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.
A quick look at Jenkem Vol 3 w/ Frank Gerwer & Silas Baxter-Neil
Watch Frank Gerwer and Silas Baxter-Neal thumb through Jenkem’s new book before you pick it up HERE.
Chris Mathis in “Devil’s Pocket” – JENKEM
Meet Chris Mathis. He’s an ironworker in his 30’s who filmed an entire part on weekends in Jake Todd’s new video “Devil’s Pocket.” It’s not often you find a guy who picks a day job that is equally, if not more, dangerous than skateboarding. Enjoy a Philadelphia skater whose style and trick selection are informed by years in the game and a respect for his craft.
The Story Behind Art Dealer Jeffrey Deitch’s Wooden Bowl – JENKEM
Art Dealer Jeffrey Deitch was one of the first people to bring skateboarding into a fine art gallery setting. JENKEM talked with him and his team of curators, Julia Chiang, and Cheryl Dunn about their infamous “Session The Bowl” exhibit from 2002 and the intersection of skateboarding and fine art today.
A Quick Coffee Run in Sheffield with Shaun Currie – JENKEM
Shaun is a jolly skater from the UK. JENKEM was only able to film with him for an hour or two but decided to throw it together into a mini bite-sized segment anyway to put people onto his heartwarming personality and playful skating. Hopefully JENKEM will visit him again soon and get a full Hanging Out With on our next try.
What Went Down at Oski’s New Contest in Malmo, Sweden – JENKEM
Olympian and all around good guy Oskar Rozenberg hosted a contest in Sweden last weekend dubbed the Oski Blast. This new contest was filled with numerous “challenges” where a bunch of Oski’s closest homies skated in a jam style event for all the locals to come and check out. It’s a perfect cap off to a summer that hopefully will become an annual tradition.
JENKEM PREMIERE: Marbie in “Ruining Skateboarding”
Marbie’s skating is always fun, and oftentimes even a little left field. She’ll pull something incredibly tech or incredibly goofy out of nowhere, and you truly never know what you’re gonna get from one clip to the next. – JENKEM
JENKEM – Meet the Enjoi Ams: Ryan
To wrap up Jenkem’s series, we have Ryan Connors who’s living out in Clairmont, CA in the heart of the Inland Empire. Louie and the crew take the drive out there to drink margaritas, skate Ryan’s local park, and “get bitten by a rattlesnake”.
JENKEM PREMIERE: Fidel Gonzales in “Tasteful”
You might remember Fidel from JENKEM’s article “Interview with a Skateboarding Stuntman,” and since then, he’s continued to slam for a living. His part in Abi Teixeira’s video “Tasteful” is a glimpse of talent and creative trickery that will keep you from scrolling IG for a couple of minutes.
JENKEM – Ground Glass: Brad Cromer
Very few skate videographers attempt to capture an entire video on 16mm film. At $50 a minute, you’re at the mercy of high costs, old equipment and the consistency of skaters. Videographer James Thompson was up for the challenge and wanted to start capturing the timelessness of skating on film in 2021. Like a nod to an old Transworld montage, the crispness and warmth of film creates a sense of beauty that you get from mixing the archaic gear with a modern landscape, something digital footage of today doesn’t quite capture.