Beyond Boards

By Beyond BoardsSociety & Culture

Beyond Boards episodes

September 04, 2023Episode 58 - Jan Kliewer
Episode 58 with Jan Kliewer, skateboarder and skatepark builder from Berlin, Germany.

Together we discussed him growing up in Göttingen and picking up his first board in the late 80’s, traveling to California and getting flowed ATM Click boards and DC shoes for a bit, getting on Cliché and filming for their iconic second full length video “Bon Appétit” directed by Fred Mortagne, moving from DC to Globe and from Cliché to Jart within a few years, having a part in Pontus Alv’s cult classic film “The Strongest of the Strange”, unofficially joining Polar in 2012, retiring from pro skating and getting into journalism as the German editor of European skate mag “Kingpin” for a few years, his current job as skatepark designer at Yamato Living Ramps…
(00:13) – Intro

(01:25) – Picking up his first board

(02:43) – First magazine, video

(03:54) – Moving to Berlin

(05:34) – Importance of style

(15:12) – Sponsors

(21:19) – Sharing a part with JJ Rousseau in « Bon Appétit »

(27:01) – Leaving Cliché

(30:14) – Part in “Strongest of the strange”

(30:55) – Moving from DC to Globe

(31:53) – Getting on Jart

(33:38) – “Unofficially” joining Polar in 2012

(36:13) – Guest board on Magenta

(37:48) – Retiring from pro skating

(39:26) – Kingpin

(44:26) – Yamato Living Ramps

(58:47) – Sustainability and concrete building

(01:03:49) – Increase in demand for skateparks since the Olympics?

(01:08:03) – How long does it usually take to build a skatepark?

(01:08:53) – Upcoming projects

(01:11:41) – Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding

(01:14:10) – Friends questions

(01:53:02) – Conclusion

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 54 min
August 28, 2023Episode 57 - Bastien Regeste
Episode 57 with Bastien Regeste, skateboarder and filmmaker from Montpellier, France.

Together we discussed him growing up in La Grande-Motte next to Montpellier in the South of France, picking up his first proper board in 2007, developing an interest for filming aside from skating, spending a year in San Francisco as a student, filming and editing videos for Jeremie Daclin’s brands Bonjour Urethane and Film Trucks, making three full length videos with his crew of friends under the name "B(ee)R” in the last few years, his obsession for Twin Peaks, his upcoming projects…
(00:13) - Intro

(01:25) - Getting started

(06:30) - First mag, first video

(07:40) - Starting to film skating

(12:53) - Learning how to make videos

(14:30) - Meeting with the Mofos crew

(16:53) - Freelance filming gigs

(27:45) - Bonjour Urethane and Film Trucks projects

(41:34) - Favorite project for Film Trucks, filming with Ben Koppl

(46:26) - Solo parts vs. full length videos

(50:47) - Upcoming Film Trucks video

(51:24) - Beer videos: how it all started

(58:24) - Making the first Beer video

(01:07:10) - San Francisco trip

(01:09:50) - Premiering Beer 3

(01:15:15) - Maxime Garlenc back tail drop in surprise

(01:20:00) - Twin Peaks references in skate videos

(01:21:55) - Turning Beer into a brand?

(01:30:06) - Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding

(01:34:09) - Friends questions

(02:01:20) - Conclusion

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
2 hr 3 min
July 31, 2023Episode 56 - Sander Hölsgens
Episode 56 with Sander Hölsgens, skateboarder, filmmaker and academic based in Rotterdam, Holland.

Together we discussed him growing up in Kerkrade and picking up his first board in the early 2000’s as a teenager, studying art and anthropology and labeling himself a skateboarding anthropologist, writing his PhD thesis on skateboarding in Seoul, South Korea, co-creating and organizing the Pushing Boarders conferences/events in 2018 and 2019 in London and Malmö, his current position at the University of Leiden, his thoughts on the climate crisis and why the skateboarding community is not addressing this issue more, his upcoming projects…
(00:13) - Intro

(01:13) - Getting started

(05:47) - First mag and first video

(06:52) - John Rattray influence

(09:42) - Ever dreamt of getting sponsored/turning pro?

