Skate
In an ever-changing industry, skate shops remain integral
Shop Riot stories — On the ground at the 2019 edition of Vans’ Shop Riot Finals, three skaters tell us how their local shops helped shape them – on and off the board.
Written by: Huck
Jamaica desperately needs more skate parks – here’s why
‘It’s nurturing’ — In an effort to tackle youth unemployment, sports charity Flipping Youth is raising funds to open Kingston’s first ever skate facility.
Written by: Emma Finamore
Glen E. Friedman on the early days of skateboarding
DogTown Revisited — Now, nearly two decades after the release of the landmark DogTown: The Legend of Z-Boys, the photographer is back with a revised and expanded edition.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Rae Smith is pushing the boundaries of who skate is for
Beyond Binary — Rae Smith grew up not realising she was born intersex, leading to years of emotional upheaval where she kept her true self secret. Then she found skateboarding.
Written by: Jessica Holland
Pushing Boarders wants to start a conversation
‘The best #@£!ing conference’ — Now in its second year, Pushing Boarders is combining skate culture with academic rigour to push the scene forward.
Written by: Hannah Bailey
Mason Silva is capturing the grind of life on the road
Full Bleed — Pro skater Mason Silva is entering a new phase of his career. In an industry famed for chewing up talent and spitting them out, he has embraced film photography as a way to stay grounded in the present – preserving moments of magic in the process.
Written by: Ciara Byrne
Pro skater Alex Decunha is Britain’s big Olympic hope
‘If you don‘t like it, look away’ — Following his appearance at NASS 2019, we speak to the young skateboarder about his journey from wide-eyed kid to 2020 hopeful.
Written by: Huck
Life lessons from skate legend Chad Muska
All or nothing — In a searingly honest interview, artist and skater Chad Muska shares the highs and lows of an extraordinary career.
Written by: Cian Traynor
London skateboarders on masculinity and mental health
Minding the Gap — Camaraderie, catharsis, and angry white boys: UK skateboarding collective I Should Not Be Here review Bing Liu’s Oscar-nominated doc, Minding The Gap.
Written by: Beth Webb
‘Jake Phelps was abrasive, just like skateboarding’
Ed Templeton pays tribute — Thrasher’s Editor-in-Chief Jake Phelps, who died last week aged 56, was one of skateboarding’s most influential characters. Under his stewardship, the magazine and the brand it spawned became the summation of skateboarding’s commercially canny, fuck-you essence. Ed Templeton mourns and remembers.
Written by: Ed Templeton