As Vans make their triumphant return to making snowboard boots, they also have announced four new additions to their team – it’s an array of American rail rats that’ll put a smile on the balaclava-ed face of any die hard jibber.

It’s an array of American rail rats that’ll put a smile on the face of any die hard jibber

Danimals has been on many a radar for years, his flowing ginger hair now almost as unmistakable as his solid skate style and select bag of dreamy looking rail tricks. Having just signed up to Ride snowboards with fellow new Vans recruit Dillon Ojo, the pair of them are enjoying some real internet lovin’ this month with welcome edit after welcome edit dropping.

Sam Taxwood also makes the jump to waffle-soled goodness – the Park City local made waves in both Snowboarder Mag’s movie Foreword and our favourite film of the year – Nitro’s The Bad Seeds – so the possibilty of seeing him alongside the others in the rumoured Vans movie next year bodes well for its quality.

Finally, WL favourite Mike Rav is now officially rocking his unique take on snowboarding in Vans boots, pushing the tweak-ability of their line to its absolute limit. It’s exciting times for Vans, it’s exciting times for snowboarding.