Great video featuring Shannon Marie from The Surf Channel discussing how we go about making sure women in surfing get the proper coverage they deserve. Interesting to hear from Shannon that The Surf Channel's executive producer is female and they have some really strong females on staff which she feels is one of the first steps in making sure there is some quality within the editorial. Follow The Surf Channel on instagram to see how Shannon and the SC team are helping to make positive changes for women in surfing!
Great video featuring Shannon Marie from The Surf Channel discussing how we go about making sure women in surfing get the proper coverage they deserve. Interesting to hear from Shannon that The Surf Channel's executive producer is female and they have some really strong females on staff which she feels is one of the first steps in making sure there is some quality within the editorial. Follow The Surf Channel on instagram to see how Shannon and the SC team are helping to make positive changes for women in surfing!
Love that Madewell chose to feature a female skater in its new video and even more stoked to see it is our buddy photographer/model/skateboarder Sierra Prescott! Sierra doesn't compete but she skates for the stoke - so next time you run into her skating through the streets of LA or the beaches near by, give her a high five and say hey. The girl is definitely one of us through and through. Congrats Sierra!
Women's skate decks are far and few in between so we are stoked that one of our favorite women now has one!
#RoleModel
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| Photographer Vanessa Andrieux |
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| Image via B4BC / Photographer Robert Staley |
Some people never stop pushing boundaries, and that is an amazing quality. Elena Hight is one of those types of girls. Elena was the first female snowboarder to land a 900 in competition at age 13. That in itself is a huge milestone, but Elena isn't one to sit back looking at past achievements. She's out there setting the bar higher and higher. In 2013 Elena went on to become the first person, male or female to land a backside alley-oop rodeo in competition. She is also a 2x Olympian, but besides her amazing achievements on the snow, we love that Elena is also giving back by helping to educate people about living a healthy, active lifestyle through her work with the non-profit Boarding For Breast Cancer.
We had a chance to catch up with Elena while we were working together on a B4BC photo shoot in Manhattan Beach, CA and 13 year old GN4LW team rider Kyra Williams and I asked her some questions for a Who's Rad interview.
Who's Rad? Pro snowboarder Elena Hight
Sponsors: Volcom, Repreve, Nixon, Smith, Toyota, B4BC
Age? 25
Where is home for you? Lake Tahoe
How long have you been snowboarding? 19 years
Do you surf or skate as well?
I love to surf but am still a beginner
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| Kyra and Elena / Image via B4BC / Photographer Robert Staley |
Where do you like to surf?
My favorite place in the world to surf is at my dads house in Baja.
Can you tell us what a typical day might be like for you during your on season?
I am early to rise, do some morning yoga and meditation, eat breakfast, snowboard, do a workout or yoga, make dinner, and fall asleep EARLY!
What is your favorite “chill” thing to do? I love to read.
What’s your fav music of the moment?
I like a lot of indie music at the moment.
Do you travel to other countries to get snow year round?
Yes I usually visit New Zealand in the summertime.
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| Photographer Vanessa Andrieux |
Where is your favorite place to go when getting snow in our off season?
I love New Zealand. It is absolutely amazing.
Your sport is physically demanding - can you tell us what type of training you do to prepare for snow season?
I do a lot of things including yoga, pilates, strength training, running, hiking, and some biking… pretty much anything outside!
What do you do to cross train?
I try to surf as much as possible and I have recently gotten into mountain biking.
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| Photographer Meg Hayward Sullivan |
Do you see the benefits of that as opposed to just snowboarding as your training?
Cross training is always beneficial, because you are basically mimicking similar tendencies but in a different sport so it challenges you in a way that can be related back to a snowboard.
Do you ever do trampoline training for practicing aerial maneuvers?
Sometimes!
Were you home schooled or did you attend a regular high school?
I was home schooled all through high school. 😊
How did that work with comp & training demands?
I started traveling to compete at a very young age, 13. So it was impossible for me to attend regular school. The rule was I had to keep A’s or I was back in school!
You also went to college while being a pro snowboarder, and got your degree – was it hard to balance both?
I also completed my degree online. It was something that took energy but it was rewarding to be able to do both.
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| Image via B4BC / Photographer Robert Staley |
I got involved with B4BC through Volcom. I think that they do an amazing job of spreading awareness of living a healthy, active lifestyle which is something that I am passionate about.
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| Image via B4BC / Photographer Robert Staley |
We heard you like to cook & your recipes are on the B4BC site – what are some of your favorite things to make?
