In celebration of 20 years of This Is Skateboarding, Emerica threw a party and got the gang back together, so Jenkem stopped by to pay our respects and see if we could squeeze a few stories out of the crew.
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.
Shredmaster Keith Skates Bulgaria – JENKEM
Watch Shredmaster Keith leave his home at LES skatepark and zip around Bulgaria thanks to his sponsor Stinky Socks.
Meet Theo Hand, The Photographer Who Shot All Your Favorite ’90s Pro Skaters – JENKEM
Theo Hand is one of those skate documentarians who may not have the same level of name recognition as people like J. Grant Brittian or Atiba Jefferson, but has shaped how skateboarding looks in the modern age, documenting names like Chad Muska, Tom Penny, and Ali Boulala, all in their prime.
JENKEM PREMIERE: Quel Haddox & Friends in “Veil”
“Veil” by Zach Sayles is one-of-a-kind, smart, and at times strange, yet the skating is dialed, gritty, and powerful — all things you’d expect from a proper full-length. He masterfully pairs skate footage with soft orchestral music creating the feeling of a skateboarding film noir.
Secret Hobbies with Christian Maalouf – JENKEM
Jenkem rode along with Christian Maalouf on his mission to check out a collectibles swap meet to see what he could add to his collection.
Learning 540s with Zion Wright and Jake Keenan – JENKEM
Jenkem’s friend Jake Keenan has wanted to land a 540 for years now, so when Vans hit them up saying Zion Wright would be in town to promote his new shoe, he knew this was Jake’s chance to learn it from a master. Although he didn’t get it, shout out to Jake for powering through cramps and giving it a good run.
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.
Shop Talk at Pharmacy Boardshop Hollywood – JENKEM
Shop managers Kevin Martinez and Spud invited Jenkem to stop by Pharmacy’s newest location in Hollywood for the day.
Exploring More of Hong Kong’s Crustiest Spots – JENKEM
Skating in Hong Kong is kind of like if you mixed Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York in a bowl and threw everything into one dense city. The end result is a mix of crusty hills and tight alley spots packed into a densely populated concrete maze. Jenkem had their Hong Kong Correspondent Ollie Rodgers take us on a tour of some spots with his crew to see more.
Meet Abe Bethel, one of the best curb skaters in the world – JENKEM
JENKEM first learned about Abe when we heard The Nine Club hosts, Ronnie Creager, and Jamie Owens all praising his curb skating skills. Jamie even went as far as calling Abe “the greatest curb skater of all time,” which was a claim Jenkem had to look into. It turns out Abe is truly a master of the slappy and had a part in last year’s curb heavy ((THEVIDEO)), which is a great showing of what is possible when you have a rub brick, a shit ton of wax, and a little determination.
Abe has since moved to Miami, opened Greater Skate Shop, and received even more praise for his curb dancing abilities. To get a better idea of his skating, Jenkem took a quick trip to Miami to see how he is settling and talked to a few curb-loving pros about his influence.
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.