A Halloween Slide Jammy

The proliferation of “slide jams”, like this Halloween Slide Jam and others, are perfect examples of an exciting paradigm shift in skateboarding. While some in skateboarding focus on Primetime Jockfests, we like to focus on small events generated by, and revolving around, local shred communities.

I think Earthwing’s Steve Kong said it best when he stated: “We don’t need a skatepark or a company of sorts to organize a jam—pretty much anyone and their mother can host a jam”. He’s exactly right, and it’s that freedom and community spirit that makes what we’re all doing so relevant and at the very heart of what skateboarding is about.

Bottom line, Wheelbase is here to support the longevity of the skateboarding family. We prefer grassroots events and we believe that in order for our corner of skateboarding to continue to be radical we must support our local communities. So, when our homies hit us up about getting involved with a Halloween Slide Jam, we were 100% down!

Being a part of The Halloween Slide Jam and seeing so many skaters getting together just for the sake of shredding reminded us of just how rad skateboarding can be. It’s at such events—where skaters and family come together to celebrate the simple freedom of “the Ride”—that ya realize just how dope skateboarding can be.

If you are involved with skateboarding right now, and more specifically the downhill community, you are a very lucky soul indeed. I say this because we are living through a moment in time when skateboarding is being reconfigured and reapproprated by a new batch of skaters and influences. Change is inevitable and exciting—and we are living right in the thick of it. Community events are king right now and we fully support that.

Once again, we believe Steve Kong nails it on the head when he states: “I think the idea of a ‘slidejam’ is pretty friggin awesome . . . The amount of friendships, travels and memories gained just going to these slide jams are . . . priceless. Fuck yeaaa skateboarding!”

Ultimately, we are stoked and thankful to be a part of this thriving moment in skateboarding history. Please enjoy our pictorial glimpse into yet another awesome slide jam. If ya have a chance, work with some fellow skaters in your community and throw a slide jam yourself—you won’t regret it, and as The Men’s Warehouse dude so poignantly puts it: “I guarantee that shit!”

Big Thanks to Muir, Sector 9, Arbor, Gator Grip, and Gullwing for kicking down. We’d also like to thank Scott Lembach and Jeff Budro for helping to make sure everything ran with the smoothness. Let’s do is again!