I love to cook Thai food.
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| Photographer Meg Hayward Sullivan |
Do you prefer competitions or free riding & filming?
I just love to snowboard, so it is nice to have a mixture of everything within my career.
You were featured in the ESPN’s 2013 Body Issue – and you looked amazing – how was that experience for you since you are usually a bit more bundled up in your sport?
It was definitely different, but very empowering! Something that I never imagined that I would do but was extremely grateful to have done it afterward. Really crazy experience.
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| Image via B4BC / Photographer: Robert Staley |
Any advice for young girls who want to follow in your footsteps?
Just enjoy the ride! If you are passionate that passion will continue to shine through and help take you anywhere!
Girls in action sports that inspire YOU
Torah Bright
Jolene Van Vugt
Hana Beaman
Carissa Moore
Coco Ho
Three Things You Don't Know About Me:
1. I am left handed
2. I can’t whistle
3. I always hit snooze 😊
Make sure you follow @elenahight on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
Last “Words of Wisdom” for young girls ?
GO out and have some fun!
Thanks to Vans Girls for the shout out on their Tumblr page and to my rad friend Adriana Cesar for the repost on her site iThrive.
Peggy Oki is another skater girl friend that I have total respect for, but this time it's my bestie Judi Oyama in the pics above. We competed with, and against each other in the pro division back in the day and are still tight today. That's what skateboarding does and I know we are both very thankful for being a part of it.
Shout out to ALL the rad skater girls out there. You rule!
Cover Photo: Morgan Maassen / 2nd photo: Kamil Bialous - both via Outside Magazine
If you have a chance, pick up OUTSIDE MAGAZINE'S March Issue with Six time World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore on the cover. First of all - so great to see a feamle action sports athlete on a major cover - that in itself is a huge deal.
Inside is a great article on "being happy" and what that means to her. In light of the random & brutal attack Stephanie went through a few years back, it is really an insightful look at how she views her life and surfing now.
We are starting Monday off right with a sweet Abec Wheels video filmed in the Dominican Republic that features badass skater Pam Diaz. This girls shreds - she is the only girl on this skate trip and check out how she absolutely kills it on every road she bombs. Yeah Pam!
Photo: Ethan
Huge shout out and a get well wish to Cami Best! She's having surgery and we are hoping her arm heals FAST so she can get back to doing what she loves.
Love you Cami!!
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| Photo: Phil Novack |
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| Photo: Neal Mims |
We are stoked to announce that 8 year old ripper Minna Stess is now on the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team! Minna is known for doing things that people four times her age would think twice about - like skating off the roof of a van, dropping in on the mega ramp at Woodward and more. She is also a top ranked amateur skater on the World Cup circuit.
Minna will be representing GN4LW by wearing the XS x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word helmet. Her other sponsors include: Silly Girl Skateboards, Brokin Bonz Clothing, Theeve Trucks, Lakai Limited Footwear, & Sonoma Old School Skate Shop.
Welcome to the team Minna! We can't wait to see what amazing things you do in 2015!
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| Judi's latest art for the Screaming Hand 30th Anniversary Art Show |
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| Judi ruling back in the day |
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| Personal design project Judi did - badass girl power |
images via Judi Oyama / Maximum Impact Design
Inspiring words & artwork from OG skater and artist Judi Oyama. So damn proud of her. Came up together skating vert in the 70's and besides being a seriously badass skater she is also a well known and talented artist, designer & creative director . She's also someone who gets out there and fights for equality for girls (read what she has to say on the first image we posted) in skateboarding and in business. Love that.
You can see all the apparel, hats and beanies HERE
Photo: Arto Saari / Skater Julz Lynn
If this rad shot by photographer Arto Saari of pro skater Julz Lynn isn't totally inspiring you right now, I don't know what will. And yeah, that's not photo shopped. Julz dropped in, they set the edge of the pool on fire and she rode it like a boss lady.
Julz is wearing League of Anarchy exclusive cobra leather biker lace up skinnies - coming to (my favorite store in the world) Maxfield LA at the end of February!
Yeah Julz! #DoEpicShit
We've noticed that photographer Dan Sparagna has been at just about every women's skate event in the past few years (including Exposure just days before his daughter was born on the other side of the country) and regularly posts amazing shots of female skaters on his social media accounts.
Dan is also the photographer behind the recent Pacific Magazine cover with Amelia Brodka - and as we all know, female skate covers are too far & few. So we thought it might be a good time for a sit down with Dan and ask him some things about photography, women's skateboarding, and why he feels that documenting the progression of women's skateboarding is important.
