Skateboarder leaps into business
Jansen Horrocks rides his skateboard down a handrail. • Photos Submitted
By Tom Victoria
Jansen Horrocks was born to leap.
Having been born in 2000, a leap year, his middle name is Leap. Jansen has fulfilled that prediction and more, becoming a skilled skateboarder who operates his own skateboard company, Leap Boards, in Pennsylvania.
“Skateboarding is cool because you can do it everywhere,” he said.
Jansen started the business when he was 15.
Jansen Horrocks
“I started selling small batches,” Jansen said.
He initially sold his wares through shops, but has to rely more on online sales following the impact of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, on businesses.
“The industry has changed a lot,” Jansen said.
He said even shops that survived government-mandated closures have to be more selective about what products they sell.
Jansen’s journey to entrepreneurship began around 8 years old when he started skateboarding.
“My brothers started using skateboards,” he said. “I started using theirs.”
Jansen quickly became acclimated to the leaps and flips.
“I was really athletic,” he said. “I did gymnastics as a kid.”
That athleticism is evident with the videos posted on his YouTube channel, Jansen Films.
“I use my hands a lot,” Jansen said, referring to his use of a single handstand while flipping upside down into the air. “Most people don’t do that.”
As Jansen became older, he caught the entrepreneurial spirit from his father, Jeff Horrocks, who kept coming up with new ideas.
“He kept creating different things,” Jansen said.
Among those ideas were a new board game and a turkey call.
“He has taught me you can make dreams come true and make money off it,” Jansen said.
Jansen works with the screen printing press he built.
The inked skateboard is ready to go.
When Jansen decided to start his own company, his dad supported the move.
“My dad helped invest in me,” he said.
Leap Boards currently sells decks with such designs as the Rat Attack II, Moto II and Western III. Wheel assemblies are sold separately.
One of Jansen’s mentors, Jon Crans, does the graphics for the Western deck designs.
Jansen’s company also sells hats, hoodies and shirts among other apparel as well as grip tape.
In one of Jansen’s videos, he demonstrates the process for screen printing the Moto II. He built the press himself.
Like a real-life MacGyver (not the hi-tech reboot version, but the cooler original from the ‘80s), Jansen can pretty much build anything, including the massive ramp structure in his family’s yard.
Jansen glides off a barrier.
Along with a video showing Jansen and his brothers expanding that ramp setup, there is a video of him converting a van for overnight use.
Jansen watched videos of other people converting vans, then added his own touches to the process.
He also inherited this penchant from his father.
“My dad is a builder,” Jansen said. “He constructed a barn just to build things in it.”
When Jansen is on the road, the van doesn’t just have a skateboard or three, there is a surfboard, too. Just how does a person living in Southeastern Pennsylvania end up a surfer?
After Jansen’s family visited California, he became interested in surfing. Then, a few subsequent youth group trips to beaches sealed the deal. Jansen now frequents the New Jersey shores.
He is not just consumed with athletic and business endeavors; he sings, plays guitar and beats the drums as well.
“I used to do worship as a kid,” Jansen said.
His musical influences include legends Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.
Jansen drops back to the ramp.
Jansen’s videos not only demonstrate his athleticism and construction acumen, but also his penchant for filmmaking.
He learned the craft by watching how others filmed videos.
“I see how they film it,” Jansen said. “I can’t describe the technique, but I know how to imitate it.”
He started watching skateboarding videos when a child.
“Then, I noticed people like to watch creative things and building projects, so I just started filming what I like to do,” Jansen said.
Viewing the videos without prior knowledge of Jansen, one might assume he was a chill surfer dude from California.
“I’ve always filmed skateboarding clips, so I am relatively comfortable in front of the lens,” he said. “I guess it’s because I already film all my falls and slams. What else is more funny than that? So, If I mess up a few words, that’s not a big deal.”
Now 21, Jansen transferred from West Chester University to Liberty University for Business Administration: Marketing.
His career aspirations include possibly opening up his own shop, make short films and learn a trade.
“I like using my hands,” Jansen said.
When Jansen isn't on pavement, he may be riding the waves on a surfboard.
Despite all of the adverse financial impacts of 2020, Leap Boards is self-sustaining by staying in the black. But keeping a business open under normal circumstances is not easy.
However, the challenge of operating a business in these times is not too daunting for Jansen.
“I never think about quitting,” he said. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll keep going.”
Jansen said positive feedback is a tremendous motivator.
“The biggest thing is when I’m given some acknowledgment of what I’m trying to do,” he said.
Jansen said people should not be discouraged from pursuing their passion.
“I never think about quitting. If it doesn’t work, I’ll keep going.”
“If you have an idea, you can get there,” he said.
Jansen also advised people to draw inspiration from where he does.
“Try to read the Bible,” he said.
Jansen cited the passage from Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Jansen said it is vital to maintain an optimistic attitude.
“The biggest thing you want to know is you have a purpose,” he said. “Just keep doing it.”
Jansen flies off ramp in his yard.
Jansen defies gravity on his board.
The link to Jansen’s website is: https://www.leapboards.com/
The link to Jansen’s YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/user/jansenleapskate