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words & photo:    Robin Pailler

words & photo: Robin Pailler

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORiGINALLY PUBLISHED IN WASTED TALENT VOLUME II

If you don’t know Samuel Norgren then stop what you’re doing and search @qamuel on Instagram. (or watch his latest part here.)

Chances are you’ve come across him before. Perhaps on a Ville Wester post? Or a @vxtaousen story?

He’s another one of those Swedes quietly ripping in Malmö. Well actually he’s living in Copenhagen now. Whatever, it’s practically the same place right?

We first met Samuel in the summer of 2016. He appeared super quiet but not in an arrogant manner, in fact he had an aura of humility that in today’s self indulgent, insta-fame claim era of skateboarding, is something of a rare commodity. Within minutes he was tripping us out with a variety of quick feet combos, kickflip body varial, late reverts. No comply back tails up ledges. He’s not shy skating put it that way, just talking about it perhaps, which is why we didn’t want to press him into doing this interview. “My friend Kevin (Rodrigues) told me never to do interviews” he jokes.

Instead we took it upon ourselves to ask some of his closest friends about him. The man who put him on Poetic Collective, Tom Botwid, fellow team rider Simon Källkvist, good friends Oski & Tor Ström, & photographer Magnus Hove and in a bid to find out who is Qamuel? We’ll hand you over to those who know him best.


photo: Yentl Touboul

photo: Yentl Touboul

How did you first meet Samuel?

Tom Botwid

I don’t remember the actual first time but most likely at Bryggeriet in Malmö when he was studying at the high school there. I didn’t know him then but his skating always stood out to me. Since he started riding for Poetic Collective we’ve travelled a bunch and spent a lot of time together.

Oskar “Oski” Rozenberg Hallberg

I met him in his first week of living in Malmo when he had just moved here. We were 16 years old.

Tor Ström

I first met Samuel maybe 5 or 6 years ago in Malmö when he came to visit to check out the skate school here.

Magnus Hove

First day at Bryggeriet. Him and his cousin were living in a tiny one room apartment, two minutes from Bryggeriet, also known as Safehouse. Felix, his cousin lived in the closet with his computer. Safehouse was the greatest hangout in Malmø, because it was so close to Bryggeriet and on the 10th floor in one of the Fosie blocks with an insane view of the city. 

Simon Källkvist

I don’t really remember how/when and where I first meet Samuel. But the first time he came along for a Poetic trip was great, he seems like he would fit in anywhere.


photo: Yentl Touboul

photo: Yentl Touboul

– Describe Samuel as a person.

Tom Botwid

He’s a really good person, always hyping everyone up, always nice to everyone. really creative too! He’s also wise beyond his years, he thinks a lot and always has interesting thoughts abut everything ranging from politics to food diets. 

Oskar “Oski” Rozenberg Hallberg

He is a very kind and helpful person. Especially when you need help with figuring out something by viewing it from a different perspective.

Tor Ström

Nice and loyal but maybe eats a little too much fruit haha. One of the best guys I’ve ever met.

Magnus Hove

He’s that type of person that you can talk to for hours, not just about skateboarding, but about all kinds of shit, he thinks a lot about life and society and he always has a different perspective, I like that.

Simon Källkvist

Super nice and gentle as a person, but a real ripper and pushing it hard on the board. It always seems like the dude is smiling, maybe he has some kind of disorder haha. 

– What’s your favourite thing about Samuel?

Tom Botwid

His positive energy! He brings a lot to everything from a skate session to eating fruit. Also seeing how hyped he gets, get me hyped. 

Tor Ström

Every time I meet him it’s like we never been apart and he’s a fucking ripper.

Oskar “Oski” Rozenberg Hallberg

That he’s insane.

Magnus Hove

He’s always down to skate and shoot photos, and he doesn’t mind trying out my stupid ideas, plus he has his own ideas about photos, so we work very well together. And then of course he’s one of my best friends.

Simon Källkvist

That he always enjoys freshly pressed juice in the morning and pounding some fucking mangos. He practically lives off them, don’t really know how but somehow the glucose keeps him afloat. 


photo: Yentl Touboul

photo: Yentl Touboul

– Tell us a funny story about Samuel?

Tom Botwid

He has a mango obsession, I think most 20 year old skaters just eat junk food but he basically only eats fruit. On trips he’s spending almost as much time looking for the perfect mango as he does looking for spots. 

Tor Ström

So many stories but his old apartment is a mayor key to it all.

Oskar “Oski” Rozenberg Hallberg

Before he had a house with his girl he used to live in a sketchy apartment area with a bunch of drug dealers around. One time we where in the small elevator with one of them and Samuel drops his pizza on the floor and splashes pizza sauce all over this dealer’s fresh gear. He was pissed.

Magnus Hove

Most things that come to mind should not be on print. 

Simon Källkvist

Everytime he skips eating dinner with the team and stays outside eating mangos. Weirdo.


SamuelTempelhof @yentlt.jpg

– What’s the best thing about Samuel’s skating?

Tom Botwid

He has a really good style, he’s also very creative, both in finding spots and in making up tricks. He’s done things I’ve never see anyone else do before and I think that’s really cool. To be able to think of something new in these times when everything is being done all the time. That combined with his style makes for a unique skater that really stands out.

Tor Ström

Smooth operator. 

Oskar “Oski” Rozenberg Hallberg

His style and the fact he always learns the tricks he wants to learn and not just what’s easiest.

Magnus Hove

That it’s weird and innovative. He’s got a real original bag of tricks and he does them with a unique style. He gets ideas that most people don’t.

Simon Källkvist

That he skates as he wants to. Not conforming to anything.