Very interested to see how this new skateboard photo book "Palm Angels"  is. They offhandedly mention that female skaters are featured so it will be cool to see "who" and where they are posing skating. I have it on order from Amazon so I will fill you in as soon as it arrives.  Fingers crossed the girls get some good coverage! It sounds visually beautiful, although the 2 places they chose to photograph skaters in are so polar opposite  - Venice & Manhattan Beach - MB is not really a hotbed of a skate scene or skate fashion for that matter (I live in the South Bay so yes, I can say that) so I'm not sure what that is all about... Waiting and wondering.

Here's the write up on what the book is about:

Featuring large-format photographs of skaters in Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach, Palm Angels is the definitive book on the L.A. skateboarding scene, capturing the style and street culture of the world’s most elite communities of skaters. Photographed by Francesco Ragazzi, the Italian art director of Moncler, Palm Angels features a special focus on the look and fashions of skate culture. While it emphasizes dramatic movement through stunning images taken in various Los Angeles neighborhoods, it is less focused on describing tricks as it is about conveying the sensation of men and women engaged in an epic, all-consuming activity.

Through art photography, this book hopes to do for skating what Bruce Weber and others did for surf culture, elevating it from what once was an exclusive and localized American pastime to a far-reaching cultural phenomenon. In the spirit of the photography taken of the legendary Z-boys of Dogtown, Ragazzi provides readers with a firsthand glimpse into skateboarding in its modern form, still very much infused with effortless style. Palm Angels includes an introduction by Pharrell Williams (known to the skate community as Skateboard P), who has been instrumental in popularizing the skate look and has propelled it all the way to the high streets of fashion capitals like Paris, New York, and Tokyo.

PALM ANGELS is available HERE

London crew of skater girls at the Girls Riders Organization Tomboi event at the Brooklyn Bazaar  that happened this past Saturday in NYC. So cool!  Thanks to Courtney from GRO for sending us this rad shot.

Photo Jeff Berting

Photo Kurt Steinmetz

Photo Brad Jacobson

Photo Sheri Crummer

Photo Jeff Berting

Photo Sheri Crummer

Photo Sheri Crummer

Photo Jeff Berting

We had the pleasure of meeting Rachel on a photo shoot awhile back,  and the photographer  told us ahead of time that she was a rad surfer. But we found out later that "rad" doesn't even begin to describe Rachel.  This girl has no fear.  She's 17 and was paddling out on last weeks "Big Wednesday" here in California and charging hard. She works every wave from start to finish and does it like it's no big deal. In addition to all her accomplishments, she is humble and sweet - in fact you might not even know she was a hard core surfer unless you asked her.  So if you see her around the South Bay, make sure you tell her "hi" and ask her how "Big Wednesday" was - because she was one of the few girls to go out there and rule it.  You are #badass Rachel!

 Who's Rad?   Rachel Tominaga

Age?      17

Home is?       Manhattan Beach, California

How long have you been surfing?       6 years

What got you into surfing?

My family moved to Manhattan Beach from Arizona when I was younger, and living by the beach and seeing the ocean every day made me want to try it.

What do you enjoy most about surfing?

 I think the best part about surfing is getting to be in the ocean all the time. It’s so calming.

Do you enjoy competing in contests, or is free riding your thing?

I’m not a super competitive person by nature, but I definitely enjoy contests because of the opportunities that you get from surfing in them. They push your surfing because you see and compete against people who are better. Another great thing that comes from contest surfing is you meet girls from other areas who surf. Also, getting to surf the best breaks in California like Steamer Lane or Lowers with three other girls out is something that a lot of people don’t get to do.

Girls that Surf that inspire YOU?

My all time favorite is Steph Gilmore. I think the way she reads the waves is perfect, she never forces it, and she has such great style. She keeps her surfing feminine, which I think is really cool.

Favorite place you have ever surfed?

It’s really hard to decide! For me, my favorite place that I’ve ever surfed isn’t really about the waves, it’s more about the surroundings. So, I’d have to say this little right on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica called Pan Dulce. It’s a point break that goes into a little bay, but when you look towards the shore all you see is the rain forest. That whole area in Costa Rica is amazing because it’s so secluded.

Any memorable contests?

