Skategoat is a raw take on how a teenager’s turned his passion for skateboarding into a pro career. It started when director Van Apert decided to give Leandre Sanders (aka Skategoat) a go pro and camera to document his daily life. The result is a movie that neatly compacts years of ups and downs into one digestible morsel.
Set in the streets of LA, audiences are introduced to Sanders’s tough start against a backdrop of crime, drugs and a broken family. With the help of his friends, the kindly mama Katie and his girlfriend, his dreams became a reality.
As someone who had never watched a documentary in cinema, I was truly charmed by the whole concept of the show. I was mesmerised by all the tricks, especially Leandre’s famous tree plant. Once the credits rolled, I couldn’t help wondering what all these different skateboarding terms were and I left with a new appreciation for the sport. It is a must watch for anyone who is remotely interested in skateboarding, and especially aspiring pro skaters.
The documentary was a great reminder to never give up on your dreams. It would have been easy for Sanders to turn to a life of crime but he chose to take a different route. He recognised what he was good at and did it every day, learning and perfecting insane tricks in his quest for greatness. It was heartwarming and inspiring to say the least.