Get ready!  For those of you that remember this classic skateboard movie (that a lot of our friends were in), to the younger generation that wants to see rare older footage and the first movie starring numerous pro skaters, the 1978 movie, SKATEBOARD  will be back out on DVD Aug. 27, 2019 from MVD Entertainment Group.

The footage includes highlights, with cutting edge tricks, ramps and barrel jumping, all supplying the inspiration to the young folks of the day for what they would have liked to fill up their time doing as the skateboard craze really took hold.

Special features include:

~ audio commentary with director George Gage and skateboard legend Tony Alva
 ~  an on camera interview with Alva
~  the original theatrical trailer
~  and a photo gallery of lobby cards.





The premise of the movie was this: A sleazy Hollywood agent with gambling debts has to come up with cash fast. He organizes a team of exceptionally talented skateboarders to enter them in a major skateboarding competition, in spite of opposition from a dangerous gangster. If they win, they get $20,000 and the bookie leaves him alone.

Manny Bloom (Allen Garfield) is a small-time theatrical agent who has fallen on hard times. His troubles include not having the cash to pay alimony to his ex-wife, and even more pressing, his bookie is asking for more money from him, so what could save his skin? Naturally, a team of local skateboarders.

Making up this team, are a collection of skilled skateboarders including teen star Leif Garrett, who did all his own stunts on this, plus a number of boarders from the famous Zephyr skate crew. Backing him up is Millicent a female nurse and mother figure to accompany the team as they drive around the state putting on shows and entering competitions.

** If you don't know who Leif Garrett is, ask your mom - she'll fill you in.

Ellen O'Neal

While Tony Alva and Ellen O'Neal play major characters in the film, you will want to watch closely to spot these female skaters from the '70s playing themselves in competition scenes - Ellen Berryman, Edie Robertson, Laura Thornhill, Robin Logan, & Rebecca Williams.  

The film features so many legendary 70's skateboarders - here's a list:

Tony Alva
Jay Adams
Ellen Berryman
Bob Biniak
Rene Carrasco
Steve Cathy
Craig Chaquico
Paul Constantineau
Russ Gosnell
Clyde Grimes
David Hackett
Curtis Hasselgrave
John Hughes
Tom "Wally" Inouye
Bob Jarvis
Shogo Kubo
Brad Logan
Bruce Logan
Robin Logan
Bob Madrigal
Chad McQueen
Jim Muir
Ed Nadalin
Layne Oaks
Bob Piercy
Andy Pryciak
Edie Robertson
Tom Sims
Lance Smith
Laura Thornhill
Danny Trailer
Mike Williams
Rebecca Williams
Chris Yandell

Kokona Hiraki ~ Photo Acosta for VPS

The girls on the podium at major skate comps are getting younger and younger, perhaps because the women before them blazed a trail of possibility and equal pay. And now that these contests have an "open path to compete" as opposed to being "invite-only", we are seeing girls from countries all over the world taking women's skateboarding to a new level.

Waking up at 3 AM PDT to watch the VPS France comp live was well worth it because the women's finals at were insane! And it really wasn't just the newcomers or the under 12 set, it was every single girls and woman who made the finals - they were all on FIRE.

Pooppy Olsen & Yndiara Asp ~ Photo Tauana Sofia for VPS

Lizzie Armanto is back on the contest circuit with a vengeance and her style and tricks are like no other - she is always a pleasure to watch but this year the fire has been fully ignited and it's great to see a veteran showing the younger ones how it's done.

Poppy Starr Olsen has added more tricks to her runs and is skating faster than we have ever seen,  Yndiara Asp was stylish and had back to back tricks like usual.

But at this stop of the VPS tour we had a chance to see another newcomer on the pro women's tour - ten-year-old Daniela Terol Mendez from Spain - she seemingly came out of nowhere to make the finals. And it was well deserved. Daniela was throwing down trick after trick, including a frontside invert 540 and a 360 over the spine.

In the end, after a lot of back and forth scores on the leaderboard, it was another 10-year-old that took first place, Kokona Hiraki, who has been blazing a trail not only at VPS but at X-Games as well.  Lizzie Armanto took second, and Mami Tezuka was third.

Now it's on to the World Championships in Salt Lake City on September 6-7  - the last VPS comp of the season and it is going to be a showdown!

If you didn't get up early enough to watch it go down live, you can watch the women's finals below.  







WOMEN'S FINALS - RESULTS  VPS  PARIS/FRANCE

1st    Kokona Hiraki
2nd   Lizzie Armanto
3rd    Mami Tezuka


Kihana Ogawa
YndiaraAsp
Poppy Starr Olsen
Kisa Nakamura
Daniela Terol Mendez


VPS REGINALS INFO &  HIGHLIGHTS OF WOMEN'S PRELIMS & SEMI-FINALS

This week’s competition kicked off with the VPS Europa Regionals on Thursday, showcasing emerging talent from all over the region, and culminating with the crowning of a new regional VPS women's champion, Daniela Torel Mendez (ESP), who earned top seed into the World Championships field.