(11:22) - How good of a student were you?

(16:38) - Journey with academia

(21:53) - PhD thesis on skateboarding in Seoul

(26:03) - Skateboarding anthropologist

(30:16) - Film Recordings festival

(32:47) - Pushing Boarders

(38:47) - How many days, how many panels at both editions?

(41:11) - Was the second edition more chill than the first one?

(43:14) - How difficult was it to involve sponsors?

(49:16) - Why hasn’t there been another edition of PB since 2019?

(54:06) - Current initiatives that are inspired by Pushing Boarders

(56:50) - Current position at the University of Leiden

(01:00:46) - Article about skateboarding and failure with Paul O’Connor

(01:04:38) - Studying the skateboarding scene in Korea

(01:16:06) - Climate crisis: why is it not discussed more in skateboarding?

(01:26:07) - Upcoming projects

(01:28:14) - Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding

(01:30:13) - Friends questions

(01:57:29) - Conclusion

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 59 min
July 17, 2023Episode 55 - Farran Golding
Episode 55 with Farran Golding, skateboarder and journalist from Leeds, England.

Together we discussed him growing up in Wakefield, reading Chromeball and Jenkem and developing an interest for writing aside from skating, asking Ben Powell if he could contribute in any way to Sidewalk Magazine, studying journalism in Manchester for a few years, writing for Leeds-based skateshop Welcome’s blog and Slam City Skates, things really taking off after the first favorite spot series for Quartersnacks on Gilbert Crockett skating the Suntrust spot in Richmond VA, Jaime Owens taking him on board as contributing editor for Closer Skateboarding Magazine, developing the digital side of the mag, his recent pieces for GQ about Tyshawn Jones and Bill Strobeck’s work relationship and Alexis Sablone’s Converse pro-model shoe, his upcoming projects…
Intro (00:13)

Starting skateboarding (01:25)

Meeting with Ben Powell (06:30)

Asking Ben to work for Sidewalk (13:04)

First interviews with Shane O’Neill and Brian Anderson (15:12)

Writing for Welcome shop’s blog (16:06)

Journalism degree at Manchester University (20:41)

Collaboration with Slam City Skates (24:38)

Quartersnacks (26:10)

First favorite spot piece for QS (28:23)

AVE green bench favorite spot piece (30:40)

Editing the favorite spot pieces (36:03)

Greg Hunt interview for Speedway (38:46)

Working for Closer (44:22)

Silas and wallrides in issue 4 (50:53)

Work relationship with Jaime (53:41)

Developing the digital side of Closer (57:15)

GQ (59:10)

Alexis Sablone article (01:02:22)

Other pieces for non skate media (01:05:55)

Favorite things to do while working on a piece (01:08:22)

Time dedicated to research (01:10:01)

Motivation to keep writing about skateboarding (01:13:28)

Living in Leeds, ever wanted to move elsewhere? (01:18:34)

Advice on how to get into skate media (01:20:54)

What’s left on your bucket list? (01:25:56)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (01:29:14)

Friends questions (01:30:55)

Conclusion (02:01:33)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
2 hr 3 min
July 03, 2023Episode 54 - Aaron Meza
Episode 54 with Aaron Meza, skateboarder, filmer and producer from San Francisco, CA.

Together we discussed him growing up in South San Francisco and picking up his first board in the 80's, filming his friends skating at EMB and crossing paths with a young James Kelch who asked if he could film him, making the iconic videos "Finally" and "Penal Code 100A" for FTC, connecting with some of the World Industries and Plan B guys who eventually left to start Girl Skateboards in 1993, working on the first Girl and Chocolate videos with Spike Jonze, Tim Dowling and Rick Howard (among other people), being the editor of Skateboarder Magazine for a few years, coming back to Girl to work on digital content for Crailtap as well as tour videos (among other things), going to Vice to work on the production of Epicly Later'd and King Of The Road, assisting Jonah Hill in the making of his first film "Mid 90's", his current role at Nike SB...
Intro (00:13)

Getting started (01:13)

Picking up his first camera (04:18)

Studying filmmaking in college (09:26)

