Chris Pfanner

Chris Pfanner hasn’t just been a staple and a stalwart of the European skate scene for the best part of the past three decades, he’s been instrumental in shaping the culture and Vans team into what it is today. Born in Nigeria, Pfann man as he’s affectionately known relocated to Austria during his teenage years, then moved to the skate mecca that is Barcelona and currently resides in Germany - all while traveling the planet on back-to-back mission as a pro skater. Now leading the charge firmly from the front as the Vans Team Manager, we decided to call Pfanner to get the low down on what makes him tick, the importance of family, community, how skating has shaped the past decades of his life and a place by the sea. It takes a village…

Give us a little background on yourself?

I’m Chris Pfanner, I’m 40 years old. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria where I lived until I was 10 years old. From there I moved to Austria for another ten years or so where I finished school, where I studied computer engineering - when I was done with school, I decided to chase my dream of being a pro skater and moved to Barcelona. I lived there for seven or so years with a lot of back and forth to the US, from there I moved to Germany where I live now!

Talk us through your journey in skateboarding.

When I was living in Africa, I saw skateboards on the Ninja Turtles but never really got to grips with what it was… My first real encounter with a skateboard was when I got to Austria, I was living alone for the first four years in a boarding school before the rest of my family arrived. We had some ramps set up and were messing around with our roller-skates and BMXs, in the neighbourhood there was some kids that would come over and skate our ramp – we had a little beef with them because of their axel stalls and things they were doing on our ramp. We wanted to try and get rid of them, I saw they were trying to ollie over two boards and I said “what the hell are you guys doing – it looks so easy”. They said “well if it’s so easy, give it a shot, let’s see what you got.” So I grabbed the board and pushed around, managed to ollie over the decks and realized how fun and addictive it was, from then on the path was set.

From then on, I really got into skating, I went to the local skate shop and met the local community of skaters. The owner was really supportive and took us to competitions in Austria and later in Germany. He had a brand called Yama Skateboards that was my first sponsor along with the shop. Things kept rolling from there, I got noticed by Vans in 1998 when I got my first pair of Vans. My mum insisted that I finished school and get a proper education but with the support of Vans I was able to travel Europe skating.

In 2005, I won the European Championships and started getting more sponsors. I finished school and I moved to Barcelona. I ended up moving to Deluxe Distribution, after being seen in a mag, it was hard to leave Yama as I wanted to stay loyal to people that helped me from the start. In 2007, I got bumped into the Vans Global team and they came over to Barcelona to come visit me, skate and hang out. Julien Stranger was on that trip and in turn invited me to San Francisco, hung out with the crew and from there it was a done deal, and I ended up on Anti Hero which was a huge honour for me, being European on a US board brand.

What have been some highlights in your career so far?

The opportunity to work on the Propeller film, it was five years in the making and the first ever proper Vans video. It was a great honour to have a part in that video alongside the likes of AVE, Geoff Rowley, Kyle Walker, Chima Ferguson and an amazing list of skaters on that video. The whole time I was like “how the hell is this happening, how did I end up here?”

Turning pro for Anti Hero was a huge one as well, such an amazing team to be on. Getting a board from them was a dream come true, something before I couldn’t even imagine.

Describe your local scene.

I currently live in Nuremberg, Germany. I met my ex-wife in Barcelona but we ended up doing some back and forth in California for my career but it was hard there for her, so we ended up moving back to Germany to be close to her family. It’s not a skate mecca like Barcelona but managed to make it work from there. My son was born in 2012, and my daughter in 2015 – sadly the way things went in life we ended up separating but I couldn’t imagine being without my kids so I’m staying here.

The scene here is cool, it’s growing more and more. The young kids coming up are super hyped and there’s plenty going on. We finally got an indoor park so the winters have become a lot better. That’s really driving the scene, the future is looking bright for Nuremberg.

How has your transition been into the Team Manager role?