As the last Pro Tour Qualifier of the season, the VPS France event is pivotal for tour challengers to best their rankings on the season leaderboard in order to secure one of five spots in the VPS World Championships field. Japan’s Mami Tezuka is  at the top of the challenger rankings, securing her ticket to Utah.

2019 Women’s Pro Tour, Paris/Chelles ~  Semi-Finals Results

1. Kokona Hiraki (JPN)
2. Mami Tezuka (JPN)
3. Poppy Starr Olsen (AUS)
4. Kihana Ogawa (JPN)
5. Yndiara Asp (BRA)
6. Lizzie Armanto (FIN)
7. Daniela Torel Mendez (ESP)
8. Kisa Nakamura (JPN)

The Women's Prelims & semi-finals were not shown live, but you can watch them below

Lizzie Armanto ~ Photo Anthony Acosta

On August 9, (10th if you live in the USA) Vans Park Series Pro Tour skaters will meet in Paris/Chelles, France for the final qualifiers before the World Championships in Salt Lake City in September.

Held at the brand-new permanent VPS-certified built-to-spec course – Vans-Cosanostra Skatepark de Chelles – participants will get a chance to test out the new terrain, while local skate aficionados will witness the world’s best park terrain skating event. The Chelles location is one of three new park terrain constructions that Vans Park Series is donating in 2019.

Coming off back-to-back first place wins in Brazil and Canada, Yndiara Asp will be one of the ones to watch at this fourth stop of the tour as she looks to keep her lead going into the finals. Representing France, women’s challenger Shani Bru is slated to show-off on her home turf with hopes to secure one of the top five spots to advance to World Championships.

Shani Bru ~ Photo: Life Without Andy

Kicking off the week’s competition, the Vans Park Series Europa Regionals event will take place on Thursday, inviting local talent to register and compete for their chance to join the Championships field. Winners of the Europa Regional event will advance directly to the final stop in Salt Lake City, promising a diverse medley of international style in the grand finale, and harvesting new talent for next year’s circui

Vans Europe partnered with the town of Chelles to build the new permanent skatepark, aiming to encourage the local Paris community to push skating to the next level and join in the inclusive and creative nature of the sport.


Please note!  We do not have the list of women who made it from todays semi-finals to join the ladies listed below in the finals yet - the semi's were interrupted by a rain delay. We will update with that info as soon as it becomes available.



Women’s

Select Pros

Poppy Starr Olsen (AUS)
Yndiara Asp (BRA)

Tour Challengers

Shani Bru (FRA)
Mami Tezuka (JPN)

Tour Wildcards

Lizzie Armanto (FIN)



WATCH THE WOMEN'S FINALS  LIVE  FROM FRANCE ON  VANSPARKSERIES.COM

SATURDAY,  AUGUST 10th

3:00 AM - 4:15 AM   PDT     (Yikes that's early in California!)
6:00 AM - 7:15 AM   EDT

Aori Nishimura  ~ Photo Matt Morning / ESPN Images

X-Games Minneapolis 2019 wrapped up today and the women's street finals were mind blowing - just like the rest of the weekend!

On the street course, Japanese skater Aori Nishimura was the highest scorer in Women’s Skateboard Street - marking her second gold and fourth medal in the discipline. Nishimura’s tricks from her second and winning run included a kickflip up the Euro gap, backside 50-50 180 out, frontside feeble grind on the downbar, full cab, gap to lipslide on the hubba, 180 up the Euro gap and a backside lipslide on the big rail. Eleven-year-old Momiji Nishiya added to the list of Japanese medalists from the weekend with silver, and defending gold medalist Mariah Duran was bronze.


“I didn’t practice my last trick at all during practice, I just threw it in there and just committed and I guess it paid off.”

                                                      ~ Mariah Duran, Women’s Skateboard Street bronze medalist

Watch the entire women's street finals below, or scroll down to the end of this article to watch the podium runs only!



Leticia Bufoni hasd to pull out after her second run due to problems with a rolled ankle and for a while there it looked as if SLS 1st place finisher from last week, Rayssa Leal, would make the podium but unfortunately her scores got pushed down the leader board in later runs.

All the women were pushing hard and scores were going back and forth, which made for a great contest to watch!