Photographer: Dan Sparagna
Where do you live & work?
I live in San Diego. I am originally from northern California, moved to SD in 1987.
How did you get started in photography?
I have been shooting skateboarding since the late 70ʼs when I first started skating. I used to always bring a camera with me to sessions. I am one of those old dudes that used to shoot film, I still have shoeboxes full of slides from sessions at Winchester skatepark and my 1/2 pipe. I “retiredʼ from skating in 87 when I first moved to San Diego because Del Mar skateranch closed the month I moved here. I started skating again in 2010 and picked up a camera again as well.
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| Combining his two loves - skateboarding & sunsets |
What type of photography do you do if you are not shooting skateboarding?
If I am not shooting skateboarding, I like to shoot sunsets. I also have a new subject to shoot. My wife and I just adopted a baby girl so she has been the subject of a few photo sessions.
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| Dan's new daughter - future shredder! |
What made you decide to start shooting mainly female skaters?
I donʼt mainly shoot girls but I donʼt discriminate when it comes to shooting skateboarding. I was first asked by Annika Vrklanʼs mom to shoot some photos of her for a poster and then from there more people asked. I have been fortunate enough to become friends with a lot of the female skaters and have a good working relationship with a lot of them. I have attended almost every major girls skating event and love to promote the female skaters. They deserve just as much coverage as men. Now that I have a future female shredder, in a few years you might see a lot more female coverage...haha.
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| Hunter Long at Vans US Open |
You were the photographer Amelia Brodka chose to work with to shoot her shots for cover of Pacific San Diego Magazine - how did that come about?
Amelia was approached by Pacific San Diego magazine and they wanted to do an article about her. We had been skating together and done some shooting prior to them asking her and when they did, she told them that she wanted me to shoot the photos for the article. We have a good working relationship shooting, I wonʼt let her quit on on a trick when we discuss a shot. Iʼll will make her try it (and shoot it) 50 times if that is what it takes to land it and get the right shot. When the magazine editor met with us he told us we had a chance for the cover, but we were going against 4 or 5 other articles that had the possibility of getting the cover. We made it our goal to get the right shot for the cover. We decided on a feeble to fakie because I could get close to her and it showed her skating. We did three different photo sessions working on shots for the article. One of the sessions we had a great background so we kept going for the shot that I had envisioned for cover shot. When we shot it I told her, “I think I got it”. As it turned out that is the shot they picked for the cover.
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| Amelia - Feeble on the cover |
Where are your favorite places to shoot?
I prefer to shoot pools and vert ramps. I havenʼt really shot any street stuff. The current skate magazines have a million street shots in them and to me 1/2 of the shots I see look just like the other shots. Personally I like shooting pools because of all the different angles that can be used if you use your imagination. Skatepark or backyard pools, it doesnʼt matter to me.
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| Leticia Bufoni - Vans US Open |
Do you have an all time favorite skate image?
There are so many great skate photos out there that I canʼt narrow it down to one. I do have some favorite photographers, that have shot some of my favorite skate photos they include J Grant Brittain, Mofo, James Cassimus, William Sharp, Jim Goodrich, Bryce Kanights, and MRZ. I do have some favorite shots that I have taken.
Do you have a favorite trick you like to shoot?
I really donʼt have a favorite trick to shoot, but I am partial to airs and inverts. I like to shoot what the skater is comfortable with. I usually discuss with the skater the tricks that they are good at, I never try to force a skater to do something that they donʼt feel comfortable doing.
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| Nora Vasconcellos - Vans US Open |
What is your favorite camera body & lens?
I shoot all my digital stuff with a Sony body. Most all of my shots that have been seen by people are shot with a Sony NEX 3, one of the first mirror less bodyʼs to come out. I got that camera in 2010 when I started shooting skating again. I shoot with a Rokinon fish eye and I use Metz flashes. I also have Sony lenses in 16mm, 18-55mm, and 55-210mm I just recently got a new Sony A6000 body and just started shooting with it. Iʼve only had it for a month so I am still in the infant stages with it but Iʼm looking forward to seeing itʼs results. Itʼs basically the same camera as the NEX 3 but 4 years more advanced, so if you put that in technology terms, it has a lot more features and updated tech stuff.
Do you like to light or do you prefer shooting with natural light?
