Sidewalk Skateboarding

Element’s Make It Count is a global series of amateur skateboarding events designed to seek out new talent. In keeping with the brand’s message of social awareness, environmental stewardship and positivity, the entry fee is one item of canned food per entrant which is donated to a local food bank, and there is no cash prize for the winner.

The 2013 European finals took place at the picturesque Vierli skatecamp in Norway. Skaters from across Europe took part, and were judged by Element skaters Levi Brown, Phil Zwijsen, Michael Mackrodt, Karsten Kleppan, Jarne Verbruggen, Ross McGouran and Ruben Rodrigues. Local boy Hermann Stene emerged victorious, winning a week’s all-expenses-paid stay in California with the opportunity of scoring a full sponsorship deal with Element.

Stene joined 17 other skaters from the USA, Brazil, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan at the global final later in the year, held at Element’s skatecamp at Sequoia Lake in California. The standard of skating was incredibly high, with reigning champ Jon Cosentino of Toronto, Canada eventually defending his title and extending his sponsorship from Element. The event featured guest appearances from Element pros Nick Garcia, Madars Apse, Mark Appleyard and Evan Smith.

2014’s global series kicked off in the Hollenbeck Skate Plaza in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles with guest judges Appleyard and Nyjah Huston. The series will then travel around the US, visiting cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, New York and Milwaukee, before finishing back in LA at the Berrics in August.