It really all happened naturally. The TM in the US when I got onto global, Jamie Hart’s his first trip out of the US was when they came to Barcelona, I helped arranged things here, the same for Propeller so it all came pretty easily. After propeller was done, in 2016 I was hit up by Vans Europe to organize a trip and managed to get a good result. I guess they saw I could manage that task! Being a father and realizing at some point my skate career could end or get cut short by injury – you never know, it’s good to have a plan!

I like organizing trips, I like helping my friends out. I’m very grateful to Vans for this opportunity. I will say it’s always a bonus to go to the places where I want to skate, so I can get my clips as well…

How important is it to you fostering and nurturing a team?

It’s everything. You see it the whole time in the skate industry, kids get discovered and there is this hype but they can burn out quick. I try and channel my experience that I have had to guide them, lead them on the right path to make the right decisions. To have a strong career and a sustainable career - it’s mutually beneficial for the brands and the skaters. I’m a person that cares, I really put my heart and soul into everything I do. The team that we have put together so far feels like a little family, everyone looks out for each other and is really supportive. That’s the main ingredient for the success of our program, a bunch of friends that want to see each other succeed.

We’ve heard your mum has become instrumental on Vans skate trips?

That came from desperation, during Covid we had to find some loopholes. It’s key on skate trips that the team is well fed, and when restaurants were closed it was impossible. The solution I found was to ensure we were all in our bubble, the van, the spot, the house. So that’s where mum came in, she would form part of the bubble and come and cook for us, for sixteen boys! She wasn’t fazed by that, I’m one of seven siblings – she has done that her whole life. She makes a little menu for the week, starting with breakfast that wakes up the whole house by the smell, she will then make sandwiches for the day and then on the way back, the crew are looking at the menus she has printed out for dinner and are hyped on it! They can’t wait to get back home. It’s a really nice way of connecting the crew, dinner, beers, chatting. She’s become an invaluable on our trips. It’s a family.

My mum would always say, ‘I never heard of anything good that happened on an empty stomach’. I stand by that.

Do you place an emphasis on the importance of community?

There’s this saying, it takes a whole village to raise a child. That transcends skateboarding -community is a vital thing. We are most influenced by our close surroundings and I feel it’s key to pay attention to that. Looking to our left and right and helping those next to us will make the world a better place. Skateboarding is a small scene, we’re stronger together.

What and who inspires you in skating?

It’s always been what’s closest to me. It started with Yama, Anti Hero and Vans – I’m inspired by my close surroundings. However skating is a global entity and I’m of course open minded and wide eyed – I’m really inspired by the sheer diversity of skating in 2025, I’d say I’m inspired by skateboarding as a whole!

And outside of skating? What gets you fired up?

It’s not just the act of skating itself, it’s a creative outlet that needs art and music to sustain itself. I like shooting photos as well, and art in general I would say inspires me. Through skating I’ve met so many different scenes, like the motorbike scene – I’m deeply passionate about old Harley Davidsons. I’m so grateful for skating, it’s really shaped my whole life. I’ve recently got into surfing as well which is great, I love the water and it’s gentler on my bones than skating.

What’s next for you?

Trying to do the best for my Vans Crew, working as much as I can, travelling the world. My kids are growing now too and being a part of that is amazing. I’m trying to look for somewhere I can spend the rest of my life, somewhere by the water in nature would be nice. Somewhere where when my kids are tired of the rat race, they can come and see me, hang out recharge the batteries and get back out there. Also to take care of my folks, they are getting older – they laid the path for me and I need to repay that. I’m not asking for too much in life.

What’s your favourite Vans shoe to skate in?

The All Black Slip-On, growing up as a kid I was a big fan of Kung Foo and Bruce Lee, they are my Ninja Boots. I can fly all over the place.

Any last words? A message for the internet? A message to your former self?

Take it day by day. Focus on the things that are important in life, the simple things. Don’t ask for too much – be happy with what you have. It will all come good.