Only the most committed skaters are up before dawn – and on Thursday March 20, 30 Dazed Club members proved just that. Kicking off at an incredibly early 5:30 AM, a crew of skaters rolled into Samsung UK’s 25hr Skate Park for an exclusive sunrise session, testing out the new Galaxy S25 Ultra while putting the park’s Ultra Wide bowl to the test.

The 25hr skate park, which is part of Samsung’s mission to make skating more accessible, marks the launch of the company’s latest initiative helping fund free skating at ten venues across the country from April 12 to 27,  in partnership with Skateboard GB and supported by EE. More details can be found on Skateboard GB’s website here.

IT WAS A JAM-PACKED 25-HOUR EVENT

Hosted at Samsung’s 25hr Skate Park at London’s BaySixty6, the tech company opened a special slot for just Dazed Club members to push their limits. The Dazed Club crew took full advantage, cruising the bowls, catching air, and putting the new Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera through its paces. With its Ultra Wide lens, lightning-fast autofocus, and pro-grade image stabilisation, the phone let skaters capture every flip, grind, and wipeout in crystal-clear detail. Between runs, they compared clips, swapped tricks, and got a first-hand look at how tech can intersect with skate culture in real time.

IT WAS QUITE A WHOLESOME MORNING

The early start wasn’t all bruises and adrenaline, as you’d imagine. Skaters warmed up over coffee and tea, refuelling with snacks before hitting the ramps again. As the sun came up, the morning light hit just right, perfect for snapping clips, meeting new faces, and kicking off the weekend in the best way possible.

THE EXPERIENCE, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE 

Given they woke up so early to partake, it’s only right to hear from the skaters themselves. Below, some of the Dazed Club skaters told us about their opinion on the skateboarding community, the event and the power in finding community with shared experiences. 

RUBY

“I think I’ve always really liked pushing myself out as early as possible to go and skate, but never been successful at it cause I’m a lazy skater sometimes and work late nights. But I really enjoyed waking up early this morning, getting on with it, and the rest of my day to feel motivated by the skate. I haven’t seen the sunrise since the summer now, and I really really missed it definitely missed having the sun in my face watching the day come into its own. 

My favourite thing about skateboarding is that I did not really envision myself before I started skating, talking to and getting to know people who at first seem quite intimidating, especially when you’ve seen them on Instagram or at skateparks. When you start recognising people in different places and having the confidence to go and approach them, you really feel like you can take that to other places in your life. I can go up to lads at the skatepark now and say hi to them so I don’t feel as nervous about doing it in other situations.“ 

RAYA

“I work with a trans skating organisation and we have a lovely community. It’s a sport you can get into as an adult or at any point. You come to a skate park and there’s an 8-year-old kid doing the sickest stuff I’ve ever seen, and then there’s also a 50-year-old guy there, and it is in some ways a nice diverse community.” 

JOSHUA

“If you meet the right people, everyone is so accepting of your individual differences.  I’m not going to lie, I did not know when Samsung got crispy quality like that, but it’s good even like the 0.5.” 

JAYDEN

“No matter your skill level, no matter who you are or how good you are, you always have a place in skateboarding. I feel you get to be yourself. Do what you want really, because no one has an opinion on it, and if people do have an opinion, they’re just hating.”

THERE IS STILL A CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED 

If early mornings are not quite your thing and you are among those who missed out on this event, fear not. On April 12, Samsung will be hosting a skate jam with prizes at Graystone in Manchester. Following the 25-hour Skate Park with Galaxy S25 Series kick-off event in West London, Samsung will be funding Sunday skate sessions in skateparks across Manchester, Folkestone, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Darlington, Plymouth and Portsmouth.

Head to the gallery above to check out images from the Dazed Club morning skate session.