[ JAPANESE / ENGLISH ]

Photos_Takuya Izumi
Special thanks_adidas Skateboarding

VHSMAG (V)：　Welcome to Tokyo. This is your second time here?

JENN SOTO (J)：　Yeah, it's my second time. I think the trip has been going so good. I would say 12 outta 10, considering how challenging it's been to stay at a spot and actually get stuff. It's been really cool to watch people get into it because you only have five minutes or something. So hop out the van, get the trick. So I appreciate every clip a little bit more because of how hard it is to get.

V：　Did you miss your flight to Tokyo (laughs)?

J：　Yes, I did… Dude, I was so tired from the trip before. I went to Shanghai and New York after. My brain was so tired that I misread the thing. But I'm happy I made it. I had to bring my luggage straight off the plane to the demo. And I've never done that before, but it was fun. Made it work.

V：　Tell us about this Tokyo trip. It's a Superstar tour?

J：　Yeah. The superstar. We're focusing on the black with the white stripes. It’s such a sick shoe and it's so funny to see everyone with them. Like, I look down to see 20 pairs of Superstars... We're gonna make a video for that.

V：　What's been the most memorable thing from the trips so far?

J：　Oh man, that's hard because there have been so many tricks. But I will say, tricks aside, my favorite is when we're all in the van and there's music playing and everyone's singing together. We travel a lot but we all don't live in the same places, so I get hyped when I get to share moments like that with my friends. Just to have the music going, the lights start flickering, everyone's rapping and singing… Great vibes.

V：　You had a Thunder part last year. Is that the most recent one?

J：　Yeah I would say, but personally that for me was not really a part. It was a bunch of footage that I didn't really have a place for. So we were like, okay, let's just put a project out. But I got something coming soon. It’s in the process of wrapping it up and I consider this to be my part. Something that I'll be proud to release and happy to say I did something like this.

V：　Do you have a schedule for the part?

J：　My personal goal is for the new year. But holidays are coming up and I respect that filmers have families and obligations, so I'm gonna try to make some trips happen before the end of the year. I just need my bangers. Single tricks, you know?

V：　Anything that sticks out in your mind from the Thunder edit?

J：　I think I got some Paris and Barcelona footy in there that I was hyped on. I love LA but I love how the rest of the world looks. So anytime I can get clips outside the country, I'm super stoked.

V：　Then what would you say is the most memorable project that you've worked on with adidas?

J：　I did a commercial with adidas a couple years ago where I was kind of the main person and I got to kick it with like Pharrell and Gonz… Jonah Hill directed it and it was really cool just to see everyone. I've never been in that kind of culture of big people. It was cool to see them and they're actually really humble and good people. So I would say that was my highlight for sure.

V：　That sounds very, very Los Angeles.

J：　Yeah, it was a whole production. Mariah was there and we had our own trailer with people trying to give you stuff. You're like, “I can open my water, I can do this myself,” but they insist. I'm not used to that treatment, so I think that was definitely a big moment for me (laughs).

V：　Aside from skating, what are you into?

J：　I love gaming, but to get myself out of this, I love cooking so much. My best friend Sam Narvaez, she skates for adidas as well and she is an excellent cook. After a skate day, we'll look at each other and be like, “so what are we making?” And go to the store, put music on and cook. It's awesome. I really like those moments.

V：　What's your favorite adidas shoe? I mean, you don’t have to say Superstar since it's the Superstar trip.

J：　Not to sound corny, I do love the Superstar (laughs). If you roll through my clips in my IG, you'll see the white base with the black stripes, the low Superstar on me all the time. Recently I have been messing with the Super Skates too. I like how they look and since they're high profile, I kind of feel a little safe in it. But yeah, not to sound cheesy, I love the Superstar. A big part for me about skating is your confidence. If you feel like your fit looks good for the day, maybe your tricks will feel even better. And when I look down, I'm hyped to see a Superstar, you know?

V：　If you could design your signature shoe or a collection, what would it look like?

J：　Ooh, that's hard because there's so many influences. I love clothing but I think the dream would be to have a shoe of some sort. I kind of like Tyshawn's take on his shoe when he brought in the basketball aesthetic into skating. I think I'd probably go that route.

V：　Skating has taken you so far. How do you feel about where you’re at right now?

J：　Every day, I have a moment where I’m like, “Whoa, this is crazy.” Even when I go to a spot and have the privilege to watch someone like Heitor or Dre just killing it… Like, Silas is a SOTY, you know? I’m thinking, “I can’t believe I’m in the same van with these guys. This is insane.” And they’re such good people, too. It’s such a beautiful thing. I’m super grateful for skating—I don’t know where I’d be without it.

Jenn Soto
@jennsoto

Born in 1996 and based in Los Angeles, she’s known for her smooth skating and is currently working on her own video project. Radiating nothing but good vibes.