CULTURE
UPDATE: Watch the Ben Raemers Foundation’s ‘SMiLe’ Interviews
In the wake of Ben Raemers’s tragic passing in May 2019, the Ben Ramers Foundation was created to bring awareness to mental health issues that are often stigmatized by society. One of the nonprofit’s initiatives is SMiLe—a short film that consists of a series of interviews with pro skaters about their own struggles with mental stability. The premiere screening will take place on February 6 at Rich Mix in London. Have a look at the trailer’s featuring Aaron Herrington and Nick Jensen below. We’ll update with information on the wide release of the film when more information becomes available.
UPDATE 03.16.20: Aaron Herrington’s SMiLe interview was released earlier today. It’s a cautionary tale about the darker side of the party lifestyle that’s embedded in skate culture, and the effects that can have on your body and mental health. Listen and learn above.
UPDATE 02.10.20: Following last Thursday’s screening, the SMiLe interviews are being released online starting with Nick Jensen. We’ll continue to update this post as more become available for streaming. You can also watch the full Q&A that took place after the premiere via The Ben Raemers Foundation’s YouTube channel. Watch Jensen’s interview above.
CULTURE
Watch Unlock the Spot Albuquerque Highlights
Mariah Duran returns to her hometown in Albuquerque, NM to “unlock” the Civic Plaza for an open skate jam for local skaters. Watch the highlights below.
Mariah was stoked about opening the Civic Plaza to skating for the event as she narrated how they would get kicked out of the place when they were skating there before. She also talked about how the community shaped her into the skateboarder that she is.
The Unlock the Spot in Albuquerque featured cash-for tricks and an open skate jam for the local skaters.
This is the third stop of Unlock the Spot organized by Mtn Dew as part of their “Skateboarding is Unstoppable” campaign. The series of events takes place in Mtn Dew Athlete’s hometowns. Each event would give local skaters a chance to shred spots that are otherwise off-limits to skating.
The fourth Unlock the Spot will be this Sunday at Gilham Park in Kansas City, MO with Sean Malto.
The first of the series kicked off last July 3 at Hula Lakeside, Burlington, Vermont with Chris Colbourn. The second one was at the Recreation Park in El Segundo, California with Theotis Beasly.
CULTURE
Mtn Dew’s “Unlock the Spot” Next Stop is in Albuquerque, NM

Join Mariah Duran and Mtn Dew as they “unlock” the Civic Plaza for an open skate jam with local skaters on July 17 from 11 am to 3 pm. This is the third “Unlock the Spot” event organized by Mtn Dew.
Skate content creator Lamon Holt will also attend the event.
The Unlock the Spot events feature Mtn Dew’s skate team members returning to their hometowns. Together with the locals, they skate in spots in their town that are otherwise off-limits to skating. The series will culminate with the Summer Dew Tour in Des Moines, Iowa on July 29-30.
Watch the highlights of the recent Unlock the Spot in El Segundo, California with Theotis Beasley.
CULTURE
Mtn Dew’s “Unlock the Spot” Coming to California
The second of the five Mtn Dew’s “Unlock the Spot” is happening at the Recreation Park in El Segundo, California this Sunday, July 10. Mtn Dew Pro skater Theotis Beasly will grace the event.
“Unlock the Spot” is a series of events located in Mtn Dew athletes’ hometowns. Each event will give local skaters a chance to shred spots that are otherwise off-limits to skating.
The first of the series kicked off last July 3 at Hula Lakeside, Burlington, Vermont. Pro street skater Chris Colbourn returned to his hometown to skate with Lamont Holt, Anthony Ferraro, and Vermont locals inside the coworking campus.
The next two stops will be in Albuquerque, NM with Mariah Duran, and Kansas City, MO with Sean Malto.
The Mtn Dew’s Unlock the Spot series will culminate with the “Summer Dew Tour” in Des Moines, Iowa on July 29-30. The Dew Tour is one of the highly-anticipated skateboarding events attracting the best skaters from across the globe.
The two-day tour features street and park competitions. It will be free and open to the public.
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