Long time Sidewalk favourite Phil Evans has been hard at work on Saint Denis – a documentary on Belfast native and The National Skateboard Co. pro Denis Lynn. The brother of long term Belfast ripper Conhuir Lynn, Denis has grown up in the eyes of the UK and Ireland skate scene and established himself as a ripper of all terrain as well as ripper of the piss, out of everybody in his path. An insight into the life of the self proclaimed legend is bound to be interested, so make sure you get to the Peckhamplex on the 15th (or one of the European dates if you’re not UK based) to enjoy it, followed by free booze at the White Horse pub and, weather depending, a follow up at The Wall (if you know, you know).
Saint Denis is the latest skate documentary by Carhartt WIP, featuring team rider Denis Lynn. Clocking in at 43 minutes, it explores the world of Denis, his
humble origins and his jaunts around Europe, seeing him skate spots in Paris, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Malmo. The film is shot and directed by Phil Evans, a regular Carhartt WIP collaborator, who has worked with the brand on previous projects such as “Format Perspective” and “The Panoramic Series”.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Denis first picked up a board at the age of five. By his teenage years, he had garnered a reputation as a talented skater
and consummate piss-taker. However, as Evans captures throughout this film, his city still bares the scars of years of sectarian division, which has long stunted the growth of Belfast’s skate scene. For Denis, skateboarding not only became his purpose, but also a tool for transcending these surroundings, allowing him to travel the world and throw himself into all manner of unusual situations.
Saint Denis is a testament to Denis’s own resolve and evolution as a skater. It includes archive material, interviews with Denis as well as friends and family,
and a host of original, unseen skate footage.
Premiere dates:
15/03 London
28/03 Paris
29/03 Helsinki
06/04 Copenhagen
More dates TBC.
Documentary online release in April.
