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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PREMIERE: “Konton,” A New Flowy Homie Video from Japan – JENKEM
Though “Konton” does have a couple of bangers, it’s more a showcase of calculated speed, flow, style, and consistency we’ve come to love from Japanese skating. Featuring Ryunosuke Tomita, Yuma Takeo, Shin Sanbongi, Daichi Ishibashi, Daiki Hoshino, Rio Morishige, Shogo Zama, Takumi Wada, Shor West and Kelly Ishihara.