DOOBIE: Through the Eyes of his friends
With his distinctive hairstyle, mustache, and visor cap, Doobie has a look that stands out instantly. But more than that, he embodies a unique personality that has played a major role in the revival of Vans Europe in recent years. His skateboarding reflects a raw mindset—an open rebellion against polished, conventional skating.
During the Lyon event celebrating the release of his signature shoe, the Old Skool Victor Pellegrin, his close friends shared their first impressions and what left a lasting mark on them. Seeing a person through the eyes of their friends offers an intimate and nuanced perspective, revealing deeper and more authentic sides of their personality. So, beyond his public persona as Doobie, who is Victor Pellegrin?
Sam Partaix: The first time I met him was in Lyon during an Antiz tour. At the time, he was skating for the Brazilian brand Blaze. It was Loïc Benoit who brought him to Vans. From then on, we did two tours together, including one in the United States, which we crossed by car. I was amazed by his skating skills and his vision.
This guy would go for every spot. One day, I made the mistake of telling him, “Damn, that was an ABD you just did, but it’s no big deal.” He started crying. I reassured him, telling him it didn’t matter, that nobody cared about ABDs. I found his reaction incredibly endearing because, beneath his tough exterior, he has a big heart. And once you get to know him, you quickly understand that side of his personality. That’s what makes him so special.
Doobie is truly authentic—he always speaks his mind. What’s great about him is that he’s incredibly simple and deeply human. He’s always willing to help, to lend a hand, to bring you water when you’re skating. He constantly thinks about others. That’s what makes him Doobie, and why everyone loves him.
Jon Wolf: I met Victor during a Vans trip to Milan for a video project, and we instantly became good friends. I usually share a room with Doobie, which has allowed me to see him from different angles.
Doobie is always there to support the crew during sessions. These moments aren’t always filmed, but he’s constantly around, pushing everyone to land their best tricks.
When you take the time to get to know him, you realize that Doobie has a unique personality that few people truly get to see. In skate videos, he always appears full of energy, but he’s not always like that. He’s a great friend you can talk to about anything.
My best memory of Doobie is simply riding in the van with him, seeing him bursting with energy before we arrive at a spot. When he attempts a trick, he can be extremely focused, but he also knows how to have fun. He’s the kind of guy who jokes around with you and isn’t afraid to laugh at himself. I think that’s a great quality in people—being serious without taking yourself too seriously.
I’m really happy for him and everything that’s happening in his life right now. He’s always been himself, and now, he’s fully recognized for it. He has his own shoe, and everyone is celebrating him.
A lot of people would change just to fit into what they think they should be. But he has never been anything other than himself.
Marie: The first time I met him, I had been working at Vans for three months, and we were organizing the Vans Park Series in Paris. It was also Steve Van Doren’s birthday, and he honored us with his presence.
Three days before the event, I found myself having to organize a dinner for 180 people. During the meal, I noticed a waitress getting frustrated because things were chaotic. I walked over to the table in question and came face to face with Doobie. I politely told him to shut up, or I’d have to kick him out since it was Paul’s birthday. He immediately calmed down and was adorable afterward.
Spending time with him always leaves an impression. Recently, some Polish skaters met him at an event. They run a small shop and ended up ordering 100 pairs of his Doobie Old Skool, even though they usually only sell 20 pairs a month. Later, they sent him a package to Finland with a note and some fishing accessories.
Louis & Théo: We’ve been snowboarding for a long time. We met Doobie at Chamrousse, near Grenoble, at the snowpark about four or five years ago, right after COVID. We spotted him from a distance and thought, “Man, this guy is completely nuts.”
It didn’t take long for us to realize that he knew how to ride—he had the moves. We had to show him a thing or two. I didn’t know what he wanted, what he was doing, or how long he planned to stay, but we started riding together. When we ride with him, we love it because we switch into full send mode, just like when we were 14 or 15: “Forget that you’ve got no chance—just go for it.” That became our motto with Doobie, and honestly, it worked pretty well.
Doobie is intense. He’s always ready—no matter the time, no matter the situation, he’s up for it. That’s what’s so great about him. No matter the context, no matter his condition, no matter the hour, he’s your guy—always there, always fired up. Honestly, he’s the real deal.
