Inside the Industry: Jona Humbel

As the freestyle scooter industry grows, more and more scooter riders are getting the opportunity to be employed by companies.  It's really awesome to see companies giving riders a chance to work for them, because it keeps more money in scootering as well as gives riders a chance to gain experience in a professional career field.  We all dream of being a pro sponsored rider, but not everyone can or will be able to accomplish that.  Getting a job in the industry is the next best thing.  Whether it's running a shop, operating machines, filming and editing, graphic design, and beyond, there is a wealth of positions that scooter riders fill, and with Inside the Industry, I'd like to find out more about them.

This first piece is with Jona Humbel.  Jona has been an up-and-coming rider for a couple years now (he recently was sponsored by Unfair), and has been employed with Tilt since the summer.  He's returning to his native Florida this month to start college, and so I hit him up to learn a little bit more about his experience with Tilt.

Jordan Jasa:  First, tell us who you are and where you're from: 

Jona Humbel:  My names Jona Humbel, from Largo Florida, but currently staying at the Tilt House in Mokena, Il.

Heelwhip.

So you work for Tilt.  What's your official job title and what are your duties?

Yup, my official job title is Shop Associate, I basically watch a CNC machine to make sure that each part is properly made with no flaws and/or problems, and while I'm not doing that, I package and label the parts to be sent to dealers all over.  Oh, and I run the laser marker, which etches the Tilt Logo onto everything we make, excluding pegs of course.

So basically you have a hand in almost every part Tilt makes, awesome.  How did you get this position?

Jona looks over a clip with Tom Kvilhaug.

I met all the Tilt dudes at SD7 including yourself, and Collin Snoek hit me up a few weeks later about filming/working in shop after I graduated. It just wasn't something I could turn down, working with one of the most reputable companies in the industry. So 3 weeks after I graduated I packed up and flew out here.  Oh yeah, I guess I'm also the Filmer for Tilt, kinda. Hahaha

So have you gone on filming trips with the team?

Yep, over the summer the whole Tilt Team was in Chicago, we packed up a 15 passenger van and road tripped it to Columbus, Ohio where Dylan Kasson toured us around his hometown. We also got some filming done in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs the two weeks everyone was here, as well as capture the 3rd Chicago street jam. It was for sure the highlight of the summer.

Gotta agree with you there.  What kind of filming setup did you work with?

We had Standard and High Def setups on the trip, the SD setups being two vx2100s with 2 mk1s, and the HD setup being 2 Panasonic HVX's with a Century Xtreme fisheye.

I have to ask, can you shed any light on Tilt's upcoming full-length?  Did you get to film any bangers?

Ahhhhh, I can tell you from filming the dudes and seeing everyone’s footage, and with the dude that’s handling post-production, that this will be all around the best scooter video created. So if you need a reason to be in San Diego this January, #TheTiltVideo is the reason.

For sure.  What would you say to kids who want to get a job in the scooter industry?  Any advice?

Try to make good impressions and the people you want to work with, and try to find your niche. You have to be able to offer a company some form of skill that you're passionate about.

David Cappetta films while Jona whips the hydrant.

Wise words.  That'll wrap it up, any last words you want to say?

Thanks Collin and Luke at Tilt for giving me the opportunity to fly out and work for them these last 4 months, it’s been an absolute pleasure. And, SD8, #TheTiltVideo is premiering, DO NOT MISS IT.

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While out in Chicago, Jona filmed a part for Satori as well as a few clips for a Basic video.  Check those videos out below.