Dazed Club x Samsung skate session
Gallery / 28 images
If a trick was landed off-camera and no one was around to see it, did the trick really land? Technically, yes… But the point is, the camera has been an essential part of skate culture for decades, from the fisheye-lensed camcorders that captured iconic moments in the late 90s and early 00s, to the ubiquitous smartphones that beam today’s clips straight to TikTok. And the technology just keeps advancing.
Recently, Dazed invited a bunch of Dazed Club members and skaters to a drop-in skate session, to test out Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and its next-level ‘nightography video’ features, including wider apertures and better noise reduction, designed for low-light environments. To truly put the camera to the test, Samsung transformed the UK’s F51 skatepark into a glow-in-the-dark arena, where other cameras would struggle to capture the receipts from a fast-paced session.
How did it go? Well, you can see for yourself in the gallery above, with a Dazed Club photographer and video editor also on hand to capture what went down. Below, we hear from the skaters involved, who share their music recs, favourite places to skate, and experience with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Hazel Whitehouse
What’s your favourite place to skate in the world right now?
Archie Whiting: I think for culture and absolute passion, it would be Barcelona. It’s a national sport, for a start, and it’s just so second nature. Everyone skates, and it’s a really good place to progress.
What music do you like listening to when you’re skating?
Archie Whiting: I listen to a variety of music, but I think reggae or dub gives me the most chill flow. Skating is kind of like dancing in a way, so it definitely has an impact on the way that you move. But sometimes it’s just nice to hear the wheels on the board, just to hear the skate sounds.
Hazel Whitehouse
Do you prefer skate parks, street sports or DIY skates?
Ruby Brooks: I definitely prefer skating at DIYs at the moment, because it’s the perfect mix of the two. The obstacles make sense; they’re built for a purpose, but it’s rough around the edges. DIYs are all built by the community, and can be adapted to how specific skaters want them, which is different to a big company building a skatepark. It might be seamless and perfect on the outside, but when you actually try and skate it, it might not fit what you want to do.
Hazel Whitehouse
How did you find shooting with the camera?
Zhora Akpeki: The nightography video mode is amazing for filming, and the super steady stabilisation from the Horizon Lock is absolutely amazing. I was following my friend around, filming, and it came out super steady. You’ve also got the option to film in 8K, which I’ve never seen before.
What’s the last skate video that really motivated you to go out and skate?
Zhora Akpeki: I would say the last Palace video that dropped, the one they filmed in China. It’s actually a few people that I know; they went out on a trip to China and just got sick content.
Are there any artists that feel like the soundtrack to your skating?
Zhora Akpeki: I would say a few songs by Mavo or Shallipopi would definitely be my go-to for a skate sesh.
Hazel Whitehouse
Where do you usually go to learn new tricks and get inspiration?
Kurtis O’Connor: Either I go to my local skate park and see some good skaters, or I go online, to YouTube, or watch old videos. There’s an old skateboard video called Blueprint – Lost and Found. Watch that.
Is there a skate spot that’s been a highlight for you?
Kurtis O’Connor: Yeah, I know what it looks like, I know how to describe it… There were these banks in Barcelona, multi-coloured. They were amazing, like red and yellow. Real nice.
Hazel Whitehouse
Whose skating videos are you watching right now, and who inspires you the most?
Anton Rolland: One of them has been Morok by TransWorld Skateboarding, which is a skateboarder skating on a frozen Russian lake. It’s been very cool to see new ways of skating on organic materials, and it’s very inspirational.
What music do you like listening to when you’re skating?
Anton Rolland: I usually like to listen to rock. I’ve been listening to a lot of Interpol lately. It makes me feel like I’m actually good.
Where do you usually go to learn new tricks or get inspiration?
Anton Rolland: To find new or more niche skateboarding videos, I usually check Reddit or Internet Archive. And a lot of really old 90s stuff gets reposted on YouTube and Instagram constantly, so I guess it just depends who you follow.
Do you prefer skateparks, street spots or DIY spots?
Anton Rolland: I think I prefer the charm of DIY spots. Street spots are a bit more complicated because of security and people passing over.
Head to the gallery above to see images from the event.