Intro song in Penal Code 100A (15:21)

Starting to film/work for Girl (19:24)

Filming for Mouse (26:10)

Working with Tim Dowling (26:31)

Music rights (27:41)

Who did you enjoy filming with the most in those early days? (29:11)

JB Gillet almost getting on Girl or Chocolate (33:33)

Worst things you and Mike Carroll said to one another (36:25)

Being the content and tour video guy at Girl (39:03)

Moving over to Skateboarder to become their editor (41:32)

Leaving Girl (45:56)

Making Jaime Owens stay at work at Skateboarder instead of going to film for Jackass, true of false? (49:13)

Going back to Girl after Skateboarder (50:46)

Vice (56:56)

Working with Michael Burnett and Patrick O’Dell (01:03:55)

Working on Mid 90’s with Jonah Hill (01:07:58)

Nerdiest question you ever asked Tim Anderson? (01:15:34)

Working for Nike SB (01:17:15)

What’s in the works right now? (01:22:48)

20 years of Yeah Right, 30 years of Girl: key ingredient to their success? (01:24:51)

San Francisco today and GX1000 (01:30:12)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (01:33:18)

Friends questions (01:35:26)

Conclusion (02:04:34)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
2 hr 6 min
June 19, 2023Episode 53 - Masafumi Kajitani
Episode 53 with Masafumi Kajitani aka Ame-San, skateboarder, journalist, translator, co-founder and chief-editor of VHS Mag.

Together we discussed him growing up in Japan, moving to Seattle, WA in the mid-80’s and picking up his first board over there, coming back to Osaka in 1990, watching the Japanese skate scene grow and evolve throughout the years, starting VHS Mag out of Tokyo in 2011, an online media to share what’s going on in the skateboarding world to Japanese skaters with no language barriers, and also get Japanese skaters out there to the world, the Tightbooth « Lenz 3 » masterpiece by Shinpei Ueno which came out a few months ago, his involvement with local wheel brand Strush, the perception of skateboarding in Japan before and after the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games…
Intro (00:13)

Getting started (01:25)

First video/magazine (05:18)

Moving back to Japan (07:51)

Skate scene in Osaka in the early 90’s (10:55)

Starting VHS Mag (15:02)

Inspiration from other media (22:51)

Evolution of the Japanese skate scene in the last 30 years (29:06)

Tightbooth Lenz III masterpiece (32:46)

Strush Wheels (35:27)

2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo (39:14)

Current projects (48:23)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (50:04)

Friends questions (51:53)

Conclusion (01:13:53)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 15 min
June 05, 2023Episode 52 - Dani Abulhawa
Episode 52 with Dani Abulhawa, skateboarder, artist and academic from Rugby, England.

Together we discussed her growing up in the Midlands and picking up her first board in 1998, feeling slightly out of place as a skateboarder for a long time, her journey with academia from completing her PhD to becoming a senior lecturer in performance at the University of Leeds, her involvement with NGO Skatepal which started in 2015, going to both editions of the Pushing Boarders events in 2018 and 2019, starting non-profit Skate Manchester with a few
friends, writing her book « Skateboarding and femininity: Gender, Space Making and Expressive Movement » which was published in 2020, the Plant Ecology Beyond Land project she initiated with her husband Christian Berger, the Skatepark Allyship audio artwork she recently put out…
Intro (00:13)

Getting started (01:25)

First magazine (03:53)

Not a « typical » skateboarder (04:57)

Getting into Academia (09:27)

Involvement with Skatepal (16:22)

Pushing Boarders (25:57)

Skate Manchester (28:53)

Celebrating the « effortless » way of skating (31:06)

Skateboarding and femininity (36:51)

Plant Ecology Beyond Land (47:21)

Skatepark allyship audio artwork (53:36)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (58:40)

Friends questions (59:25)

Conclusion (01:22:32)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 24 min
May 22, 2023Episode 51 - Joel Curtis
Episode 51 with Joel Curtis, skateboarder, musician and podcast host from Sheffield, England.

