On this episode of Epicly Later’d, we travel with Ryan Lay to learn more about his unique path in skateboarding. From multiple sponsors to days-long hikes, join us to discover what makes Ryan a true journeyman.
The Rise And Fall Of Ali Boulala’s Skateboarding Career
VICE profiles a skater from Sweden who achieved pro circuit fame as a teen. But his on-going addiction to drugs and alcohol ultimately ended his career and the life of a friend.
Andrew Reynolds is Raising the Next Gen of Pro Skaters | Epicly Later’d
Andrew Reynolds is pushing 40 and still skates huge gaps. In his early 20s his partying took its toll, but now he’s become the poster child for skateboarding’s fountain of youth.
From Homeless to Pro-Skater | Chad Muska | Epicly Later’d
Chad Muska’s evolution from homeless teenager to one of the most-hyped skateboarders of all time led him through Hollywood, high fashion, and the international art scene.
Andy Roy: Skating on The Wild Side | Epicly Later’d
Andy Roy journeyed from pro skater to prison inmate, and back again. In this episode we dive into Andy’s checkered past and explore how he’s making up for lost time.
Spike Jonze: Jackass, Academy Awards & Music Videos | Epicly Later’d
Influential filmmaker, Spike Jonze, looks back on his career and discusses how skateboarding influenced his work from groundbreaking music videos to Jackass to an Academy Award.
Heath Kirchart: From Skating to Death-Defying Travel Missions – VICE
Legend Heath Kirchart walked away from skating at the height of his career. He’s gone from pushing his physical limits on a board to a new life of death-defying travel missions.
VICE’s Taji Ameen Revisits His Skate Past – JENKEM
Over the past few years, Taji’s work with VICE and the upper echelons of New York Media took him away from his skateboarding past a little bit. We wanted to have him reconnect with skating and reminisce on those early days, so JENKEM met up with him and his old friend Billy to skate, catch up, and freestyle a little bit.
Skater Gonzi’s Fight with Borderline Schizophrenia – VICE
Polish skater and artist Gonzi has been vocal about his fight against depression and borderline schizophrenia.
Gonzi picked up a skateboard at the age of five and started hanging out with older skaters in his hometown of Łódź, exposing him to a life of parties and drug use at a young age.
He smoked his first joint at 13, and was 17 when he experienced a psychotic break due to drug use and was diagnosed with borderline paranoid schizophrenia. He thanks skateboarding, his friends, and art for still being here today. – Vice
Ben Raemers’ Tragic Death Sparked a Mental Health Movement | Skating and Talking – VICE
In May 2019, the skateboarding industry was left devastated by the news that British pro skater Ben Raemers had died by suicide at the age of 28. Ben’s approach to skateboarding – with his unique blend of transition and street skating – meant that he was one of a small number of British skaters to gain an international reputation over the past decade.
In this film, friends and family reflect on Ben’s rise to US sponsorship, and the struggles that came later as his mental health deteriorated. His tragic death sparked a mental health reckoning within the skate community, with other pro-skaters now questioning their assumptions about mental health and sharing stories of their own.
The Ben Raemers Foundation was founded in an attempt to end the stigma that prevents skaters from discussing mental health issues and to provide much-needed education about suicide prevention.
You can find out more about The Ben Raemers Foundation and donate HERE.
Inside the Palestinian Skate Scene | Post Radical Episode 2
The Middle East: a volatile and complicated place. A wall separates two beautiful countries as groups of skateboarders work towards transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
Skateboarding’s Most Iconic & Controversial Sneaker
The Osiris D3 is one of the most successful yet divisive skate shoes of all time. The shoe was adored by the masses, but was also considered ugly and impractical by many skateboarding purists. It’s unsurprising that the story behind the creation of the Osiris D3 has just as much drama as the shoe itself. VICE met creators of the Osiris D3 to learn how the notorious sneaker came to be and the fallout that resulted in the wake of its success.