An old trend is resurfacing in New York City that dates back as far as the ’80s, but is now being rediscovered through Instagram, TikTok, and anywhere else where you can go viral.
It’s potentially fatal, carrying such a disregard for safety that it’s difficult to look away. It’s Subway Surfing, a stunt that has found unexpected traction among a daring pocket of New Yorkers, particularly in the borough of Queens.
And no, this isn’t some nostalgic homage. It’s an exploration of why such a risky activity—one that seemingly faded away—is back. Is it just a quick way to go viral? Is it a quest for identity and belonging? Or is it maybe a response to the monotonous bore of the digital age?
Take a look as we attempt to go beyond the cheap thrills and understand why today’s teens in New York City are literally risking it all for Subway Surfing.
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January 8, 2024 1:40 pm
Natural selection
January 8, 2024 4:36 pm
fuck off
January 8, 2024 2:07 pm
You guys do great work in reporting all aspects of skateboarding. But this is irresponsible to record/write about this. You shouldn’t be giving these dumb kids a platform to speak about this incredibly dangerous act. I don’t think any functioning adult was wondering “I really needed to know why these kids are doing this”.
January 8, 2024 4:49 pm
Sure it shouldn’t be glorified (and Jenkem definitely didn’t glorify it) but it also shouldn’t be ignored. That’s what journalism is about. After watching this video any person in their right mind will understand the dangers that come with doing something like this. And if you think somebody is now gonna try it just because they saw it on Jenkem, don’t you think that same person hasn’t already been exposed to thousands of other stupid activities they could get themselves into?
January 13, 2024 7:41 am
You’re right, this is what journalism is about, reporting the truth of the matter, these images are the truth but so are the images that the New York Times posted just this morning, 13 January 2024 of the aftermath when these surfers make one wrong move or a copycat that saw one of them and wants to try it cause it seems easy enough freezes up in a panic and gets deleted by a solid wall or blacked out barricade or another train car. I think this article and images should be updated with the sole sneaker sitting on the yellow lines beneath the elevated tracks in the middle of the street and the image of the blood splatter spot of where his body landed and then was removed from… he was 14, add that too because Journalism means give the people all the details, not just the ones that might inspire someone who might be going through something… feels like theres nothing to live for, if they can imagine their Jordans on the street by themselves and a blood stain but their body isn’t there, maybe it might deter them from joining this ridiculous trend of dying on top of moving trains, if they care about their Jordans at all… gotta count on them caring about something, update this article with the blood splatter, (photo shop in a chalk outline) and def add that close up of the Jordans, could be how we get a better grip on this insanity.
January 8, 2024 4:30 pm
Damn this is a good piece. Sick to see even see Matt Weber in there! Good work Jenkem.
January 8, 2024 5:56 pm
Maybe they should lock the doors. Obviously, that wouldn’t stop them from doing it… just a small deterrent.
Why are they open anyway? Here in Vancouver the skytrain doors have always been locked.