Together we discussed him growing up and picking up his first board in Sheffield in the mid-80’s, developing an interest for music at an early age, getting flowed Zero boards and Circa shoes for a bit, moving over to Landscape Skateboards when the brand was started, filming for the classic video « Portraits » by Chris Massey (RIP), retiring from pro skateboarding and settling down in Bath in 2009, transitioning into making music for various brands and projects, starting the Skate Creative Podcast in 2021 and interviewing iconic creative skateboarders from the UK scene of the last 40 years…
Intro (00:13)

First video/magazine (03:55)

Interest for music (05:39)

Sponsors (11:01)

Zero and Circa distributor flow (12:45)

Getting on Landscape (15:47)

Skating for Nike SB (21:15)

Favorite skater/music combo in a part (27:38)

Working on « Portraits » part with Chris Massey (33:23)

Retiring from pro skating (41:32)

Transitioning into making music (48:30)

The Skate Creative Podcast (58:51)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (01:09:17)

Friends questions (01:11:52)

Conclusion (01:38:13)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 40 min
May 08, 2023Episode 50 - Jaime Owens
Episode 50 with Jaime Owens, skateboarder, journalist, photographer, founder of Closer Skateboarding Magazine.

Together we discussed him growing up skating in Florence, South Carolina, studying art and photography in college, moving to California in 1999, connecting with Aaron Meza and Mike Ballard at Skateboarder Magazine, filming for Jackass for a little bit, climbing up the ladder at Skateboarder until it closed down in 2013, moving over to Transworld to become the editor-in-chief, leaving in 2021 with no set plans, deciding to launch a new print skate mag in 2022 and calling it Closer, releasing issue number 4 in the Spring of 2023, his vision of the future of skateboarding media, skating better than ever in his late 40's...
Intro (00:13)

Getting started (01:13)

First video/magazine (03:01)

Studying art and photography (06:01)

Moving to California in 1999 (10:08)

Connecting with the Jackass crew (13:43)

Working at Skateboarder (24:05)

Moving towards more digital content (34:35)

Leaving Transworld, developing the idea for a new print mag (38:04)

Secret to skating a lot in his late 40’s (45:18)

The beginning of Closer (48:59)

Connecting with Farran Golding (56:47)

Dealing with print quantities (57:40)

Decision to do a quarterly magazine (01:01:37)

Printing the mag locally (01:04:49)

Scheduling (01:08:23)

Doing more digital stuff in the near future (01:10:33)

The future of skateboarding media (01:13:07)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (01:15:13)

Friends questions (01:16:30)

Conclusion (01:53:23)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 54 min
April 24, 2023Episode 49 - Atita Verghese
Episode 49 with Atita Verghese, skateboarder from Bangalore, India.

Together we discussed her growing up in Bangalore, her mom being her first inspiration to become a strong independent woman and create her own lane, picking up a skateboard at 19 years old and skating with the Holystoked crew, meeting with the Make Life Skate Life crew and learning how to build skate spots, starting Girl Skate India in 2015, an organization which teaches girls how to skate, promotes gender equality and brings together skateboarders in India through workshops, going to Pushing Boarders Malmö in 2019, skating with Madars Apse recently for an episode of his show « Skate Tales », her upcoming projects…
Intro (00:13)

Getting started (01:13)

Upbringing (02:21)

Discovering skateboarding (07:36)

Being a girl in this emerging skate scene (10:26)

Family and friends’ reaction to her skating (14:27)

Access to skateboarding gear in Bangalore in 2013 (17:41)

First videos and magazines (19:13)

Make life skate life (21:40)

Building parks around India (22:39)

Starting Girl Skate India (23:11)

The challenge of skateboarding for young children in India (31:46)

Vans sponsorship (34:48)

Pushing Boarders 2019 in Malmö (37:21)

Skateboarding not really gendered in India (40:15)

Current Indian skaters the world should keep an eye on (48:01)

Upcoming projects (51:27)

Skate Tales episode with Madars Apse (55:42)

Most valuable lesson learned from skateboarding (57:43)

Friends questions (58:43)

Conclusion (01:28:55)

For more information and resources: https://linktr.ee/beyondboards

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
1 hr 30 min