Levis Skateboarding proudly presents : “Skateboarding in Pine Ridge”, a documentary directed by Greg Hunt chronicling the skatepark builds in the towns of Pine Ridge and Manderson, which are located on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge is largely reported in the media as an impoverished community with a drug and alcohol epidemic and teen suicide rates seven to ten times greater than the national average. When the Levi’s crew visited the reservation, they saw a community transformed. They found a generation inspired – a group of people championing each other through their collective actions.
“You hear a lot of professional skateboarders saying that skateboarding saves lives. You literally see that happening out here on the Pine Ridge Rez.” – Walt Pourier (Stronghold Society)
“You build a world class skatepark in an isolated area, the skaters there will literally feel more connected to the outside world than if you built them something low quality.” – Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam & Vitalogy Foundation)
“In 1998, after Andy Kessler and I founded Wounded Knee Skateboards, our vision was to some day build skateparks on the Pine Ridge Reservation for the Lakota youth in memory of the Lakota who died in the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. Thanks to Levi’s Skateboarding, Jeff Ament, and Grindline, this vision has come true! On behalf of Wounded Knee Skateboards, we would like to thank the following people who came together and made this happen! LEVI’S Skateboarding, Imprint Projects, Farm League, Stronghold Society, Jeff Ament, MPS and Vitalogy Foundation, Monk, Little Eddie and Grindline Skateparks, Indy Trucks, Bones Wheels, Bryce Kanights, Triple Eight Helmets, BC Surf and Sport, Jonathan Mehring, Square State Skate, Satellite Board Shop, Garfield Steele, Wounded Knee District School, Alice Phelps, Stacy Phelps, Conscious Alliance, Larry Pourier, Rob Lawrence, Pine Ridge Batch Plant, Oglala Lakota Country and our Lakota Skate culture youth!!!!” – Jim “Murf” Murphy (Wounded Knee Skateboards & Stronghold Society)
About the Levi’s “Skateboarding in Pine Ridge” Documentary…
Levi’s joined the Stronghold Society and Grindline Skate Parks and went to Pine Ridge, South Dakota to finish one skate park and build another in the neighboring town of Manderson. Joey Pepper, Josh Matthews, Marius Syvanen, and Pat Moran came to hang out with the kids of Pine Ridge and skate the new parks. This project is a part of an ongoing effort to support skateboarding in under served communities around the world.
Directed by Greg Hunt
Original Score by David Pajo
Additional Track by Cat Power
