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| Photo Sofia Tauana |
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The female skate scene in India is starting to get as much mainstream coverage as the girls skate scene in the USA. Check out this new video by Wild Beasts for their new song ALPHA FEMALE. The video was filmed in Bangalore and shows what we have been seeing on social media for awhile now - that girls are skating everywhere!
Directed by Sasha Rainbow and produced by Felix Jude West and Roz Croad, the female skaters are from the Girls Skate India & Holy Stoked crew - Atita Verghese (girl in black beanie), Smita Kommini, Padmini Rao, Channy Lowang, Nike Verghese, & Tanvi.
Sasha had this to say in DAZED about why she made this video "“Because of the current political climate in the west and attitudes of intolerance and sexism across the world, I wanted to create a video that celebrates everyone who takes the risk to be themselves.”
It should be noted that Atita is India's first female professional skateboarder and has sponsors like Van's India behind her - pretty sweet!
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| Photo of Poppy Starr Olsen via the Bowl-a-Rama website |
The General Pants Co. Bowl-Rama comp is coming up soon! The USA girls have already started arriving in Australia to get ready for the comp, which takes place February 18 & 19th in Bondi Beach. It looks the girls will be competing both days, with finals taking place on February 19th.
Last year the girls put on an amazing jam session for the crowd and this year, with a full blown girls competition, things are sure to be off the charts good.
If you want to see some of our past coverage of Bowl-A-Rama, you can check it out HERE
Confirmed female skaters (subject to change) are:
Poppy Starr Olsen - AU
Sari Simpson - AU
Gracie Earl - AU
Izy Mutu - NZ / AU
Jordyn Barratt - USA
Amelia Brodka - USA
Hunter Long - USA
Brighton Zeuner - USA
Allysha Le - USA
Nicole Hause - USA
To get tickets, or find out more details on the Bowl-A-Rama comp jump over HERE
Put February 11th on your calendar because there will be a rad private skate session and viewing of the new all girls skate film, QUIT YOUR DAY JOB at Stoked to Skate in Santa Rosa, CA. The Skate Witches will be releasing their newest zine and some of the cast from the film will be on hand as well. All proceeds from this event go to the 501c3 non-profit Skate Like a Girl.
Tickets are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door.
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| Photo via Jordyn's instagram |
Pro skateboarder Jordyn Barratt, took the win in the pro division at Vans Girls Combi recently and now has a new board sponsor to show for it. Jordyn announced on Instagram tonight that she is now riding for Powell Peralta. This makes her the first female team rider the company has had in many, many, years. Looks like her new teammate Steve Caballero approves!
Congrats Jordyn!
Check out this rad video of Ko by HypeBae as well - cool stuff.
Have a great week no matter what type of skateboarding you do! Just SKATE.
Poseiden Foundation took a trip to Colombia to help the local people, and pro skater Amelia Brodka posted this amazing photo on her instagram of the local skatepark painted with a beautiful mural featuring not just one, but three female skaters who are important to our history - Patti McGee, Ellen ONeal and Cara Beth Burnside. Nice to see Amelia in there too, ripping right above the entire mural.
The mural was painted by Skate Girl Colombia (@skategirlcol) and she did an amazing job!
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| CJ Collins, Meagan Guy and BerRonte Ramirez |
Seventeen-year-old Meagan Guy's trajectory in skateboarding has been nothing short of phenomenal these past two years. From entering Exposure's video contest in 2015 and winning herself a trip to compete at the Exposure Contest in Encinitas, CA, to skating The Berrics with some of the top female skaters in the world and landing on the podium, to nabbing a coveted spot as an alternate for the 2016 X-Games in Austin this past year, and now she is starring in the 8th season of Camp Woodward. Meagan is definitely someone to keep your eye on.
On Monday, Meagan's sponsors, friends, and family had a viewing party for her at a local restaurant near her home called The Broken Barrel, where they all watched her episode and cheered her on for the new season.
We caught up with Meagan after the party to find out what it's really like being at Woodward and how it feels being one of the new stars in a hit show.
