Vol. I Spring 2013
Zenith
an online ‘zine documenting scooter riding with a focus on the midwest
For nearly as long as I’ve ridden scooters, I’ve wanted to make a magazine. I didn’t know the first step to how I could accomplish that, but I did know that looking at photos in skate/bmx mags and reading about my favorite riders/skaters was awesome. Fast forward a couple years. I had my own blog, Inside Scooters, which you could say was the first step for me. It was more about posting latest videos than interviews and pictures, but it was/is still awesome to do. Fast forward a few more years. My partner at Inside, Steven Tongson, was finally getting his own magazine together: Dialed. I was first able to contribute content to that in the second issue, where I covered the Chicago scene, shooting pictures and writing an article. It was literally my dream come true. Fast forward to today. My interests in publishing a magazine have changed slightly. I’m more interested in creating visual content than text. I’m not sure if Zenith will have much for text besides an intro for each issue, but that can change. The purpose of this ‘zine isn’t to show off the latest parts, or get inside your favorite rider’s head. It is solely to document the art of freestyle scooter riding. It won’t be perfect, but I’m having fun doing it and I hope you enjoy it. This one is for the riders who have perservered even with all the odds against them- living in the smallest of towns, with no other riders around, having to deal with the most humid of heat, and coldest of snow. That is how I came up and I hope these pages inspire others like me to continue the journey scooter riding is.
Jon Knutdson Full pipe cruisin amidst some salt mountains in Milwaukee.
Spring
It was a long, cruel winter for the Midwest. The snow came early, hard, and often. As soon as it would melt, Mother Nature, as if taunting us, would drop another layer of the white stuff. Even if the snow managed to dissipate long enough for us riders to once again feel the glide of polyurethane on concrete, the frigid temperatures and biting wind would force us back inside all too quickly. At long last, the snow and ice retreated to their earthly graves. But that didn’t mean the end of bad weather. We had to endure weeks of seemingly endless rain, day after day of showers, washing away any hopes to get outside to ride. Winter blues had turned into Spring blues. As the school year wound down, the weather gradually improved. Once again we took to the streets and parks, not sure if we could trust the weather to stay complacent. And a few of us couldn’t, as some parts of the Midwest experienced a rare and heartbreaking snowfall in the month of May. But, after impatiently waiting, waiting, wating for our time to come...it did. Glorious rays of sunshine graced our skin, beautiful birdsongs caressed our ears, and the sight of street spots, new and old, dazzled our eyes. We tossed the layers of jackets, long sleeved shirts, gloves and hats aside. We were able to partake in one of life’s greatest pleasures- the first car ride after winter with the windows rolled down. We were able to ride scooters. -Jordan
alexanderGOULD
Tight 5-0 in a dark Davenport alley.
This kinked boardslide in Davenport shot him over the sidewalk into the dirt.
benTORBORG Cruisin a different kind of scooter. Asbury, IA
zachJOHNSTON Sometimes the simplest setup is the best. Front wallride in Dubuque, IA.
zach JOHNSTON
180 bar off an island of rock in Rock Island, IL
Doing it pegless. 5-0 in Dubuque, IA.
issacMILLER
Double polyurethane ride. Iowa City, IA
devinHEALD
Quick hop on bar over. Davenport, IA
Fence stall as the last of the sunlight fades away. Cedar Rapids, IA
Zach with the dirt 360 in Dubuque, IA.
As Volume I draws to a close, I’d like to thank anyone who let me take their photo, stay at their house, helped me in any way, and those who’ve provided me inspiration to do what I do. I want to remind everyone that scootering should be fun. Forget the trends, the rankings, who landed what trick or what parts are cool. Go out, and ride because of what put you on a scooter in the first place: fun. This first issue is rather a small one, and I’d like to see it grow. This issue centers on the Midwest, but it would be cool to feature riders from all over the world. So, if you have photos you’d like featured in a future issue, email me at jordanjasa@gmail.com with your best shots- riding, lifestyle, anything you think is cool. There’s no such thing as too much content, and with summer here, I’m sure there will be a lot to go around. I’d also like to shamelessly plug myself. I’m on the following social networks, check them out for more photos I take and other cool stuff: Instagram: @jordanjasa Vine: jordanjasa Youtube: youtube.com/user/jordanscoots Flickr: flickr.com/photos/jordanjasa/ And as always, hit up inside-scooters.com for the latest videos and more, as well as the Inside instagram (@insidescoot) for stuff I don’t post on my personal one.
jon KNUDTSON
Jon boardsliding in Milwaukee, WI.
J-Knut finishing it off with a heelwhip rail hop. Milwaukee, WI