DUBAI: Vans Middle East has just unveiled the second installment of its “Keys to the Kingdom” video series, which highlights the emerging skateboard culture in Saudi Arabia. The first video was shared via the cult streetwear brand’s YouTube page in December.
The sequel is a four-minute-long clip that stars young Jeddah-based skateboarder Ali Bin Mahfouz, who opens up about his involvement in the subculture and the ways he sees the scene evolving.
“For a long time, we’ve been searching for a place to express our love for skating,” he shared in the video.
“I saw some skateboarding videos on YouTube and I noticed it wasn’t something done regularly in my community, so I decided to build my own rails, funbox and mini ramps and learnt how to use it myself,” he explained, sharing that he searched all of Jeddah for a skateboard to no avail before ultimately purchasing one online.
“I am positive that having a skatepark will bring everyone together,” noted Bin Mahfouz, who revealed the obstacles he faced when it came to finding a place to skate freely. “Even the people who don’t know about skateboarding, they are welcome to watch and learn about what we’re doing.”
Watch the full video below.
