborations with different people. And just having associated with the brand on different levels and maybe, you know, expanding the line so it's offered in all sizes when it comes to kids, to women's, to just regular mainstream outlets, to you know, the hardcore skateboarders. I feel like the Half Cab could be a brand of its own within Vans because the shoe is so popular and it's so well-loved by not just the skateboard community, but there's a lot of BMX riders that like to wear it and I wear it when I ride mountain bikes. So we're trying to introduce a Half Cab shoe to mountain biking as we speak.
SGX:
For now with the current skateboarding situation, so with the current inclusivity in skateboarding like more kids that start skateboarding, how do you see skateboarding in 30 years time?
Steve Caballero:
Man, Hard question.
If I could see into the future, I could tell you. But I can't. I can only tell you the way it's going. And I feel like because of the Olympics, because of the global recognition, I feel like skateboarding is going into channels and going into having opportunities that it's never been presented before and introducing it to cultures that never even heard of skateboarding. And I feel like, you know, it's something that could go into the educational part of high schools where, you know, how high schools have soccer fields, football fields, basketball courts. I could see high schools or any kind of school having skateboard parks part of their curriculum for P.E., you know? I feel like that's another that's the next level when it comes to skateboarding, because we all going to have public skate parks all over the world. And that's been great. But I feel the next the next door to open up is the educational part of the sport, learning about the history of it and also expanding it in a PE, you know, when it comes to high schools or any kind of school.
SGX:
So the last question will be we have learned that you have started skating since when you were 12. Spending 46 years, what will be your message to other 12 years old learning skateboarding that will help them progress?
Steve Caballero:
I think the only message I could give to any 12 year old kid getting into skateboarding is to just keep a positive mental attitude when it comes to the sport, stay open minded and always let new opportunities and stay creative and stay challenged, you know, and just focus on enjoying it just because of what it gives you this ability to accomplish goals. And just remember that you need first need to fail many times before you can be successful. So don't be afraid to fail.
SGX:
Thank you so much for the interview!
Steve Caballero:
Thank you so much!
