INTERVIEWS

Jamal Smith Drops Knowledge in New Thrasher Interview

Turning pro at an advanced age gives Jamal Smith a bit more knowledge, wisdom, and understanding than the typical rookie. He shares a few gems that are both comedic and insightful in his new Thrasher interview, which was released online yesterday.

One thing I’m forever grateful for is not going pro when I was a teenager. Although it would’ve been sick as shit to go straight to skate life, experiencing 9-5 jobs, insane relationships and the trials and tribulations of becoming an adult has made me 10,000 times more appreciative to be in the position I’m in. Before I started making a living off skating, my last job was with a screen-printing company. It was the typical 9-5 Monday-through-Friday grind, making t-shirts and cleaning silk screens. To be honest, I fell in love with learning the process of making bad t-shirts, but the work environment was harsh as fuck. Once skateboarding started working out for me and I was getting invited on trips, my bosses’ resentment started getting intense. They hit me with the ultimatum of continuing to go on trips and be fired or keeping my job and making minimum wage forever. I quit and never looked back.

You should definitely give this a read if quarantining disrupted your procurement of the latest issue of the Bible.

Image Via Thrasher

INTERVIEWS

Shecks Guests on the Latest ‘The Nine Club’ Episode

Pro skater Ryan Sheckler talks about growing up in Southern California, starting skateboarding at the tender age of two, his over two decades of career, and his personal struggles in the latest podcast episode of “The Nine Club”.

He also discusses starting his skateboarding company, the Sandlot Times, and the story behind the name.

The Nine Club is a skateboarding podcast started and hosted by professional skateboarder Chris Roberts in 2016. The show is co-hosted by Roger Bagley and Kelly Hart.

INTERVIEWS

Vans Skateboarding Drops ‘Lizzie’ Video

Get to know more about Lizzie Armanto through the lens of the persons closest to her in this 35 mm film directed by renowned filmmaker Greg Hunt and presented by Vans Skateboarding.

Lizzie is an X Games gold medalist (Barcelona, 2013) and the first-ever woman to make it to the cover of Transworld Skateboarding in 2016.

She was also the first female skateboarder to do the loop, a 360-degree vertical ramp on which the rider turns completely upside down while maintaining contact between the wheels of the skateboard and the ramp’s surface.

INTERVIEWS

New Episode of ‘Neighborhoods’ features Leo Heinert and Marco Hernandez

The second episode of “Neighborhoods” featuring pro skateboarder Leo Heinert and photographer Marco Hernandez is now live on the Jenkem Mag channel.

Heinert and Hernandez toured the back of the Boston Market parking lot, Gifford Playground, Greencroft Playground, and their other childhood spots in their hometown Staten Island with the Jenkem team.

Produced by Jenkem Mag, “Neighborhoods” is a series where skaters revisit their old stomping grounds and share stories of growing up in their communities.