We appreciate that. There are plenty of people who’ve been snowboarding for years but seem a bit lost, not really doing much anymore. Doobie, on the other hand, shows up, doesn’t overthink it, snaps his fingers, and lands tricks. He gets hurt, just like we do, but he keeps going. His progression is insane.
As for my best memory—I have a ton, but this one stands out. Doobie talked about fishing all winter: “Come to my place at the end of the season, we’re going to catch some crazy fish. It’s going to be incredible.” So we went to his place for 15 days in Livron, and we caught nothing—except one tiny 10 cm fish. He kept telling us, “Don’t worry, don’t worry, there are 2m20 catfish out here.” But in 15 days? Not a single big one.
Doobie is a gem. He’s like a brother, a genuinely good person. Honestly, I haven’t met many like him in this scene. In a world full of fame and the whole star system—whether in skateboarding or snowboarding—he’s just a real human being, someone who never judges anyone.
Martino Cattaneo & Willow Voges Fernandez:
Willow: We were bombing a hill in Tibidabo. There was this roundabout, and a silver car suddenly stopped in the middle when it saw us coming, completely panicked. Doobie crossed the roundabout and slammed into the side of the car, leaving a noticeable dent. We all thought, “Oh my god, he must be seriously hurt!” But he just started laughing, got up, and carried on as if nothing had happened. It was pretty funny to witness.
Martino: I remember the first time I met him—it was probably in 2018, during a Vans Europe trip to Sicily. It was really great. Right away, I felt like he was a brother to me. From the very beginning, he was the kindest person. I felt super comfortable around him, and we had an incredible time on that first trip.
Willow: It was in Germany, in Cologne, right after COVID, when they reopened the borders. That was my first trip with all these guys. I just remember him as a very open and expressive character. I thought, “This guy is amazing.” He always keeps up incredible energy. He pushed me to skate certain spots—I’d watch what he skated and try to hit similar ones because I was hyped, and he brought a real dynamic to the session. It was pretty cool.
Martino: He loves to share his knowledge and help you understand things. He always brings insane energy.
Willow: He’s always the first to encourage you when you’re trying something new. Personally, I really appreciate that.
Martino: He’s really good at it because he knows how to adapt to each person. Some people need calm and space, while others need intense motivation and loud encouragement. He can do both. He senses what each person needs and knows exactly how to give it. He’d make an amazing team manager.
Martino: He could also be an excellent tour manager. It might be a lot of work for him in some ways, but honestly, he’d be really, really good at it. He always keeps the team vibe strong.
Willow: If something’s off in the team, he’s the first to speak up and say, “Hey, what the hell is going on? Get it together!”
Martino: I’d say he brings the same energy—whether it’s at a skate spot, on the road, or just in life in general. He always lives in the moment and makes it feel special.
He constantly brings people together. Always. He loves being surrounded by friends. He looks out for everyone and never stops giving and sharing. That’s truly a beautiful quality.
Jeremie Daclin: I met Doobie during the Cliché tours. We passed through Valence because there was a skate shop called Hardflip. That’s where we ran into him—just a kid, super young, before he even had hair.
It was cool—he followed us from spot to spot, always super motivated, the local kid eager to skate. What really struck me about him was his determination. We were traveling in a van, and he would follow us from one spot to the next.
It’s crazy to see his journey. He comes from a completely remote town, and now he has a signature shoe with one of the biggest American brands. I’ve often noticed that guys from small towns tend to hustle more than those from big cities, where everything is readily available.
Look at Matisse—he had a similar path. He knows the effort it takes to catch a bus, get to a spot, coordinate with a photographer, a filmer, and everything else. So when he finally arrives at the spot, he knows exactly what he needs to do.
It’s also cool that Doobie has so many other interests—it makes him even more intriguing. I personally like him even more because we’re both really into fishing. I have a house near where he lives, in Ardèche, and every time we talk, we say we need to go fishing together. But somehow, it still hasn’t happened.
Max Pack: I met him in Lyon, at Hôtel de Ville. I was traveling with Vans Germany and invited him to join us. That day, we saw the biggest catfish we had ever seen—almost three meters long! It was insane.
I feel like some people misunderstand him. He speaks his mind to anyone who asks, and some have a hard time accepting that. But he has a huge heart and is always there when you need him.