Meagan, had you been to Camp Woodward prior to being on the show?
No, and I had been wanting to go since I was nine-years-old, so this was a dream come true! It was the best two weeks of my life!
What was your favorite part about filming the show?
Oh man, there were seriously too many moments to pick just one! Having Manny Santiago working with me on tricks was a highlight for sure. I can't tell you what we worked on, you'll just have to watch the series to find out!
I also liked the entire cast and crew - the people who film, edit and create the show, are awesome and I really liked all of them - they were super cool. Plus spending two weeks filming with CJ and BerRonte was amazing.
What was your cabin like and who did you room with?
The first week I bunked with skaters, BMX and gymnastic girls. It was so cool to come back at the end of the day and hear about what everyone else was working on or doing during their day. We are all so different yet have similar goals and a passion for what we are doing. Being around people from all over the USA who do different things but all have a similar drive to excel is motivating. I could relate to them on another level even if I don't do their sport. It gave me a new perspective and it was eye-opening meeting so many new people.
The second week Daisy, Erica and I moved into another cabin with Karley, Jordan, and Lily. So there were now girls who were working on creating digital media, music production, and gymnastics in my group. Woodward is set up to encourage interactions between groups, which I think is very cool. The digital media kids were filming the action sports people and the gymnasts so they could have a photo show, and the singers were practicing their songs to perform at the end of camp. It really just felt like it all connected really well and I made some great new friends. It was a really unique experience that Woodward provided me with.
How was it when Mariah Duran, Candy Jacobs and Jen Soto came to camp?
It was great - I got to skate with them all day, hang out, and they really made me feel like I belonged. The whole time we were skating we were all pushing each other, and every session was a memorable one. These are the ideal people you want to be around - the type that you want to skate with at all times. I feel extremely blessed that I get to skate with them and be a part of their lives, they are good people inside and out, and you just want to be around people like that.
Any particular episodes we should watch?
All of them, so many cool things happened and I don't want to give anything away but there are a lot of surprises for sure. I skate something that you wouldn't expect a street skater to skate - let's just say that as a "teaser".
Any last words?
"Have fun, the moment you're not having fun skateboarding is the moment you're going in the wrong direction"
Catch all the action and see what Meagan, CJ and BerRonte are up to every Monday on Camp Woodward right HERE
Big thanks to Woodward for the photos, video, and interview time with Meagan.
Poseiden Foundation has done it again - it looks like The Berrics will now have female only skate sessions the 4th weekend of EVERY month - how awesome is that news!?
The first session will be January 29, 2017, see you there - and don't forget to bring a canned food item with you to donate to help the local youth and homeless community.
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| Christian and Dora via Christian's Instagram |
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| Dora took 1st in 15 + at Vans Girls Combi / Photo Ian Logan |
Christian Hosoi just announced that he has picked up yet another female team rider to add to his Hosoi Skateboard team. New team rider Dora Varella, age 15 from Sao Paulo, Brazil, just won the 15 and up division at the Vans Girls Combi this weekend and it looks like her weekend just keeps getting better and better!
It has been rumored that Christian is amassing the largest and best, all girls skateboard team in recent history - and it looks like he already has some serious fire power with team riders Jordan Santana, Kihana Ogawa, Kody Tamanaha, Karen Muto, and now Dora!
Congrats Dora!
Check out Lacey Bakers new"My World" video part. It's only been up on Thrasher's site for two hours and it's already getting rave reviews from everyone.
Here is what Thrasher Mag had to say about it when they released it this morning:
"Skateboarding has long been dominated by primarily male participation, but the women are rising up and growing in numbers, and we love it. This video part shatters every preconceived notion of girls vs boys. Technically incredible and thoroughly enjoyable, Lacey Baker just brought down the house. Hell YES!"
We couldn't agree more!
Little eight-year-old Quincy Symonds from Australia is a huge part of this awesome article on "The Weekly Review" about female surfers.