I remember a couple of years ago there was a contest at Seaside Reef and it was pouring rain. We paddled out right when the sun went down, and it kept getting darker and darker throughout the heat. We were all freaking out. When we finally came in they told us they were going to re-run the heat another day because they couldn’t see the jersey colors, so we went through the whole heat for nothing! It was sad and hilarious at the same time.

Favorite trick or maneuver?

I really like doing carves. That probably sounds boring, but in Manhattan Beach it seems like all I ever get to do is close out turns. So it always feels good to get on an open faced wave and do rail turns.

Sponsors:  

International Surf Services   (best coach ever!)
Spyder Surf
Odina Surf
Byrne Surf   (awesome boards!)

We know you took full advantage of the hurricane surf that hit Southern California this past week – can you tell us where you surfed and what that was like?

 Ha ha! That swell was great! California had been so wave deprived. On Wednesday I surfed Lowers, which was pretty fun because it wasn’t as crowded as it normally is, and there were TONS of waves coming through. I’m comfortable in the water, so when there’s swell I always have fun. I don’t mind getting tossed around a little bit, and I definitely spent most of my session that day duck diving the set waves. Surfing bigger waves is fun because of all the speed you get. It was exciting to be in the ocean when there was so much energy and water moving.


Three things you don't know about me...

1. I have a shopping problem… it’s bad.
2. I really like to eat out. My favorite restaurant is Mastro’s. :)))
3. I have a dog named Molly and she pretty much comes everywhere with us.

What’s Next?

The contest season and the school year are coming up next. Hopefully we’ll get El Nino so there will be more waves! I’m extra excited because it’s my last year of High School and then I’m off to college, most likely somewhere far from home!

Make sure you follow Rachel on Instagram at  Rachel_Tominaga

 Photo: Ian Logan

 Skate anytime. Anywhere.  / A little skate tour through the LA River Bed.

 Photos Todd Fuller 

We are so stoked to welcome Beverly Flood to the GN4LW team!  We really can't say enough good things about this pro skater. Beverly wore the prototype XS x GN4LW helmet at the Vans US Open last month - giving everyone the first sneak peek of what was to come. Since then she has become a full fledged member of the GN4LW team wearing the newest GN4LW apparel, XS x GN4LW helmet, and riding our Dusters California x GN4LW cruiser board for fun on her days off from training and competing.

Beverly also rides for:  Flood Kontrol, XS Helmets,  Theeve Trucks, 187 Killer Pads, Immortal Laces, Good Times GV, Mission Belt Co,  & LipZipz Lip Balm,

You can follow Beverly on instagram HERE


What is the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team about?  We're a movement, we're a team. We are a group of girls that firmly believe that you should do what you love, no matter what anyone else says. We charge hard, we skate, surf & snowboard like GIRLS, and are proud of it. 

Our motto is simple: "Life life balls to the wall, do epic shit, take every dare that come your way, you can sleep when you're dead"

xx  GN4LW

Special thanks to photographer Todd Fuller for this awesome shoot with Beverly - Check out more of Todd's skate shots by following his awesome instagram --->   @besuro

Today was a beautiful day to get together and remember Jay. The sun was shining bright in the California sky, the water was warm, and his friends and family were everywhere sharing stories and remembering Jay. The whole day was very special from start to finish. So great seeing so many people come together and pay their respects to a skater everyone loved dearly.

The only thing we were missing today was Jay Boy...

 Photos: Christine Benedetto

We are super stoked to welcome  Zoe "Heavy Z" Benedetto to the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team! Zoe surfs and skates and we love her rad attitude - she took the Dusters California x GN4LW cruiser board out for a spin right after it arrived (barefoot and all). She lives her life everyday to the fullest - and we love that.  Yeah Zoe!!

Zoe also rides for: Billabong Women's, Sun Bum, Go Pro, Happy Socks, Surf Central, Pom Pom, ECC Longboards,  Fish Eye, FL Paddleboards, 27 North

You can follow Zoe on instagram HERE


What is the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team about?  We're a movement, we're a team. We are a group of girls that firmly believe that you should do what you love, no matter what anyone else says. We charge hard, we skate, surf & snowboard like GIRLS, and are proud of it. 

