Jenkem writer Ben met up with 90s and 2000s pro Billy Rohan in Gainesville, Florida. They skated a Buddhist temple, got dangerously close to alligators, and checked out Billy’s skate shop Samurai.
RAW TAPES: Swampfest 2024 – JENKEM
If you search for Florida Man headlines in the world of skateboarding you’ll return with one thing. Swampfest. Yeah, we know you’ve probably seen the footage already. Quick news flash, we’re late, but hell, we didn’t even know we were going to go.
We considered letting our footage dump lay to rest, especially since this is mainly a BMX event, but when you see the amalgamation of a redneck civil war reenactment and Woodstock 99, full of muddy slams, mortar close calls, a lot of fire, and unorganized mayhem, it’s hard not to share. – JENKEM
Skateboarding and Soccer with New York City’s Chinatown Soccer Club – JENKEM
The CSC is a longstanding institution of the Lower East Side of Manhattan that’s been meeting over the last twenty years for friendly pickup soccer. The league has been graced by legendary names over the years, like The Gonz, Peter Bici, and Peter Sutherland, and is supported by skateboarders, artists, and goodhearted locals.
If there’s one crew that could get us up at 8 a.m., stretch our hamstrings, and run for half an hour, it’s the CSC. Check it out, laugh at us, and listen to skate photographer and league staple Gerhard Stochl and friends explain their roots and what makes them stand apart from the meathead jocks of the world. – JENKEM
Hanging Out With… Asics in NYC – JENKEM
A couple of weeks ago Asics hit up Jenkem (cats out the bag, they’re working with them) letting them know that two of their Japanese riders, brothers Takuya and Yuta Ishizuka, would be visiting New York City.
“SHABEATZ” – An East Coast Tour Video by Jenkem for Adidas Skateboarding
Remember demo tours? Yeah, we miss those days, so Jenkem joined Adidas in the van to bring you “SHABEATZ” a nostalgic tour video through the East Coast full of skateboarding, behind-the-scenes interviews and crusty locals. Featuring Daewon Song, Vincent Milou, Mariah Duran, Dennis Busenitz, Silas Baxter-Neal, Nora Vasconcellos, Lil Dre, Miles Silvas, Marcos Montoya, Dan Mancina, Paul Shier, Jake Donnelly, and Jamal Smith.
JENKEM Checked out The Most Expensive Ramp in Manhattan
A few months ago Jenkem got an email from a reader that caught them off guard, inviting them to skate a private mini ramp in the basement of his apartment building located in Manhattan’s extremely pricy Waterline Square neighborhood.
To get the most out of the experience, Jenkem brought along Staten Island’s own Leo Heinert to throw down some tricks to push the ramp beyond the basic rock and rolls and axle stalls.
Shop Talk at DLX Skate Shop in San Francisco – JENKEM
Jenkem took a trip out to the Bay Area and stopped by DLX in San Francisco to chop it up with the locals. Jenkem’s usual host Larry couldn’t make the trip out west, so they enlisted Zach Ducky Kovacs as the guest host.
2013: The Year Modern Skateboarding Broke – JENKEM
2013 might seem like a random arbitrary year to most people, but to Jenkem, it’s the year the current era of skateboarding was born. It kicked off with a number of notable pros leaving their long-term sponsors, and many of them went on to start some of the most dominant brands of today. Jenkem’s friend and contributor Andrew Murrell picked out and wrote up the most notable events of 2013 in a neat timeline (featured in Jenkem Vol 3), and Alex Coles brought it to life in his usual video essay format.
JENKEM PREMIERE: Ben St. Aubin in “Rendered” by Daniel Policelli
Ben skates fast, hits unconventional spots and randomly wore a ski mask in one of his clips. Enjoy his part from Daniel Policelli’s upcoming Toronto-based video, Rendered.
JENKEM Went to Mardi Gras with Nora Vasconcellos
Skateboarding (probably) won’t make you rich, but it can definitely make you rich in experiences. Case in point: What other job would randomly fly you to Mardi Gras to party and interview Nora? When Adidas asked if Jenkem might be interested in the idea as a way to promote her new shoe colorway, they quickly agreed as neither Nora or Jenkem had ever been to New Orleans and were curious to check out one of the biggest parties of the year. With additional help from Philly (New Orleans native & Owner of Humidity Skate Shop) as a host and tour guide, they headed down to ride the wave of parties, film an interview with Nora while she was injured, and learn from the locals.
PREMIERE: “Peter Pan Syndrome” Section from Lenz III – JENKEM
Jenkem brings you Chapter 13 from Tightbooth Production’s “Lenz III” – featuring Japanese skateboarding legends and friends of Tightbooth.
South Bay with Louie Lopez, Ryan Lee & Mason Silva l Neighborhoods – JENKEM
JENKEM out to California to visit the South Bay, an area just outside Los Angeles, home to Louie Lopez and Ryan Lee. Initially, they were going to do the video with just these two, but quickly realized Louie and Ryan’s story can’t be told without Mason Silva, who has been part of the inseparable trio since day one.