Sidewalk Surfer

The serenity in between these empty avenues gives Andrey a field day to trail blaze the hideouts, the underground harmony of skateboarding. "The lots which used to be buildings have now turned into skate spots, and school yards which once hosted hundreds of kids are empty, making a perfect atmosphere for creativity," he muses. "Kristin and I explored the parts of the city that are overlooked by many, wandering into abandoned hotels that had been vacant for decades for a 'pool day.'"

In the spirit of spontaneity which infuses everything Andrey does, Kristen Janwong captures the archetypal of the crossroads. This creates the kind of conceptual atmosphere that feels ripped out of an 80s skating short-film or a modernized scene from 1965 Oscar-nominated classic Skaterdater while surf rock-esque soundtrack plays in the background. Simultaneously enchanted by the pure and intrinsic lifestyle, skateboarding was originally referred to as "sidewalk surfing" when southern Californian surfers hauled onto land, carving the choppy streets for their own.

Forgive me for the spoiler, but the bliss of slashing curbs awakens a true sense of possibility. Where the tremor under your feet grants you a raw and uncensored feeling of freedom. Fearlessly championing the limits of our distress, the fondness for skating emerges from its ability to revolutionize the space around us and defy boundaries. An unfamiliar sky expanding into endless chances and untold tales, the act of riding your board becomes an opportunity to make decisions and challenge oneself. For a skater, all is meant to be used to overcome fear, a new opportunity emerging like clockwork - an opportunity for a perfect landing.

We are the dawn patrol, resting on the sidewalk, surrounded by distant chatter of two passers-by. "What is left for the youth in a time of crisis?" Andrey asks, but none of us has an answer. These streets might feel flat and motionless for now, but the standby hails for another adventure. Floating on our boards, looking tirelessly onto the horizon, and waiting for the next wave that grows with new latitudes.