Our motto is simple: "Life life balls to the wall, do epic shit, take every dare that come your way, you can sleep when you're dead"

xx  GN4LW

Stoked to see pro skater Leticia Bufoni on the cover of Endorfina Magazine. Covers with female skaters are far and few so this is awesome!!  Congrats Leticia!

As everyone already knows, huge surf has been hitting the California coastline these past few days and I kept asking myself  "Where is the footage of the girls surfing it??"

Well, today that question was answered - check out this footage of local South Bay surfer Rachel Tominaga catching some epic waves at Lowers yesterday. While everyone else was battling for space at place like Malibu & The Wedge, Rachel snuck into Lowers and grabbed some epic waves with out the crowds.

Pretty badass Rachel!

 Photos via Celeb Buzz Feed

Nice to see that some of the younger celebrity girls like to skateboard and aren't afraid to learn, fall, and get out there and SKATE. Actress Chloe Grace Moretz cruising in Santa Monica. A new generation of badass girls in the public eye who aren't afraid to "do things".  Love that.

Photo: John Lienman

Photo: Jon Hodges

Photo: Jon Hodges

Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

 

People kept mentioning Juli's name to us. Here and there it would come up - and the people telling us about her didn't even know one another. That's when we knew we had to track  this 16 yr old surfer/skater down, and have a meet up. Turns out it was easier than we expected. There she was hanging at the Vans US Open bowl with all her skater friends during the women's contest. Yep, she moves seamlessly between surf and skate circles as if it was nothing to do both sports extremely well.

You may not know her name yet, but believe me you will. Juli surfs aggressively, but with beautiful style. Her skating is the same, charge & attack but still with a low, smooth, flow to it - reminds me of a boy I grew up skating with with named Jay Adams. Juli is definitely not afraid to "Go For It", and that combined with her easy going style, in and out of the water, makes her someone very special, and definitely one to watch!

Who's Rad?        Julianne Hernandez

Age?       16 Years old

Home is?      Costa Mesa, California

How long have you been skateboarding?        4 years

How long have you been surfing?      5 years

What got you into these 2 sports?

Just being raised in California where there everyone is into these sports like surfing and skating so I thought why not do both.

What do you enjoy most about both surfing and skateboarding?

I like how when you surf or skate everyone is different. You show your style and personality through those sports and there is really no wrong way to skate or surf. I mean sure your style may not be as smooth as the pros but it doesn't mean it's wrong.

Do you enjoy competing in contests, or is freeriding your thing?

Yes I do enjoy competing in contest. Not only because you win or lose but because you get to experience and interact with different people from around the world. I never forget the reason I started surfing or skating though.. I started it because I loved it not for the experience of winning or losing.

Girls Who Skate that inspire YOU:

There are so many I have come to look up to like Leticia Bufoni, Julz Lynn and Alana Smith, but some of my friends like Sarah Thompson who really push me to improve really do inspire me.

Girls that Surf that inspire YOU?

Like I said before, there are so many like your Lakey's, Carissa's, Stephanie's, but one that truly inspire me is one of my best friends.. Meah Collins.. It would take a book to explain everything but she has always been there. No doubt.

Favorite place you've ever skated?     

Man, do I love Etnies…

Favorite place you have ever surfed?

I really want to travel and find a wave I can truly call my favorite but for now I'll have to say Rincon.

Favorite Trick or maneuver – skateboarding?       Aren’t Nose Blunts just beautiful?

Favorite trick or maneuver – surfing?      I'm going to have to say barrels.. All day long.

Sponsors:

Papa Hernandez (every contest I'm at), Vanguard Surf and Skate, & Hurley


Three Things You Don't Know About Me:

1. I do every sport that ends with "board"

2. I'm Cuban and Costa Rican with some Italian and Spanish thrown in there somewhere.

3. I think Girl is NOT a 4 letter word is one of the best companies out there for inspiring girls. Honestly.

What’s Next?

Well, I just want to keep doing what I'm doing. Exploring different spots to surf/skate... Life's an adventure and I'm just super stoked to be living it and meeting some pretty rad people and visiting various places all over the world along the way.

Lastly I would like to thank GN4LW for the interview! Keep doing what your doing! Stay Rad!