I usually use flashes when I shoot skating, unless I am trying to get a certain artistic shot ( Iʼm not very artistic ) or a distant shot. The more flashes the better is my thinking when it comes to skate shots. I just like how the shot looks when it is lit correctly. I try to put a different spin on my shots so they donʼt look like everyone elseʼs. I want people to be able to look at one of my shots and without seeing a watermark knowing that I shot it. For the average Joe that will probably never happen, but for a photographer we know other guys or gals styles.
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| Julz Lynn air at the Combi |
Any girls out there you haven't worked with yet that you'd like to?
I have shot most of the top female pool and vert riders but most have those have been in contests. I would like to do some shoots with any of the top pros, it doesnʼt really matter who it is just somewhere outside of a contest. Shooting contests these days is really starting to become a pain in the butt. There are usually less than 10 people who know what they are doing and at least 20 people that donʼt. Iʼll leave it at that.
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| Allysha Bergado - Vans US Open |
Any advice for someone who wants to get into action sports photography?
Going back to my last statement, with advent of the digital camera and the camera phone, everyone is now thinks they are a photographer. My advice to anyone that is trying to get into action sports photography, donʼt expect to make a living from it. It is very hard to make a career out of it. I just do it as a hobby because if I did it as a job I would be homeless..haha. If you are trying to break in to skateboard photography, practice a lot with your friends, before you go to a public setting with other photographers. If you find yourself shooting at a contest, be respectful of other photographers. A lot of novice photographers ruin other photographers shots by shooting from the wrong angle, sticking their cameras in the other personʼs shots, adding extra flash when an experienced person has set up a shot. Nothing worse than setting up a shot with a skater, usually during practice and someone else leans over your shoulder and “poaches” your shot and ruins it. Never just lean over and stick your camera out, you will get 1 out of 50 shots that is usable if you are lucky. Compose your shots, think about the correct angle for the shot before you shoot, make sure you can always see the skaters face in the shot. Butt shots and pictures of the bottom of the board just donʼt work. Donʼt be a machine gun shooter, you donʼt have to shoot a shot every time a skater comes by.
These are just some small samples of advise for people who want to start shooting skating. Enjoy yourself while you are shooting, the angry guys are the guys who do it for a living and are not happy especially when you get in their way. Be respectful of the more experienced photographer. They in turn will start to respect you more. It takes a lot of practice to figure out lighting, settings, ISO, shutter speed for different settings or locations. Donʼt rush it, the good photographers have been doing it for years and they have spent countless hours working on their craft. The photographers who are just starting these days have it easy with digital cameras. When I first started I had to wait to see if my shots turned after they were developed. Todayʼs photographers learning curve has increased ten fold. With that being said, take your time, study the good photographers shots, I did when I was a kid and still do today.
Where can people see your work?
My work can been seen on my website which is www.dgsfoto.com. I have also been published in Pacific San Diego magazine, Concrete Wave, Heelside magazine, Lowcard, and The Skateboarders Journal. My photos have been used for numerous skateboard company websites.
You can also follow Dan on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.sparagna
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sparagram
Dan is also in charge of the social media for World Cup Skateboarding:
WCS Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/wcsk8
WCS Website -http://www.wcsk8.com/
Next time you see Dan at a contest, say "hi" and let him know you appreciate all he does for girls in skateboarding!
Photo Ian Logan
Order a XS x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word helmet and get this rad backpack/tote bag for FREE with your order. (While supplies last!)
Every helmet comes in a nice sturdy, white, reusable box, 2 sets of fit pads in bright pink (for a perfect fit) and a limited edition black GN4LW heart sticker as well as XS stickers.
You can order on line HERE or if you live near Torrance, CA you can pick one up in person at Van Guard Surf & Sport and we will make sure you also get the free backpack/tote bag with purchase.
Happy Valentines Day!
So many awesome longboard videos coming out right now - but you really need to check out this one featuring the smooth style of Arbor Team Rider, Alicia Fillback. Shot in the mountains of Southern California, Alicia power slides and speeds her way right into every bit of terrain she encounters. Narrow mountain roads and a VERY close encounter with a car makes it even more badass (as if that was even possible!)
Yeah Alicia!
Little Sky ruling the mini ramp - she just keeps getting better and better every single day! So awesome to see this young girl loving skateboarding so much. xx
Love it when we see girls in skateboarding helping to get other girls stoked on the sport. Jordyn Barratt was at Van Girls Combi competing, yet took time out of her training schedule and comp day to be a mentor and friend to a little girl named Callia who is just getting started skateboarding.
