In skateboarding, core heads usually get the final say. When Jenkem put up a thousand dollars for the longest crooked grind, it was not only about who could hold the trick the farthest but also about who the scene would actually recognize.
With skateboarding legend Jamie Thomas's strong backing, Zero pro skateboarder Brandon Burleigh came through and took the win, while YouTube skater Ricky Glaser was ruled out after his entry was called a crooked nose grind instead by The Chief.
The contest had people talking because it turned into more than just a battle of footage. Glaser thought he had landed something that counted, and he was quick to post proof that Jenkem deleted the "Will Post Later" message.
A screenshot of a deleted DM from Glaser's Instagram account showed a promise to share it later, which gave Glaser the feeling that he had been brushed off. He needed to provide the evidence and felt clowned by the way it all played out.
This became another chapter in the divide between the core industry and YouTube creators.
Burleigh represents the long tradition of professionals who came up under brands and mentors like The Chief, while Glaser represents the online world that can reach millions of viewers. The way this bounty ended seemed to confirm that the industry still protects its own.
Regardless, Burleigh locked in the victory and walked away with the thousand dollar prize. His crooked grind now stands as the longest crooked grind ever in skateboarding history.
Burleigh gets the bragging rights, the check, and the respect from the core world that matters most to him.
At the end of the day, Burleigh is the champ. The core world is backing him, The Chief made sure his rider got the recognition, and the longest crooked grind record now has a name on it.
Jenkem Posted:
"THE BOUNTY IS OVER🚨 CONGRATS @brandonburleigh 👈After 4 seperate trips, he went back this AM and got the longest one yet. Shout out to @trevormcclung for clocking in behind him and putting it down. Thanks @mobgrip @aptskateshop & @gorillaenergy for throwing in incentives for this long ass grind."