"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." —1 Peter 3:15-16 JSAW kicked off the summer with an incredible weekend of skateboarding and ministry at Help Boardshop. Friday night, we hosted The Session featuring Olympian and professional skateboarder Cordano Russell, where the skatepark was packed with riders for worship, his te

Jackalope 2026 was one of the craziest in history. The skate course was designed to perfection, and the skaters leveled skateboarding up to a place we haven’t seen before. I, Dave Jonsson, made the journey out to Virginia Beach, alongside Davin, a chaplain in training, and what happened off the course was just as historic as what happened on it. We’ve seen such a tight knit community built and a lot of it is because of our online Monday Bible study, these guys already know ea

You don't always see it coming, the season that open up like a new spot, smooth and waiting. This past stretch has been one of those seasons. Doors swinging open one after another, and behind each one, the same thing: skaters who are ready to talk, ready to connect, ready to connect with God. Seven Saturdays with the World's Best Earlier this year, I headed down to the LA area for one of the most unique opportunities I've had in chaplaincy: coaching the Los Santos team for th

As the snow has almost completely melted and tow ropes have stopped spinning, I have been looking back on everything that happened with JSAW this winter. It is hard to sum it all up, but this season felt special. The snow season isn’t just about the riding, it’s about the people, the moments, and the community that kept growing all winter long. Week after week, riders showed up at all different levels. Some having only just started skiing or snowboarding and are attending the

Filming full-length videos is a staple in the action sports world. I’ve been fortunate to learn how to film and edit within that world, with a particular emphasis on street skiing. Street skiing is niche, but those involved absolutely love it. It’s typically filmed with a crew, which creates opportunities to build relationships, serve consistently, and share the Gospel. This season of filming started off slow. The original crew fell apart due to injuries and loss of interest.

From December through mid-March, we had the opportunity to welcome Elisha as an intern at JSAW. Over the course of three months, he stepped into the day-to-day life of the ministry—serving customers, helping coach younger riders, and completing a capstone project that challenged him to grow in new ways. Internships like this are about much more than helping with day-to-day tasks. They’re about investing in young leaders and giving them real opportunities to grow personally, p

There are trips you remember because of the views… and then there are trips you remember because of the people, the moments, and the stories you come home with. Our recent trip to Big Sky Resort was definitely the second kind, though the views didn’t hurt either. We took a crew of six out to Montana for a couple unforgettable days on the mountain. For some of our riders, this was their first time seeing terrain on this scale. For all of us, it was our first time experiencing

Gaper Day at Hyland Hills has long been known as the most chaotic day of the season. With schools out for MLK Day, the hill quickly fills up with kids who have endless energy and an itch to push boundaries and break just about every rule that exists on the mountain. The lifts are packed and the park is hectic. Every year, many kids end up getting in trouble with staff or, in some cases, even law enforcement. With so many people out at once, moving fast and feeding off each ot

Where It All Began In November 2025, something unprecedented happened: the first-ever skateboard park in Zimbabwe opened in the small town of Victoria Falls. What might look like concrete and steel is actually a gathering place—one filled with laughter, scraped knees, and wide-open hearts. JSAW’s mission was simple and bold: bring a team, teach skateboarding, and share the hope of Jesus with kids who had never seen anything like this before. JSAW's Team Our team of eight rid

Because of your generosity to JSAW's Action Sports Ministry Fund, JSAW invested $4,500 into the work of Inspired2Become and Christian Skaters Africa —supporting a disciple-making strategy designed to multiply leaders and reach youth across Africa in action sports. This grant wasn’t about a single event. It was about building pathways for long-term discipleship and multiplication . The Impact JSAW Grant Investment: $4,500 Riders who heard the Gospel in person: 300 Riders w

Super Crown in Brazil was unforgettable. Not just because of the skating though the level was unreal but because of the moments that happened off the course on the sidelines and in the quiet spaces where God so often does His best work. I almost did not make it. I was supposed to fly out on Tuesday. What I did not know was that Brazil had changed its tourist visa requirements. Normally the process takes anywhere from two to ten days. I found out late and by all logic I was no

In Taiwan, ministry to surfers happens wherever the waves break—and often those beaches are scattered hours apart. That’s why transportation isn’t just helpful for YWAM Yilan and Christian Surfers Taiwan—it’s essential. Their van is the backbone of their ministry: getting leaders, surfboards, outreach teams, and youth to beaches, churches, and events all over the island. It’s how they show up, stay connected, and build trust in the surf community. This year, the need for a ne

Mongu, Zambia, is a small town in the heart of Africa. While there are no skateboard shops within an eight-hour drive, the town does have a skate park built in 2021: The Lukaba Hande Skate Park . With hundreds of kids visiting the park, there is a huge need for skateboarding equipment. Thanks to a $1,500 grant from JSAW, Christian Skaters Zambia and WeSkate Mongu were able to provide new skateboards for all the kids and carry out essential park maintenance. This small grant

Vegas was a mazing! The Street League Takeover this year was more than just another skate contest , it was a moment of deep connection, purpose, and growth. I had the incredible privilege of serving as chaplain alongside some of the top skateboarders in the world, and honestly, it was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had yet. As chaplain, my role goes far beyond prayer , though prayer is at the heart of it. It’s also about being a source of emotional support, en

This past weekend, as temps dropped and excitment for winter spiked, JSAW kicked off the snow season with the annual preseason Rail Jam at Help Boardshop in Edina, MN! Over 150 people attended including the 76 riders on the snow we collected from local ice arena shavings. The day was all about community, connection, and fun. The sold out event wasn’t a competition, it was a celebration of skill, creativity, and camaraderie. Riders hit the rails, donated by Hyland Hills Ski Ar

Thanks to your support, JSAW partnered with ACTS (Action Sports Ministry Network) to make an incredible outreach possible in Senegal this fall. Through a small grant from JSAW’s Action Sports Ministry Fund, twelve action sports leaders from across Africa gathered to reach riders, share the gospel, and grow together in faith and leadership. Over four days, the team hosted surf and skate outreaches across the Dakar area. Around 40 riders heard the gospel, and 15 are now engaged

What a great summer we had on the water! From May through September, we had the incredible opportunity to spend over 350 hours on boats,...

How JSAW’s Matching Grant Helped Launch a Summer of Life Change This summer, something incredible happened in the mountains of...

JSAW was able to bring six riders on a 5 day getaway skateboard dream trip to LA. During this trip, we did everything from surfing in...

From August 5th through 9th, thirteen riders and leaders joined JSAW for a wakeboard trip. This trip was planned to offer a variety of...