Mike Munzenrider Archives

The Best Skate Videos & Parts of 2025 — QS Readers Poll Results

Features & Interviews December 24th, 2025 · 12:00 am · 13

🎨 Graphic by Francesco Pini
📊 Ballot Count by 4PLY

The results are in and we now have a snapshot of skateboarding in 2025, as voted on by QS readers. Unlike past years, when there was sometimes only a few vote split between first and second place, ties, etc., for the most part, everything cleanly landed where it landed this year.

And it should be said that this listing was voted on between 10:30 A.M. on Monday, December 8th until 5:30 P.M. on Friday, December 12th. Chris Joslin’s “G-Ma” part, which would earn him Thrasher‘s S.O.T.Y. trophy, was released around noon on Wednesday the 10th. Zion Wright’s part was released the morning of Thursday, the 11th. A similar thing happened the year that Miles Silvas won S.O.T.Y. But one hill we will gladly die on is that nobody wants to talk about year-end recap stuff in the following year. We will extend eligibility to any parts that came out starting December 8th into next year’s ranking.

To anyone just joining us: This is NOT a selection curated by QS staff. Editors and contributors can vote, but this was tallied across hundreds of publicly submitted ballots. If you’re interested in the methodology, 4PLY broke down how we tally the votes ✨

Should We Do A Mission Today?

Daily News September 29th, 2025 · 12:00 am

The first Back To The Banks contest since the big banks reopened, and the first in ~seventeen~ years, is going down this Saturday at 1 P.M. until 5:30. $10k in prizes, five obstacle zones. Presented by Wip Energy, Labor, Tenant, Spitfire & Grand. Flyer here.

It is actually crazy how contemporary Jason Byoun’s skating from ten-ish years ago looks in 2025. Nick Von Werssowetz A.K.A. Lurk NYC uploaded a seven-minute A-roll remix of all the clips he filmed of Jason from 2013 to 2018. Not sure whose S.O.T.Y. from 2013 – 2018 we’re handing to Jason, but it’s gotta be someone’s. (For further viewing from the era: Jason’s Life Is Goodie part is blessed too …except he doesn’t say that anymore because it means “b less.”)

Max Palmer + Wasser + Homies Network? Yes, chef.

The QS Anonymous Brand Survey Asks: What’s the ‘Matter’ With Skateboarding? — Part 2

Features & Interviews August 13th, 2025 · 12:00 am · 19

📝 Intro by Mike Munzenrider
🎨 Art by Francesco Pini

For its first 40 years of existence, skateboarding’s popularity would rise and fall in regular cycles. But then, right around 1999, skating enjoyed two decades of enduring prosperity.

Come 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, skateboarding went nova – with pockets full of stimulus cash, folks sought activities to do outdoors, and skate sales exploded, albeit unsustainably.

And now, the cycle returned, so much that people point to an alleged crash in popularity. This past spring, we surveyed skateshop owners and managers to ask, “What’s the ‘Matter’ With Skateboarding?” The shops pointed to a number of factors, including higher prices for products, a lack of demos and in-person events, and changes in the way younger people interact with skating.

Some of the shops we spoke to also wondered: “Why are you only asking us? Ask the brands.” So we’re back, this time with the QS Anonymous Brand Survey.

The QS Anonymous Skateshop Survey Asks: What’s the ‘Matter’ With Skateboarding?

Features & Interviews April 17th, 2025 · 12:00 am · 20

📝 Words by Mike Munzenrider
🎨 Art by Francesco Pini

Do you remember that demo?

Ben Jones, co-owner of Kinetic Skateboarding, in Wilmington, Delaware, does. It was the early-90s, Toy Machine. Jahmal Williams and Jerry Fowler were still on the team. It was at a metal skatepark in Fayetteville, North Carolina. “It’s seared into my brain how hard Ed Templeton ripped,” Jones says.

Many readers of this article do remember that demo — a flashbulb moment early on in a love affair with skateboarding that really sealed the deal — but such memories are becoming increasingly harder to make. That’s one of the takeaways from the Quartersnacks Anonymous Skateshop Survey. We reached out to 20 shops all over the United States that we have close ties with. We asked five questions, but ultimately, tried to get to the bottom of one. It began as a joke, but maybe it isn’t one? There’s a widespread refrain right now that skateboarding is “fucked.” So, is skateboarding “fucked?” …again?

The Best Skate Videos & Parts of 2024 — QS Readers Poll Results

Features & Interviews December 24th, 2024 · 12:00 am · 11

🎨 Graphic by Francesco Pini
📊 Ballot Count by 4PLY

The results are in and we have an official, publicly sourced snapshot of 2024 skateboarding, as voted on by hundreds of people. And unlike last year, when the eventual Thrasher S.O.T.Y. winner dropped a part on the day that voting closed, there were no last-minute surprises. There are some new names, and some longtime favorites who have only ranked 20-11 in the past have finally broke into the top ten ❤️

Thanks to everyone who voted, and everyone who did some writing below :)

This ranking was voted on by QS readers from December 9th to December 13th. Editors and contributors can vote, but this is not a selection curated by QS staff. If you’re interested in the methodology, 4PLY broke down how we tally the votes ✨