Element X Polo Skate Camp Experience
Element X Polo Skate Camp Experience 9/28/2023 
If Vítoria Mendonça back Smiths in the woods and nobody's around to hear it…
The Element team and Polo invited 13 skaters from around the world to one of the most epic pieces of concrete nestled in the Pacific Northwest. Our first stop was at Seek Skate Camp, a skater's paradise located in Mt. Hood National Forest. The goal was to expose skaters to a week of four-wheeled and wilderness adventures. There was a hiking trip and a nature sustainability course with Oregon's finest, Silas Baxter-Neal. We also got a natural clothing-dye class with Emi from Rain and Shine Textiles, where she taught us how to use plants, flowers and pine cones to color clothing. Then I had the privilege of teaching an analog photo class. From camp to the woods and out to the city, we eventually made our way to Portland's crown jewel under the Burnside Bridge. All the campers enjoyed the elements the Pacific Northwest could offer and left with memories they will have for a lifetime.Thanks to the Element Family and Polo for this amazing opportunity. Get a look at what all went down. —Joe Brook.
Photos by Joe Brook and Conny Mirbach
Straight off the plane, Jaakko Ojanen boosts a backside ollie as his teammates look on
New pro Vítoria Mendonça with a hefty big flip on the bank
Alexander Wex seeks out a rainbow grind
Donny Barley pivots to fakie in nature's solitude
Two rippers, Jaakko Ojanen and Gabriel Fortunato, setting up shred sleds to get down
A SOTY in his natural habitat, getting ready to take the team and campers on a nature hike
Silas teaches the campers about the diversity of Oregon forests and introduces them to a few edible species of plants along the way
The Element squad and campers getting ready to stargaze
Camper Leo Turner flicks a fat kickflip over the hip
Jaakko Ojanen back lips a full-size picnic table with a little help from the tree roots
Greyson Beal understands the vibes of skating rocks, backside noseblunt
Wannes Derycke pole jam one-foot tailgrabs a long way from Holland
Rafaela Costa, back 180 pole jam
The author teaching the campers about analog photography
Vítoria listening to me tell skate stories from my early days at SLAP up to the present at Thrasher
Me and Beal looking at Greyson's photos he shot around Seek Camp
Photos from the camper's reloadedable point-and-shoot cameras. They did an amazing job. I hope they continue to document their lives after camp
Elisa Martini, checking out the flicks she got
Genshin Harada getting ready to exchange some prints with the fellow campers
Next we got a DIY warmup with the Element crew
East Coast beast Donny Barley is not afraid to front 5-0 on some fresh Northwest concrete
Vítoria busts a bluntside
Takanosuke Hashimoto with a proper frontside flip
Jaakko snaps big v-heel on a tight bank
Westgate comes correct with a textbook kickflip
Emi from Rain and Shine Textiles teaches the campers her natural dying techniques
Class is in session, ya'll
Some of the plants were used to make patterns on natural-cotton bandanas
Campers hard at work using rocks to make the plant colors bleed into the cotton fabric
Then they used vats of hot water and pinecones to naturally dye the shirts
Rocks + plants to make art on fabrics was a very primitive and enjoyable process for us all. It's fun to learn new things
Previewing some product on the drying rack
I’m not just a photographer, but also a certified natural-dye guy
Of course we had to pay homage to our local, humble bridge park. Greyson Beal kicks it off with an alley-oop FSO at B-side
Genshin Harada aka Pen Pen backside sugarcanes a long way from Japan
Back at camp, Leo Turner front blunts the natty QP
Greyson Beal follows up with a back noseblunt
And finally, Moses Nour shut down the scene with a serene melon grab
Element and Polo Camp's last day. Like I said, everyone was walkin’ away with memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks to the Element family and Polo for this amazing opportunity. Hopefully see y’all next year
If Vítoria Mendonça back Smiths in the woods and nobody's around to hear it…The Element team and Polo invited 13 skaters from around the world to one of the most epic pieces of concrete nestled in the Pacific Northwest. Our first stop was at Seek Skate Camp, a skater's paradise located in Mt. Hood National Forest. The goal was to expose skaters to a week of four-wheeled and wilderness adventures. There was a hiking trip and a nature sustainability course with Oregon's finest, Silas Baxter-Neal. We also got a natural clothing-dye class with Emi from Rain and Shine Textiles, where she taught us how to use plants, flowers and pine cones to color clothing. Then I had the privilege of teaching an analog photo class. From camp to the woods and out to the city, we eventually made our way to Portland's crown jewel under the Burnside Bridge. All the campers enjoyed the elements the Pacific Northwest could offer and left with memories they will have for a lifetime.Thanks to the Element Family and Polo for this amazing opportunity. Get a look at what all went down. —Joe Brook.
Photos by Joe Brook and Conny Mirbach
Straight off the plane, Jaakko Ojanen boosts a backside ollie as his teammates look onNew pro Vítoria Mendonça with a hefty big flip on the bankAlexander Wex seeks out a rainbow grindDonny Barley pivots to fakie in nature's solitudeTwo rippers, Jaakko Ojanen and Gabriel Fortunato, setting up shred sleds to get downA SOTY in his natural habitat, getting ready to take the team and campers on a nature hikeSilas teaches the campers about the diversity of Oregon forests and introduces them to a few edible species of plants along the wayThe Element squad and campers getting ready to stargazeCamper Leo Turner flicks a fat kickflip over the hipJaakko Ojanen back lips a full-size picnic table with a little help from the tree rootsGreyson Beal understands the vibes of skating rocks, backside nosebluntWannes Derycke pole jam one-foot tailgrabs a long way from HollandRafaela Costa, back 180 pole jam The author teaching the campers about analog photographyVítoria listening to me tell skate stories from my early days at SLAP up to the present at ThrasherMe and Beal looking at Greyson's photos he shot around Seek CampPhotos from the camper's reloadedable point-and-shoot cameras. They did an amazing job. I hope they continue to document their lives after campElisa Martini, checking out the flicks she gotGenshin Harada getting ready to exchange some prints with the fellow campersNext we got a DIY warmup with the Element crewEast Coast beast Donny Barley is not afraid to front 5-0 on some fresh Northwest concreteVítoria busts a bluntsideTakanosuke Hashimoto with a proper frontside flipJaakko snaps big v-heel on a tight bankWestgate comes correct with a textbook kickflipEmi from Rain and Shine Textiles teaches the campers her natural dying techniquesClass is in session, ya'llSome of the plants were used to make patterns on natural-cotton bandanasCampers hard at work using rocks to make the plant colors bleed into the cotton fabricThen they used vats of hot water and pinecones to naturally dye the shirtsRocks + plants to make art on fabrics was a very primitive and enjoyable process for us all. It's fun to learn new thingsPreviewing some product on the drying rackI’m not just a photographer, but also a certified natural-dye guyOf course we had to pay homage to our local, humble bridge park. Greyson Beal kicks it off with an alley-oop FSO at B-sideGenshin Harada aka Pen Pen backside sugarcanes a long way from JapanBack at camp, Leo Turner front blunts the natty QPGreyson Beal follows up with a back nosebluntAnd finally, Moses Nour shut down the scene with a serene melon grabElement and Polo Camp's last day. Like I said, everyone was walkin’ away with memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks to the Element family and Polo for this amazing opportunity. Hopefully see y’all next year
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Originally posted on: https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/element-x-polo-skate-camp-experience/