ESPN just dropped the trailer for Empire Skate, the latest entry in its 30 for 30 series, and it’s shaping up to be something special.
The film takes viewers straight into the cracked sidewalks and graffiti-tagged corners of 1990s New York, where a tight-knit crew of skateboarders carved out their own space in a city that wasn’t exactly welcoming.
Before Supreme was a logo on half the globe’s hats and hoodies, it was a Lafayette Street shop built by and for kids who didn’t see themselves in any of the glossy catalogs or gatekept skateparks.
These were city kids, a mix of misfits, creatives, and survivors who used skateboarding as a way out, a way through, or just a way to breathe. They made use of what they had: curbs, rails, stoops, and pure determination.
What makes Empire Skate feel different is how it highlights the overlap between scenes - skaters sharing space with DJs, graffiti writers, dancers, and photographers. It wasn’t just about landing tricks.
It was about expression, identity, and figuring things out on your own terms. The film brings together voices from across that world to talk about how they got there and what it meant to grow up skating through a New York that was rough around the edges and full of potential.
Directed by Josh Swade, Empire Skate doesn’t just tell the story of a skate shop or a brand. It looks at the atmosphere that gave rise to all of it. Many of the people featured came from tough situations, and the streets offered little comfort. But somewhere between the traffic and the pavement, they built something lasting.
The full film premieres June 30 on ESPN, and if the trailer is anything to go by, it’s going to be a thoughtful look at the early days of a scene that helped shape more than just a few decks and kickflips.