Make sure you follow Juli at:

Instagram: @juliphernandez
Twitter:    @juli_penelope
Facebook:   Juli Hernandez

 Photo: Jason Kenworthy

Note:  Sierra, Relz & Bella, from The Pink Helmet Posse are not part of the article mentioned below, BUT we do think they embody the qualities Girls Gone Child writes about and these young skater girls are a great reminder to all girls out there to do what YOU love, no matter what anyone else says. 


If you have a daughter who skates, or you are a girl who has faced an obstacle or two from boys along the way to doing what you love,  this piece from blogger Girls Gone Child is a must read.


This is how it starts out from the moms childhood perspective....

I wrote about my purple skateboard, then--about how, when I was little growing up on a street surrounded by boys, I wanted to be one of them. Except they didn't want me to be a part of their group so they broke my skateboard and told me that girls couldn't skate.

I listened to them. I must have been about seven or eight at the time but those words changed me. I spent my entire high school years dating skateboarders, sitting on their boards, attending their contests, wearing the logos of their sponsors to school on my backpacks and hoodies, hell even shoes. I even worked at a skate shop for two summers, gripping boards and selling trucks and picking up lunch for everyone.

I am bringing this story back from the archives only because, all these years later,  it has been weighing heavy on my heart that I was unable to SEE myself as someone other than the spectator.
Not that I would have ever become a great skateboarder but now I recognize that instead of standing up for myself I sat down. I worshiped the very boys who told me I couldn't. And, embarrassingly enough, a part of me still does.

And it goes from there into what her daughter, Fable,  is going through with some rowdy boys at school,  how Fable handled herself, & what her mom ended up learning from her self confident young daughter  - a really good lesson for all of us.

Read the whole article on GIRLS GONE CHILD

Everyone loves a good visual, and sometimes scrolling through instagram for good skate photos is a crap shoot.

So here are 5 awesome boards to follow on Pinterest  . Get ready to get inspired, learn about some new skater girls, and start pinning!


Skate Style (Sunset Sessions) - this is a great board to follow, but seriously ALL of their boards will inspire you.  Not a bad one in the bunch!

Skater Girls (Karine Gratton) - great selection of female skate shots - all pretty rad!  She keeps pinning more & more. Awesome source of inspiration.

Go Skateboarding (Dora Kim) - fun, colorful and mainly covers skater girls. Some fashion skate shots mixed with core. 

Shred (Volcom Womens) - mix of skate & surf, but what we love is it isn't and ad for Volcom - its a mix of inspirational images that evoke the California girl lifestyle.

Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word - yep, we have our own board on founder Cindy Whitehead's Pinterest page. Some pins are from our GN4LW site (so Pinterest great place to catch up if you've missed some of our site posts) and we love to pin what we find on other people's pages.

Women's Vert Podium - Photo via World Cup Skateboarding

Women's Pool Podium - Photo via Nikki Breaux

Congrats to all the girls who showed up and skated hard at the Rocky Mountain Rampage contest put on by World Cup Skateboarding this weekend. Dave Duncan was announcing (who doesn't love that?!) we also loved that we could watch it via a live webcast - and seeing everyone tearing it up on our instagram feed was awesome too.

Results Vert comp:

1st     Gaby Ponce
2nd    Julz Lynn
3rd     Spencer Breaux
4th     Sarah Thompson
5th     Nicole Noller

Results Pool Comp:

1st     Julz Lynn
2nd    Spencer Breaux
3rd     Sarah Thompson

P.S. Not to forget a skater boy who really made an impact this weekend - HUGE congrats to 11 yr old Evan Doherty for landing a 900!  Amazing!!

 Photos by Ian Logan

Sometimes weekends are for skating around LA and seeing what's new. This weekend we decided to chase the worlds largest rubber duck all over LA Harbor and until we finally caught up with him.

He's 6 stories tall and bright yellow - you can't miss him. People all over LA are simply memorized by him. The dude is a celebrity and he only arrived here on Wednesday afternoon. Now that's star power.

Skating the streets (or harbors of LA) is always entertaining.

Get out and SKATE - you never know what you will see!

Watch all your favorite female pro skaters compete in both vert and pool via this LIVE feed!

Saturday at 10 AM (PST) starts the vert contest
Sunday  will be pool

 Dave Duncan is announcing so you know its going to be awesome!

