Check out this awesome post from Kona Skatepark:

"The lady who's been in skateboarding the longest, the reason we're all here, Mrs. Ramos will be celebrating the "It's Not About Pretty" book release with us this Friday 6-10pm. She is very excited to see all of the lady skaters and how much girls skateboarding has grown over the years. See you there!"

Much respect to Mrs. Ramos for all she has done for skateboarding through the years! 


Yep, just a reminder that if you are within a 4 hr drive from Kona Skatepark on Friday you need to be at this rad event. Skateboarder Elise Crigar and Kona Skatepark have put together an amazing all-female lineup - skateboarding + clinics for those just starting, "It's Not About Pretty" book signing with book designer Elise Crigar,  all female bands, muralists, food, drink,  product giveaways, raffles and so much more!

On instagram make sure you tag your pics #GirlsSkateJam and #Itsnotaboutpretty #KonaSkatepark so we can repost them!

A Beautiful new video for Elton John's well-known song Tiny Dancer was just released, and it showcases all different parts of Los Angeles and different people's lives, some happy moments, some very sad.

We love the scenes with the girl skating down the street and we just found out that her name is Sidney Allison. Nice that they included a female skateboarding in this video, rather than going for the typical shots with a guy.

We're super stoked to see Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word ambassador and designer of the "It's Not About Pretty" book, Elise Crigar, on TV show THE CHAT  today.  She discussed the new book, what went into designing it, girls skateboarding, and her rad all girls skate event taking place at Kona Skatepark this Friday night.  Hit the PLAY button and check out her interview!

Congrats Elise - you killed it!!

Haven't purchased your copy of the new "It's Not About Pretty" book yet?  Grab one on Amazon right HERE

 Photos & Design Elise Crigar    /    Skater Zoe Herishen

We are all about girls creating their own media and putting it out there, so we love being able to post a few of the images that came from the recent session team riders Elise Crigar and Zoe Herishen did while Zoe was out in Florida this month.

Elise created the concepts to help promote GN4LW and she did all the photography and layouts, and Zoe skated and showed off some product for us - so many awesome pics came from this shoot.

Which brings us to our next point - we want to stand behind girls who are creating their own media - are you shooting photos or video of you and your friends skating?  Hit us up, we'd love to try and share what you're doing. It can be short and sweet, or maybe it's a film you're working on and you'd like to promote the teaser for it? Whatever it is, we'd like to help get the word out there and promote your project.

Next up:  Phase II  about how we plan on helping girls create your own skate media will be posted soon - we want to stand behind you in more ways than one - so stay tuned!

You can reach us via email at cindy@girlisnota4letterword.com with your ideas or questions

It's time we all started creating the girls skate media we want to see.  xx

Aussie surfer Lauren Hill's new video "Pear Shaped" takes on just about every sexist stereotype you have ever come across if you are a female surfer. From those "perfect girl on the beach holding a surfboard" instagram pages we see in our feed each day,  to surfing in a too small bikini and more, Lauren fearlessly tackles it all.

Nice to see Los Angeles based soul skater, Sierra Prescott on the Under Armour site today - check out more photos and the kick back clothes she's reping HERE

Congrats Sierra!

Get ready because there's going to be a Ladies Skate Night next week in an awesome location!

Hosted By: SPICE GIRLS SKATE

Date: Wednesday, May 24th, 2017
Time:   6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Active Ride Shop Head Quarters
12178 4th Street,  Rancho Cucamonga CA. 91730

What: Open Skate Session at the Active Park

We were stoked to see Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team rider Zoe Herishen in this Triple Eight Helmet "WipeOut" commercial. It was Zoe's birthday and she got to invite her skater friends over, have a party and shoot this rad spot.  Congrats Zoe!!

Photo Jay Gadong

Photo Jay Gadong

Photo Jay Gadong

This 18 year old shredder just won the Vans Philippines Skate Championships and word is that she will hopefully be coming to the USA soon to visit and skate. Margielyn has been flying a bit under the radar but that is fast becoming a thing of the past - with her recent win more and more people in the skateboarding world are taking notice. Her sponsorship's are solid and she is even slated to be featured in the June issue of BLUNT magazine.  This girl is one to watch! If you don't believe us, just take a look at what she lists as her "favorite" tricks.  See you soon Margielyn!



Who's Rad?         Margielyn A.Didal

Age?       18

Home is?     Cebu City , Philippines

Home Park or Skate spot is?          Streets in Cebu

How Long Have You Been Skateboarding?          almost 6 yrs

Tell us about your board set up:     852 Board,   Ace Trucks , Wheels -  etheir Ricta or Spitfire

Favorite music to skate to?              "Broccoli" by big baby D.R.A.M

Girls Who Skate that inspire you?     Leticia Bufoni

Photo via Anthony Claravall

Favorite place you've ever skated?         The streets in Hong Kong and TKO skatepark in HK

Favorite Trick?            BS 50-50 to 360 flip,  and and back foot late late heel flip out

Sponsors?             NB Numeric Asia Pacific , 852 Skateboards , Ace Trucks , Ares Skate Supply

What is coming up next?       Volcom Clothing Asia soon

Make sure you follow Margielyn on her instagram



Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word would like to give a huge thank you to  Warren Stuart, Heidi Lemmon and Jay Gadong for their help with this article.

Check out our friend Quinne Daniels skating in this "Dream Big, Princess" spot for Disney. We are so stoked for her, she got to fly to Canada to film it and had a blast! We love that Disney - and other companies- are using girls who really do skate.  Congrats Quinne!!

