Endemic Skate Store, Huddersfield – 10 Years Deep celebrations.
On the 12th of August Huddersfield’s only independent skate store Endemic celebrated its 10th Anniversary. To mark the occasion, the store, locals and guests from far and wide celebrated with a weekend of skateboarding, beers, music, photos, zines, more beers and red hot dance floor moves.
Celebrations commenced with the opening of a 10-year retrospective exhibition of Huddersfield based skate photography hosted by Arcade Beers. Curated by Tim Smith and Andy Cullen, the show was well received and heavily attended by locals and a bevy of travelling visitors from Nottingham, Bristol, Wakefield, London, Sweden and Switzerland. The exhibition can be viewed for the next month, and whilst you’re in the area you can pick up a limited copy of Ache Zine 4 (from Endemic), which also showcases skateboard photography over the past 10 years in Huddersfield.
To coincide with the anniversary, Endemic collaborated with Arcade Beers and Vocation Brewery to produce their very own New Zealand pilsner called “No Comply” which was released on the night and sold out in less than 2 hours! The awesome beer can artwork was produced by locally based illustration superstar Pete O’Toole, who also designed special-edition boards, tees, mugs and stickers to tie it all together (pick ‘em up here).
Music for the evening went off!! Provided by Yorkshire rambler Sam “Serious” Barrett and DJ’s Frank, Dave Bevan and special guest DJ Reece (god only knows why).
As darkness fell, it was time for the ‘10 Years of Endemic’ video premiere, in which Endemic team riders skated alongside members of the Huddersfield skate scene. Everyone packed inside Byram Arcade and the video went down a storm! Heavy celebrations commenced and went on late into the evening… and early the next morning.
After a day of recovery and some chilled street skating, Round 2 of the celebratory events kicked off with “Car Park Carnage” an old skool session packed with DIY obstacles. Along with a heavy local gang, the Nottingham lads and members of Wakefield’s notorious WUG crew were in attendance. Fun was had, beers got drunk, blood got spilt and everyone ripped!
Skateboard in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and the wider UK is extremely lucky to have a dedicated and passionate skater, like Kiwi Andy, at the helm of Endemic. His hard work has seen the shop grow from strength to strength and the local scene grow wider and deeper than ever before. We’re all stronger thanks to Kiwi’s hard work. Cheers Kiwi! Here’s to another 10 more years!
Massive thanks to Adidas Skateboarding, Keen Distribution, Shiner, Vans and Rock Solid Distribution for sponsoring the Jam.
