Coming soon.
Who is Jake Ilardi and where did he come from?
From the small town of Osprey in Florida, Jake's hard work and unbridled talent for skateboarding has put him in the ranks alongside the world's top skateboarders. He is given the opportunity to prove himself within the skateboarding world.
INTO THE SPOTLIGHT is a documentary about the highs, lows, and injuries Jake endures on his journey to the top, as well as his personal mission within his local community to keep their skatepark operational and free to the public.
The sport of skateboarding is about to change forever in the upcoming Summer Games. Jake Ilardi is part of the new wave of international recognition for the sport.
Jake and his twin brother Nate were raised by their sweet and endearing grandma in Osprey, FL. Jake and Nate weren't too familiar with their parents, due to their separation at an early age.
Jake was first introduced to skateboarding at four years old, when Grandma gifted the boys their first skateboards for their fourth birthday.
Jake, now 24, has been skating ever since.
We've seen him win contests,
and we've seen him lose contests.
He's endured traumatic injuries and has always stood back up.
Jake's dedication to skateboarding has been inspiring to many.
For over 10 years, Jake has been the leading advocate for fundraising for the Payne Park skatepark upkeep in Sarasota, FL.
For years the skatepark's structural condition was overlooked and neglected, making it frustrating for the local skaters who have been forced to pay for admission to a neglected and potentially dangerous skatepark.
A
fter leading several meetings at City Hall, Jake and local skaters were able to convince the city to open the park and make it public to everyone. This was great news, but there was more work to be done.
Jake took the matter into his own hands and has been personally repairing the skatepark in hopes to keep it operational and safe for the community. The city of Sarasota has allowed Jake to fix the skatepark and update ramps if he produces crowdfunding for labor.
