The Weekenders; West of Society

As a participant and observer, I immerse myself in the vibrant, chaotic world of hard-skating, drug-taking party animals from Cannock, a small, old coal mining town in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. This was my adolescence, and these were my best friends—my family. Through my lens, I delve into the underground skateboarding and drug culture— a world unknown to many—where consciousness expansion and frenzied trips often flirt with the edge of psychotic breakouts. Join me on a wild ride across city streets, skateparks, garages, and raucous parties. I drag you through the blood, mud, sweat, and tears of the skateboarding alternative. This journey is more than just about sex, drugs, and adolescent rebellion; it’s about the complex, often seductive pull of drugs and the misunderstood lives of those who succumb to it. Reflecting the location and identity of young people in the West Midlands, capturing their hopes, ambitions, frustrations, and nascent morality as they navigate the responsibilities of adulthood. It is a blend of hinterland and heterotopia, depicting the lives of youth growing up in a region marred by economic hardship and societal shifts. Embedded within this subculture, I reveal the lives of “Team Bifta,” a group of skaters bound not by blood, but by a kinship deeper than mere family ties. These brothers, united by their shared experiences, form a bond that transcends the superficial layers of drugs, money, and hedonism. Through my work, I bring you into the heart of this circle, capturing our raw, unfiltered existence and our enviable lust for life.