Photo via X-Games - 2016  Women's Street Gold Medalist-  Pamela Rosa

This list is out!  These are the female street skaters headed to X-Games this summer!

Lacey Baker
Samarria Brevard
Julia Brueckler
Leticia Bufoni
Mariah Duran
Meagan Guy
Savannah Headden
Candy Jacobs
Gabi Mazetto
Aori Nishimura
Pamela Rosa
Alexis Sablone
Kate Shengeliya
Alana Smith
Jen Soto
Vanessa Torres
Kat Williams

Women's Park skaters must go to Boise, Idaho for a qualifier on June 9 & 10, where 20 girls will compete and just 4 will head off to the X-Games in July (plus a wildcard) to join last year's podium skaters - Kisa Nakamura, Lizzie Armanto and Jordyn Barratt.  For a total of 8 skaters.  See more HERE

Women's street skaters will do it a bit differently - the invite list is up and these 17 skaters listed above head straight to Minneapolis in July where they will qualify at the X-Games and those who make the cut will compete the next day.

More news to come!

Photo By Nwest Media

(if you choose to repost this shot please make sure to credit @nwest_media)

So many great action shots from the Maryhill Spring Freeride have been posted but we thought this particular image from Dustin at Nwest Media was pretty amazing too.

The photo Dustin took shows all 27 of the ladies that showed up to the Spring Freeride. They range in age eight to just over fifty! They include; longboarders, drift trikers, lugers, rollerbladers, world champion downhill racers and our dear friend Ali Johnson who is the badass female backbone of these events.

Just another amazing example of when people say "girls don't skateboard like that", you can point to this and say "like hell they do!"  

Thanks to Dean, Ali, Dustin and all the people who make the Maryhill Freeride so amazing, it is truly the most special event, with the nicest group of people around. 

Photo via Rolling Stone / Photo Griffin Lotz

The last time Lacey Baker made this big of a splash in the news media, it was about a year ago when she called out the male dominated skate industry for always sponsoring females who filled the perceived traditional role of "pretty" rather than going by skate ability, as they do with the guys. 

This time it's a bit different, with Lacey's new sponsorship with Nike SB, Lacey is speaking out not just about gender, and women's skateboarding, but mainstream sites like this new article on RollingStone.com  are talking about just how much she kicks ass on a skateboard, and her back story - one which many people have not heard until now, as well as her Olympic aspirations. Nice to see and well deserved.

You can read the Rolling Stone article HERE 

After School Session with Keet Oldenbeuving from Sean Ringeling on Vimeo.

Check out this cool little video of Keet Oldenbeuving, we've been watching Keet for awhile on social media and this young girl rips. Her ability to pick a line and do back to back tricks is awesome. Can't wait to see what's next for her!

We should also mention that Keet recently became part of the Meow skate team - congrats Keet!

This video should help you get through the rest of the week.

The rough cut of Lizzie Armanto's "Fire" part is just as rad as the edited version. And we love seeing GN4LW team rider Kat Folsom giving Lizzie a huge hug at the end when she pulls of an insane trick on Kat's backyard half-pipe. (watch it and see).

Elise Crigar - Photo Tori Ray

Elise Crigar - Photo Tori Ray

  


We are so STOKED about this give-away with Penny Skateboards!

We've teamed up with Penny Skateboards to giveaway a copy of the new "It's Not About Pretty" book - and you also get a rad Penny Skateboard!

To enter see the Penny Instagram post for details - it's so easy!!

After you do that cruise over to the Penny Blog and read all about the book, the girls in it and our rad Florida designer, Elise Crigar - who gives a stellar interview with the Penny team!

Penny Skateboards believes (just like we do)  that skateboarding brings people together as a community. No matter who you are or what you believe, you are welcome.

Have an awesome week!

In case you missed the "Little Big Shots" episode that aired tonight with Sky & Ocean (@Awsmkids) here is a highlight clip of the amazing brother and sister duo killing it on the mini ramp.

We loved seeing Sky repping our movement on the show - she has been a big supporter of Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word over the past few years and we love seeing her rip!

Congrats Sky & Ocean!!

Keep May 7th open as it's the second annual CHICA DE MAYO event! This year it's taking place at Forth Union Skatepark in New Jersey.

Our rad little team rider Zoe Herishen came up with the idea while skating at the Brooklyn Bike Park just over a year ago. Zoe created this event to include both skateboards and longboards because she wanted an event that all of her friends could go to.

There will be a DJ, lots of raffles and giveaways, and tons of skateboarding!

Date: Sunday, May 7th
Time:  11 Am - 1 PM
Cost:  $5.00 to Skate

Where:
Forth Union Skatepark
104-108 Asbury Ave
Asbury Park, NJ 07712

Image via Vogue.com / Photo Sam Nixon

Yesterday it was announced that Lacey Baker is now on Nike SB - which was huge news. Today Lacey has an interview on Vogue.com.

What we have always loved about Lacey, besides her obvious kickass skating, is her "no fear" attitude in speaking out about equality, her ability to not classify herself as any label - queer, gay, straight, etc and saying to magazines that how you look should not determine endorsement deals. Her willingness to not shy away from subjects like prize money, that make other skaters say "no comment" when asked, is the icing on the cake. She is the real deal.

There were times when Lacey chose to speak out harshly (as her critics like to say) and put large companies on blast in her interviews. People in this tight knit industry said her chances at every being sponsored by a mainstream company were ruined. Those people obviously don't know the power and strength that Lacey Baker has.

This fearless skater is paving the way for every person in skateboarding - that's right every person. And we all owe her a huge thanks for that.

Congrats Lacey!

You can read Lacey's Vogue.Com interview HERE