We met up with Fred Gall, Lou & Donny Binaco to discuss Metal, a skate brand they started in 1994 out of New Jersey that’s still running today. Birthed from one too many acid trips, late night skate sessions, and a desire to start a no frills, evil skate company out of the East Coast, Metal is a part of skateboarding history often forgotten.
Buddhist Temples and Alligators with Billy Rohan – JENKEM
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.
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
A Glimpse Into The Baker Has a Deathwish II World Premiere – JENKEM
With the hype building around “Baker Has A Deathwish Part 2,” a long-awaited sequel to what most would call a skate cult classic, JENKEM knew they had get a little coverage, so they had their friends Marco Hernandez and Austin Leleu bring the dad cam along, and get a little coverage, Raspa’s Tapes™ Style.
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.
PREMIERE: “I Survived 500 Days Filming The Worst Skate Video Ever” – JENKEM
Miss when skating didn’t take itself so seriously? Look no further, Hitopp Video’s latest masterpiece is here to complete the trifecta trilogy of past Canadian classics like “Horny Mom Busts a Phat Tre Flip” and “Weed is Tight”. The highly anticipated third installment doesn’t disappoint either and delivers on all fronts with classic goofy mashups, tasty slams, and some proper skating.
Inside the 20 Year Anniversary Party of Emerica’s “This Is Skateboarding” – JENKEM
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.