On Saturday September 15th, 2018, Pop Trading Company joined forces with Vans to host the first edition of Vondel ‘18. An invitational skateboard contest in the middle of Amsterdam’s Vondelpark. The concept of this event is referring back to simpler times, where phones were not our first priority. 
 You could find basic obstacles reminiscing of San Francisco’s Back to the City contest or closer to home the 3rd Floor Skatepark in Pakhuis Amerika back in the mid to late 90’s. Next to an impressive line up of some of the best skateboarders in the world and a very interesting location,
 unique to this event was the lack of media. All skateboarders were documented by one crew using Hi-8 camera's 
as it would happen in the early days, pre-internet, where you would have to wait for the latest 411 Video Magazine or Transworld Skateboarding to see who had won a skateboard competition. With checkpoints at both entrances the crowd had to go back in time with us as phone camera’s were stickered, Berghain style, where the court was treated as a movie set, nobody films or shoots photos apart from the invited media. The contest footage is released on VHS tape, which you can find now at a few select local dealers. Shot by Peter Buikema & Alex van Zwietering Edit by Peter Buikema Produced by Roland Hoogwater & Peter Kolks Artwork by Ric van RestCast: Pop Trading Company