Zumiez Trip: Day 11.

Day 11 of our tour is in the books and this tour ends on a major high note as Mike V spent a record 6 hours in the Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut signing autographs, shaking hands and posing for photos with his fans who showed up in such numbers that the signing could not even take place in the actual Zumiez store but instead was held in a larger common area of the mall. Waterford locals were overheard saying that they had never seen the mall so crowded and when they found out it was for a skateboarder that all of these people had flocked to the mall to meet they were left scatching their heads. That is until they actually stopped to watch Mike interact with his audience and then they understood.

There is no one and I mean no one in any profession or walk of life who values his fans like Mike V does or who is as valued by his fans as much as Mike V is. When you see Mike V greet each and every person big and small with a truly sincere handshake and smile and then proceed to spend real time with each person and give them all, each and every last one, their own special moment you realize you are watching something very rare. Mike V does not see a mass of people before him, he sees unique individuals and he lets every last person know that they are just that — and that they are special in their own way and that they matter to him. Adults and children standing in line for over four hours to meet a guy who rides a skateboard really is pretty crazy but when you take into account that it’s Mike V, it is completely justifiable.

On with the photos…


Our day started in the lobby of our hotel where Mike made time to visit with Lindsay Tenore who has been a big Mike V supporter on Twitter but who couldn’t make the signing later that day. No problem, Mike V makes time for his fans. It pays to follow Mike on Twitter.


Mike also signed some posters for a few young kids in the lobby.


Mike with Lindsay 1 and Lindsay 2.


After we split out of the hotel we headed over for a quick session at the Groton Skatepark before heading over to the mall.


I stopped into the mall a bit early and was surprised to find the line for the signing was not in the Zumiez store but instead in a common area of the mall.


Mike making time for some VIPs, Andy Hilfiger and posse backstage.


The posse.


Mike also took time out to meet & greet with fan club member Dan Patenaude. Membership has it’s privileges folks.


Mike parts the crowd while heading into the signing.


Slapping fives and shaking hands all the way in.


Early bird gets the worm. Here are the first two guys in line.


Haven’t seen one of these in a few years. Very rare Pathway Clothing/Powell Peralta calabo zip up sweatshirt.


Zumiez sold out of their entire stock of Mike V decks at each stop of this tour and today was no exception. Here are the first 3 off the shelf today, now fully autographed and ready to be displayed.


This guy was the lucky recipient of the first deck that Mike gave away today. The torch is passed on once again.


Mike V’s photo from the Bam’s Or Bust article in TWS… now autographed.


More Reese’s Pieces up in this piece! Wud up!?


A mall cop busted onto the scene to try to get some surveillance footage of Rudolph.


Mike brought out a killer photo of Mike V from the Tony Hawk Gigantic Skatepark Tour in 2001. Walkin’ the plank…


Free skate deck #2 given out to a worthy recipient.


Chokeholds on request.


Original and the reissue.


Signing up an Element deck.


All ages affair.


If there was a spirit or enthusiasm award presented at these signings, I would give it to this family.


Mike V takes it to the floor for a shoe autographing request.


Thanks for stopping by Tommy. Thumbs up.


This kid ruled! Recipient of free deck #3 today. And this one came from Mike’s personal stash.


These had to be the most random and surprising items to be signed today. A girl brought two thongs with her to have Mike sign them.


The mall’s Easter Bunny had no customers today so he had to come over and see who was putting a hurting on all his business.


Google image search and hit print.


The classics will never die.


The wait is almost over… these guys are next in line.


More deck signage…


Taking it to the couch.


Per his request. Lightning bolt to the cheek!


More Reese’s Piece’s brought as gifts. Thanks to everyone who brought us Reese’s Pieces this week. Our dentists love you!


One of the more cool and unique items brought through the line today. A vocal microphone now signed by Mike.


Everyone wants a forearm lightning bolt.


Dr Sexy? What the…


Personalized, signed and ready to be displayed.


A family of Mike V fans, proving once again that Mike V is multigenerational.


Back over on the couch it’s two thumbs up.


Due to a lack of Reese’s Pieces, Mike took it to the couch for a quick nap but the next kids in line woke him up.


This kid absolutely ruled. He read about Mike V coming to Zumiez in his local newspaper and asked his grandfather to take him. His grandfather said “no” as he wasn’t too excited about standing in line in a mall for hours on end. But this kid explained to his grandfather that meeting Mike V would be “The experience of a lifetime.” Upon hearing his young grandson explain something as “The experience of a lifetime”, granddad realized how important this was. Here he is… captured on film with Mike V forever… the experience of a lifetime. Just further proof how much skateboarding rules and connects us all.


Technology.


Someone is clearly going to school tomorrow with Mike V drawn on their forehead.


Paul Blart’s cousin, Timmy Blart stopped by to check on the situation.


2010 is the year of the thumbs up and I am fully backing it.


Public Domain. Too good on so many levels. Haven’t seen it? Purchase immediately.


6 hours later and this signing was beginning to wind down and Ol’ Blue Eyes was taking us out with a little My Way.


Proven to heal bones quicker than a dose of calcium… the lightning bolt is tried and tested.


The quiet after the storm… just a few people remaining.


The last two guys in line. Thanks for waiting so long fellas!


One last autograph dedicated to the Zumiez store on the large promo poster.


Mike V with today’s Zumiez crew. Thanks for all of your help!

That’s it folks… this trip is a wrap. We are currently posted up at a hotel across the street from the Newark Airport in New Jersey and we’re flying back to Long Beach in about 2.5 hours. Do I go to sleep now or wait to crash out on the plane?

THANK YOU ZUMIEZ!