We love this little girl and all she is doing to shine a light on young female surfers. and if you haven't checked out her instagram feed for some inspiration you need to ASAP @theflyingsquirrel__
Check it out HERE
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| Yndiara Asp |
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| Poppy Starr Olsen |
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| Nicole Hause |
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| Jordyn Barratt |
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| Hanna Zanzi |
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| Ariana Carmona |
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| Bryce Wettstein |
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| Kisa Nakamura |
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| Brighton Zeuner |
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| Allysha Le |
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| Julz Lynn |
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| Lea Taylor |
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| Sarah Thompson |
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| Gabrielle Brownfield |
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| Nicole Noller |
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| Olivia Black |
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| Zoe Safanda |
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| Sakura Yosozumi |
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| Michelle Yoon |
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| Dora Varella |
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| Minna Stess |
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| Bella Kenworthy |
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| Isadora Pacheco |
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| Relz Murphy |
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| Maddie Collins |
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| Karen Muto |
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| Grace Marhoefer |
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| Jordan Santana |
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| Under 14 Podium, Zoe Safanda, Minna Stess, Isadora Pacheco with Mr. Steve Van Doren |
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| 15 and over podium - Dora Varella, Kihana Ogawa, Sakura Yosozumi |
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| Pro Podium - Jordyn Barratt, Nicole Hause, Poppy Starr Olsen |
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| Champagne for the pro podium! |
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| Last years Overall Winners - Nicole Hause, Minna Stess, Spencer Breaux, Leticia Goncalves |
Feel free to share images on your social media - please just be respectful and credit
@ianlogaphoto for @girlisnota4letterword - Thanks!
This was probably one of the best Vans Girls Combi contests on record (in our book) - from the under 14 age group to the pros, the girls were really getting height, new tricks, making full use of the combi and having fun.
We were sorry to hear that some girls had to pull out due to illness and injury this year - seems that the flu and colds swept through last week's practice sessions like a banshee and took some girls out of the competition, and others fought through the tail end of illness to compete the day of.
Here are the results:
Pro Results:
1 Jordyn Barratt 18 Encinitas, CA $8,000
2 Nicole Hause 19 Stillwater, MN $4,000
3 Poppy Starr 17 Newcastle, Australia $2,000
4 Brighton Zeuner 12 Encinitas, CA $1,400
5 Arianna Carmona 18 Buena Park, CA $1,200
6 Yndiara Asp 19 Florianopolis, Brazil $500
7 Bryce Wettstein 13 Encinitas, CA $400
8 Lea Taylor 20 Huntington Beach, CA $250
9 Julz Lynn 24 Fullerton, CA $150
10 Allysha Le El Segundo, CA $100
11 Kisa Nakamura 17 Japan
12 Hanna Zanzi 25 Huntington Beach, CA
13 Maddie Collins 18 Portland, OR
14 Armar Hadid 18 Sydney, Australia
15 Sarah Thompson 19 Huntington Beach, CA
Girls Amateur 15 & Over:
1 Dora Varella 15 Sao Paulo, Brazil $1,000
2 Kihana Ogawa 16 Japan $600
3 Sakura Yosozumi 15 Japan $400
4 Gabrielle Brownfiel 23 Novelty, Ohio
5 Leticia Goncalves 19 Sao Paulo, Brazil
6 Paige LaBare 19 Costa Mesa, CA
7 Gracie Earl 20 Sydney, Australia
8 Nicole Noller 33 Denver, CO
9 Michelle Barnett 34 Newport Beach, CA
10 Olivia Black 16 Suffolk, VA
11 Leah Ho 15 Los Angeles, CA
Girls Amateur 14 & Under Results:
1 Zoe Safanda 12 San Rafael, CA
2 Minna Stess 10 Petaluma, CA
3 Isadora Pacheco 12 Florianopolis, Brazil
4 Karen Muto 10 Japan
5 Bella Kenworthy 10 Dana Point, CA
6 Michelle Yoon 14 Los Angeles, CA
7 Grace Marhoefer 13 Cocoa Beach, FL
7 Jordan Santana 13 Houston, TX
9 Rella Murphy 10 Oceanside, CA
10 Halle Gonzalles 14 Colorado Springs, CO
11 Charity Tahoe Smith 14 Truckee, CA
Many thanks to Vans, Kristy & Steve Van Doren, Mario, Kathy, WCS, Dave Duncan for announcing, the judges, the staff and everyone who came out to support the girls yesterday - it was an amazing day!
