Slam Skateboarding Magazine #247

COVER: JAKE HAYES has the hops to pop up to unimaginable heights. Back Smith off flat on a dumpster well above waist high in Hollywood. PHOTO: JAKE DARWEN.

In this edition, we dive into the world of professional skateboarding, where navigating today’s landscape takes much more than just stacking clips. Through candid conversations, seasoned Aussie pros like Jake Hayes, Andrew Brophy, Dane Burman, Rob Pace, and Gabriel Summers share insights into the grind behind the glory, opening up about the challenges and ambitions that define pro skating in 2025.

Nixen Osborne’s path from the remote desert towns of Western Australia’s Pilbara region to the vibrant scenes of Sydney and California is a story of raw talent and relentless drive. In this issue, the fearless, self-proclaimed “stuntman” sits down with Riely Walker to unpack his full journey, touching on his Māori heritage, community work with Indigenous youth, his superhuman pain threshold, and hucking down handrails.

Join the Polar crew “In Search of The Creator” on a two-week odyssey across Australia’s southeast. Nick Boserio devised a plan to deviate from the big city grids to scour the landscapes of coastal to country Victoria and New South Wales. Penned through Brass’ vivid lens, this article captures the essence of their road trip, covering Geoff Campbell’s meticulous spot maps, Emile Laurent’s cosmic vibes, and paying royal homage to Polar’s Prince, Oskar Rozenberg.

New Balance Australia heads to Kuala Lumpur in search of untapped gold. With local legend Mark Khor, aka “His Excellency,” guiding the way, Shaun Paul, Sean Thomas Ryan, and Cato Dobbs battle sweltering humidity, “leg prisons,” killer ants, and typical van-life chaos fuelled by a dose of “baseless hate.” Their nine-day adventure caps off with a cultural detour to the awe-inspiring Batu Caves.

Liv gives us a glimpse into her world, including her Olympic travels, an impromptu 500-metre swim off a Patonga ferry, and a cherished skate mission in Barcelona with her dad.

We have plenty more packed into this edition: Norway’s gnarliest, Kevin Bækkel, shares his Aussie Faves; Will McDonald, the young man behind the lens of Rowan Davis’ Splinter part, spills the beans on Rowan’s obsession with bin kickers; we rewind to the 1980s with a backyard mini vert revival; and reset your body, mind, and soul with some mental health tips for skateboarders in our Spring Detox article.