Click HERE to watch live!

You can see the guys skate as well - so watch and cheer everyone on - its going to be amazing!!

Another great event brought to you by World Cup Skateboarding.

video by Miles Gehm

Great to see all the pro girls runs at the Tim Brauch contest. Huge thanks to Miles Gehm for filming the event.  Feels like we were there!

Pro Women's Results:

1. Kisa Nakamura
2. Arianna Carmona
3. Sarah Thompson
4. Beverly Flood
5. Izy Mutu
6. Justyce Tabor
7. Bia Sodre
8. Evelyn Abad 

Photo: Olivia Bush

Photo: Olivia Bush

Photo: Olivia Bush

Photo: @Dickey555 on instagram

Photo: Adam Kure

We have known about Gaby forever - but seriously who doesn't? But we had never had the pleasure of meeting her until this year at the Vans US Open. We noticed that in person she's one of the quiet ones, the type you have to watch out for if you are competing against them, because she's stealth and seriously rad. The kind of skater that silently drops in then leaves you with your mouth dropping wide open as she pulls back to back tricks one after another. There is a lot of power & determination under that calm, cool exterior. Glad we got a chance to do this interview and let Gaby tell you what it's really like to do all she does.  xx


Who's Rad?      Gaby Ponce

Age?      22

Home is?         El Cajon, CA

How long have you been Skating?      10yrs

What got you into skateboarding?     A TV show called Rocket Power

What is your favorite terrain to skate?      Vert ramps of course!

You have competed in numerous X-Games and Dew Tours – can you tell us how many and how many medals?

3 XGames with 2 medals  &  2 Dew Tours with 2 medals

I know you took 3 years off from competing – can you tell us a little about what made you decide to step back from comps?

I went to college and I didn't have much time to skate as I put my studies as my #1 priority.

Do you feel that now that you are back to competing, the time off gave you added motivation?

Taking time off created a renewed passion for my skating. It's hard for me to put into words how much fun I am having!

You are always so calm at contests – what’s your secret for staying in the moment and not letting nerves get the best of you?

HAHA! Despite my quiet personality I am actually a nervous wreck! I try and treat any contest as a normal practice session though.

What advice can you give to girls who may be starting out skateboarding and also those who are competing at the amateur level?

Fear is just an illusion. You are the one who created it. If you want to land a new trick you got to want it!

Between traveling for contests, working, and training – what is your favorite way to eat to keep your body healthy for skating?

Fruits, veggies, grains, and a bit of meat here and there.

What are your plans for competing in the upcoming year – any contests you are looking forward to?

Exposure because it has a vert contest... They know whats up!

Favorite place you've ever skated?      Everywhere in SoCal

Favorite Trick or manuver?      Boardslide to fakie

Sponsors:

Moonshine Skateboards, Sun Diego Boardshops, KIND Snacks, Bones Wheels, Triple 8 helmets, 187 Killer Pads

Any other plans/things you are working towards in your pro career?

Right now Moonshine Skateboards and I are working on a graphic for my very first pro model.

Working on the industry side later on is definitely a goal for me.

Three things you don't know about me... 

1. Some dude cut me off when I was driving so I threw a bag of trail mix at his car

2. When I was in college I was 40lbs heavier

3. I never wear make-up


What’s Next?
Rocky Mountain Rampage vert competition Aug23
Exposure vert competition Nov 8
Moonshine Skate Video part


Make sure you follow Gaby on: Instagram @gabyskates ,   Twitter @gabyskates Facebook.com/gabyponcefanpage

 Photo: via Christine Benedetto

Wishing little shredder Zoe Benedetto a very happy 9th birthday!  Have some cake & ice cream for us Zoe!! We think you RULE.  xo

A small surfer makes big waves from ABC Open on Vimeo.


We have known her on instagram for quite awhile now - she goes by the name "The Flying Squirrel". Now thanks to ABC just about everyone knows who rad little 6 yr old Quincy Symonds is. Check her out shredding the waves and ripping it up at the skatepark in this awesome segment.  On top of all she has accomplished the story of her struggle to stay healthy and what she has gone through in her short little life so far will amaze you.

Way to go Quincy!!  xx