Photos by: Strand, Jones, Chami, Roberto Alegria, Richard Hart, Kyle Seidler, and Meow
The nine female skaters that are nominated for the 2016 Transworld's Reader's Choice Awards were announced today:
Lacey Baker
Lizzie Armanto
Samarria Brevard
Amelia Brodka
Leticia Bufoni
Alexis Sablone
Vanessa Torres
Mariah Duran
Nora Vasconcellos
Huge congrats to all the girls who were nominated!
You can check it all out and VOTE for who you think should win this year's Transworld Readers Choice Award over at TWS ---> HERE
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| Photo Joanne Barratt |
Vans Girls Combi is coming up quick! The contest date is this coming Saturday, January 21 at Vans Skate Park in Orange. The girls have been flying in and practicing since early December, as this is one of THE biggest all-female skate contests of the year.
With the Combi being the pool that most skaters have a "love/hate" relationship with, this event is always exciting and full of surprises, and the prize purse ($22,000 total) for Pros and AMs is pretty sweet.
This is a Private event and as of this time no live web feed has been announced - but we will be posting live on Facebook and Instagram with updates and have a full report on the site soon after.
Follow us on Instagram @girlisnota4letterword
We have been fielding questions right and left, so here are all the details you need to know about this Saturdays big contest.
What & When:
The Vans Girls Combi Pool Classic, this Saturday, January 21, 2017
Where:
The Vans Skatepark in Orange, CA
Prize Purse:
The Vans 6th annual Girls Combi Pool Classic again has a $22,000 prize purse - awesome!!
Can anyone enter to skate?
Not this one, this is an invitational event - girls from all over are invited, based on their rankings
Is it a Pro or AM contest?
It's both! All the top ranked bowl skaters in both Pro and AM will be there competing
Can I come watch my favorite girls shred?
Unfortunately no, this is a private contest and not open to the public. Sorry!
So how do we get to see the action?
Vans will be posting a highlight video on their site after contest.
We will be posting here on our site, as will WCS, and other sites.
What about during the contest
Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word will of course be posting on instagram with visual updates throughout the day.
Nicole Noller will have a LIVE Facebook feed going so check out her page!
Also, make sure you keep up with World Cup of Skateboarding for results and more information.
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| Yndiara Asp / Photo Joanne Barratt from 2016 Girls Combi |
What is the schedule for girls competing?
Amateur 14 & Under: 20 minute warm up. (3) 40 second runs, best run. Results are final
Heat1: 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Heat 2: 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Open AM : 20 minute warm up. (3) 40 second runs, best run. Results are final
Heat 1: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Heat 2: 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Pros: 20 minute warm up. (3) 40 second runs, best run - top 8 advance plus last year's champion - Poppy Starr Olsen and Nicole Hause WCS #1 for 2016
Heat1: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Heat 2: 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Heat 3: 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
3:30 PM - Pro Finals – best of 4 runs
4:15 PM - Awards
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| Photo Joanne Barratt / 2016 Girls Combi |
Who has been invited to compete?
PRO Skaters
Arianna Carmona
Hunter Long
Brighton Zeuner
Autumn Tust
Nora Vasconcellos
Amelia Brodka
Julz Lynn
Bryce Wettstein
Poppy Starr Olsen
Jordyn Barratt
Hanna Zanzi
Bia Sodre
Kisa Nakamura
Allysha Le
Lea Taylor
Maddie Collins
Amar Hadid
Katherine Folsom
Not Confirmed:
Hillary Flowers
Sarah Thompson
Lizzie Armanto
AM 15 and Over:
Dora Varella
Gracie Earl
Leah Ho
Sakura Yosozumi
Michelle Barnett
Olivia Black
Gabrielle Brownfield
Kihana Ogawa
Nicole Noller
Jessie Kudin
Paige LaBare
Leticia Congalves
Not Confirmed:
Alisha Stevens
Marie Baeta
AM 14 and Under
Minna Stess
Rella Murphy
Isadore Pachero
Karen Muto
Bella Kenworthy
Grace Marhoefer
Asiya Mercado
Halle Gonzalles
MIchelle Yoon
Charity Tahoe Smith
Jordan Santana
Spencer Breaux
Sky Brown - UPDATE: can't make it due to travel plans falling through
For more info please check out World Cup Skateboarding
While we were at the El Gato Classic in Palm Springs this weekend watching the new wave of girls kill it on the vert ramp, we discovered something else that's very cool.