Joryn heard that Callia wanted some autographs on contest day so she took one of her old boards, sprayed it white and brought it to Vans so Callia could take it around and get autographs on it. That in itself was a huge deal - but then Jordyn walked Callia around the pool deck and introduced her to skaters like Amelia Brodka, Mimi Knoop, Lizzie Armanto and more, to help her get autographs.
Every single girl there was super nice and signed Callia's board which made her day. I even watched little Minna Stess and Brighton Zeuner tell Callia how much fun skateboarding was and how they hoped she would keep skating.
Keeping other girls stoked on skateboarding is what will help grow the sport, & it's really nice to see a top skater like Jordyn taking the time to be such a great role model.
Callia will remember this forever and she is even more stoked on skateboading than she ever was thanks to Jordyn's kindness & the time the other girls took to sign her board.
#ThankYouSkateboarding
2015 El Gato Classic - Day 2 from Action Park Alliance on Vimeo.
Day 2 Of the Eddie Elguera "El Gato Classic" - such a fun weekend!
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| Eddie "El Gato" Elguera our host! |
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| Cindy Whitehead, Dennis Martinez, Lisa Kudra |
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| Scott Foss looking smooth as always |
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| Henry "Bad H" Hester, Paul Schmitt, Cindy Whitehead, George Orton |
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| Micke Alba doing it old school |
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| George Orton, Lisa Kudra, Brad Bowman, Eddie Elguera on the red carpet |
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| Steve Caballero always looking good! |
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| Freddie De Sota signing all the boards |
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| Mike McGill was on fire all day long |
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| The original "Skateboard Mom" Gale Webb, Cindy Whitehead, John Hughes |
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| We love us some Jim Gray! |
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| Steve Caballero at the half-pipe demo |
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| Tony Hawk getting his picture done |
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| Old school girls having fun - Laura Thornhill-Caswell, Louise Balma, Cindy Whitehead, Pam Miller |
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| Kevin Staab at the vert ramp |
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| Allan "Ollie" Gelfand's lovely wife Sharon and Cindy Whitehead |
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| And then this happened - we ran into singer Tony Orlando at dinner and it turns he is a huge skateboard fan! |
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| Green Room - cupcakes by Tiffany's Sweet Spot - Yummy! |
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| Gale Webb and Christian Hosoi |
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| So many boards the legends got to sign - everyone had a blast doing this¡ |
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| Howard Hood, Steve Hirsch, Micke Alba, & Freddie De Sota |
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| Lisa Kudra, Henry Hester and Cindy Whitehead |
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| Micke Alba |
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| Tony Hawk & Mike McGill in the green room |
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| Jami Godfrey old school Bones Brigade! |
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| Brad Bowman came all the way from Spain |
Photos Ian Logan (the professional ones ) / iphone snaps Cindy
It was wonderful to see so many old school skaters traveling in from all over just for this event. I think that Brad Bowman actually came the furthest, from his new home in Spain & I hadn't seen people like Bones Brigade team rider, Jami Godfrey in over 35 years, but watching him drop in and rip the bowl, it felt like just yesterday. Some of the skaters in attendance had not been at a California skate event in over 30 years so it was exciting to have most of us back together again.
It was such a family weekend that a lot of us brought our significant others or spouses and there was something for everyone to enjoy. From an amazing art show on Friday night, to the Saturday bowl session and a vert demo on Tony Hawks ramp, to a really well done and upscale dinner reception at the Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club on Saturday PM with Johnny Rad playing afterwards. The weekend concluded on Sunday with a church service at The Rock Church, and later a final skate contest in the afternoon.
I'd like to thank Eddie, Dawna and family, the El Gato team who made everything run so smoothly for us, as well as all the wonderful sponsors that were a huge part of this event.
Best Family Reunion - EVER!
Photo: Joanne Barratt
We are going to share a great paragraph from the article here because it says a lot about how Sierra is helping to break down barriers in skateboarding - which we LOVE!
"Just like her father, Sierra motivates people of all ages to push the boundaries of extreme sports, regardless of gender. At the age of six, she started to gain popularity, romping around skate parks and impressing all with her princess-like ensembles and mature maneuvers. This quickly encouraged other girls to embrace their innate femininity, and, more importantly, to disregard naysayers who say girls can’t skate. In a male-saturated sport, Sierra began to influence young ladies everywhere—a goal she still focuses on, even at such a young age." Written by Ashtyn Douglas
See the rest of the article about Sierra HERE