The new graphics on the Vans motorhome include 1970's skateboarder Ellen Oneal Deason. Ellen was inducted into The Skateboard Hall of Fame in 2014 and was well known in the 70's for her graceful freestyle routines. She is an icon in our sport and was an early Vans team rider.
We're stoked to see a 70's female skater represented on the Vans bus - congrats Ellen!
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| Amelia Brodka |
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| Nicole Hause |
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| Bryce Wettstein |
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| Jordyn Barratt |
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| Brighton Zeuner |
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| Poppy Starr Olsen |
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| Amelia, Jordyn, Brighton, Poppy, Bryce - missing is Nicole |
Photos Ian Logan Photo
Bryce Wettstein was on Tony Hawks 1st place team, and overall for the girls scoring, Brighton came in first!
The results below are how the "team" as a whole placed, and also how each skater placed in their individual sections.
1st Place Team:
Tony Hawk - 1st Legend
Tom Schaar - 2nd PRO
Bryce Wettstein - 6th Girl
Evan Doherty - 3rd AM
2nd Place Team:
Steve Caballero – 2nd Legend
Jimmy Wilkings - 1st PRO
Nicole Haus – 5th Girl
Travis Rivera – 5th AM
3rd Place Team:
Eddie Elguera – 4th Legend
Clay Kreiner – 3rd PRO
Brighton Zeuner - 1st Girl
Cash Money Kenton – 6th AM
4th Place Team:
Kevin Stabb – 6th Legend
Mitchie Brusco – 4th PRO
Jordyn Barratt – 3rd Girl
Tate Carew – 1st AM
5th Place Team:
Christian Hosoi – 5th Legend
Trey Wood - 6th Pro
Poppy Starr Olsen - 2nd Girls
Gavin Bottger -2nd AM
6th Place Team:
Mike McGill – 3rd Legend
Bucky Lasek - 5th Pro
Amelia Brodka - 4th Girls
Nate Vernia - 4th AM
Huge thanks to Eddie Elguera, his family, and the El Gato team, for once again creating a unique and fun three-day event that brought together not only legends but pros, AMs and female skaters.
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| Photo of Hana Zanzi at the 2016 Vans Park Series in Huntington Beach by Ian Logan |
So, it's a new year and a new system for girls in skateboarding - one that we all need to learn and get used to. With skateboarding's inclusion in the 2020 Olympics, a clear path on how to get there had to be defined and this is the system that has now been put into place so everyone knows exactly how they can start working to make it to the Olympic Games!
*If you are not familiar with The Boardr, they put on the contests for the Vans Park Series and many other events - they make sure that things run smoothly, on-time, and their site keeps stats on all events and skaters.
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| Image via The Boardr |
There are 3 paths to get to the World Championships within the Vans Park Series, and we are going to break them down one by one:
There are both Global Qualifiers and Continental Qualifiers.
GLOBAL QUALIFIERS have 2 categories:
1. Select Pro
2. Tour Pro.
Please Note: For 2017 there is only ONE Global Qualifier for women prior to the Vans Park Series World Championships.
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| Photos By Joanne Barratt |
1. SELECT PRO
These are the girls who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd last year (2016) at the Vans Park Series World Championships in Malmo, Sweden.
- There are 3 of these girls
- Select Pros this year are; Brighton Zeuner, Jordyn Barratt, and Kisa Nakamura.
- Having earned Select Pro status means theses 3 girls go straight to the semi-finals in Huntington Beach and are able to skip qualifying rounds
- These girls will also advance to the Vans Park Series World Championships
2. TOUR PRO
These are girls whose skating ability is at a certain level and have been selected by the Vans Park Series Committee.
- There are 15 Tour Pro female skaters
- Who are the girls? The 15 skaters will be announced by Vans soon
- 7 of the 15 Tour Pros will advance to the Vans Park Series World Championships
During the Vans Park Series Global Qualifier in Huntington Beach, Select and Tour Pros will compete together once they make semi-finals. The 3 select Pro's are assured to be in semi-finals. Tour pros must work their way there through qualifiers.
DATES YOU SHOULD KNOW:
The one female skateboarding Vans Park Series Global Qualifier - with the 3 Select pros and 15 Tour pros - will take place in Huntington Beach, California during the period of August 1-5, 2017 - exact day TBD
The Vans Park Series World Championships will take place in the USA (location and exact date TBD) in September 2017
In The United States we learn in school that there are 7 continents - in other countries, they learn that there are 5-6. For Olympic purposes, there are FIVE.
3. OPEN DIVISION AT CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
There is an OPEN Division with a separate Vans Park Series "Continental Championships" for any girl who did not get selected as a Tour Pro.
- There are 5 Continents (by Olympic standards), so that means 5 Continental Championships
- Continents are: Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania
- You must compete in the continent where you have citizenship - i.e you can not come to Huntington event if you reside in Europe - this rule is ONLY for OPEN division
- There is a fee (TBD) to enter these Continental Championships
- If you place FIRST in that comp - you then advance to the World Championships
- If you win your region - you will get & keep TOUR PRO status moving forward to next year
- You do not win prize money at these Continental Championships
- There are no age or requirements / or submitting of videos - anyone can compete
- These contests are held at separate times and days than the Select and Tour Pro contests
- The 5 winners (1 each continent) will join the 10 other girls who qualified in Huntington at the World Championships, where all will compete together.
- You can only compete in one Continental Qualifier - you can not go from country to country trying to qualify.
OTHER FACTORS:
Tour Pros are encouraged to also represent their region by competing in both events. However, if a Tour Pro wins a Continental Championship, that Pro will qualify for the World Championship via the Continental path, potentially opening up a spot for another Tour Pro to qualify in via the Global Qualifier.
HOW THE EVENT IS RUN:
Organized jams format for Qualifiers, Semi-Finals, and Finals
- Organized jams format for Qualifiers, Semi-Finals, and Finals
- 5 skater jams, skate in order
- 4 runs each
- Max 30 seconds or skate until you fall
- Judged on overall impression
- Top 20 advance to Semi-Finals
- Top 8 from Semi-Finals advance to Finals
- Cuts may be adjusted based on participation
DATES YOU SHOULD KNOW:
March 2, 2017 - Manly Australia, Women's Continental Qualifier / Oceania
May 2017 - Africa, Women's Continental Qualifier / Africa
May 27, 2017 - Malmo, Sweden, Women's Continental Qualifier / Europa
June 2017 - Asia, Women's Continental Qualifier / Asia
Aug 1- Aug 5 (exact day TBD) - Huntington Beach, California, Women's Continental Qualifier / Americas
** The Vans Park Series World Championships will take place in the USA (location and exact date TBD) in September 2017
OLYMPIC TRIVIA:
We hope this article has helped everyone have a better understanding of the new system. If you have any questions, please let us know and we will do our best to get answers!
Email us at pr@girlisnota4letterword.com
Many thanks to The Boardr for their time and patience in answering all our questions for this article.
*Article updated 8/20/17 with new info under OTHER FACTORS
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| Photo via Zoe's Instagram |
Check out mini shredder Zoe Safanda - she's part of Valley Health Plan's new ad campaign. This one landed her on the side of public transit up in Northern California. Zoe's looking good with a BS air above coping.
Love that they used a female skateboarder in their "No Fear" ad campaign!
Congrats Zoe!