Podium Women's Street ~ Photo Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images

Dalia Lundquist

Elaine Rose

Arianna Carmona

Julie Goforth

Kimi Kallman

Kala Fernandez

Julie Daniels

Lonny Hiramoto

Amy Bradshaw

We were stoked to be invited by Councilmember, Mitch O'Farrell and his team to come out and skate at the grand re-opening of Lake Street Skatepark in Los Angeles. Our female skaters and 70's pro skater, Lonny Hiramoto, got a bit of a private session early in the morning before the grand opening and tried out all the features the new park had to offer. Eleven-year-old Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team rider, Quinne Daniels deemed the park "epic!"

Super fun place to skate - put it on your list of LA skate spots to check out this summer!

Photos Ian Logan

Quinne Daniels

COUNCILMEMBER O'FARRELL, RECREATION AND PARKS, LOCAL RESIDENTS CELEBRATE GRAND RE-OPENING OF IMPROVED SKATE PARK IN HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

Vert World Championship Silver Medalist, Arianna Carmona, was also on hand to try out the new neighborhood amenity featuring quarter pipes, rails, and ledges

Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell at the Grand Re-Opening of Lake Street Skatepark

HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN -- Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, along with the Department of Recreation and Parks and local residents and skateboarders on Saturday morning celebrated the grand re-opening of the new skate park at Lake Street Community Center.

The improvements to the amenity, located at the Lake Street Community Center (227 N Lake Street), include poured-in place concrete features such as a stairset, ledges, quarter pipes, and rails. This is the second skate park addition or enhancement in the last month in the 13th Council District.

Charlotte Rose

“Skate parks provide a neighborhood space for a recognized sport that is growing in popularity,” said Councilmember O’Farrell. “I want to thank the Department of Recreation and Parks for enhancing an older facility with a fresher look and challenging features. This newly-improved space is sure to be the pride and joy of Lake Street.”

The park also features a modified bowl on the west end that will be a main attraction for skaters.

“We are excited to be re-opening Lake Street Skate Park with enhancements that will greatly benefit the local skateboarding and BMX community --and encourage seasoned skaters to share tricks of the trade with those who are new to the sport-- in a safe environment,” said Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager, Mike Shull.

Councilmember O’Farrell was joined at the ribbon cutting Saturday by Vert World Championship Silver Medalist Arianna Carmona (Nanjing ‘17) and more than a dozen women and girls from the skateboarding group Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word.

Pro skateboarder and 2020 Olympic hopeful, Arianna Carmona with Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell

“Skating is important for young girls because it gives them an opportunity to show boys that girls are just as good,” said Carmona who is aiming for the Olympics in 2020. “It’s good to see a lot of younger girls coming up and get opportunities that I never got as a kid.”

Amy Bradshaw, Julie Daniels, Aaron Spohn, Cindy Whitehead, Kimi Kallman, & Julie Goforth

The re-designed Lake Street Community Center Skatepark was built by the legendary team from Spohn Ranch - the same team that has designed & built  some of your favorite skateparks all over the USA.

 The park is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lake Street Community Center Skatepark
227 N. Lake Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tips:

~ There are restrooms on property
~ Grassy areas and shady trees to sit and take a break if it's hot
~ Look for street parking as you drive in - street parking is tight & limited
~ Please note!!! Pads and helmets are required.

X-Games Women's Park Podium - Photo Andrew Cannon

You can watch the entire X-Games Women's park contest above (which we highly suggest), or you can go straight to the podium placing runs below. Either way it's a really good comp! The Japanese were once again seriously dominating in this event, so it was nice to see Lizzie Armanto land on podium. Lizzie never fails to be exciting in a contest - her tricks and runs are so different than the other girls and her style is pure Lizzie!

In the youngest field in X Games history, Women’s Skateboard Park was won by 13-year-old X Games rookie, Misugu Okamoto, who also took first place in the Road to X Games: Boise Park Qualifier in June. Okamoto’s run included a backside 360 over the center feature, boneless, a varial air, backside Smith grind over the door, frontside air, alley-oop body jar, a mute 540 and a crail slide.

Silver medalist Cocona Hiraki also made history, becoming the youngest female X Games competitor and the youngest medalist in X Games history, male or female.

Lizzie Armanto took bronze, her third X Games medal.


 “I didn’t think I would podium, so to be in second place and the youngest medalist of all time is unbelievable.”

                                                                       ~ Cocona Hiraki, Women’s Skateboard Park silver medalist



This event is always good and last night was no exception!







PODIUM

1st   Misugu Okamoto
2nd  Cocona Hiraki
3rd   Lizzie Armanto


4th   Sakura Yosozumi
5th   Sky Brown
6th   Bryce Wettstein




Stay tuned for Women's Street Finals coming up on Sunday


These ladies below made it through qualifiers and will be competing in the finals along with last years medalists, Mariah Duran, Aori Nishimura & Alexis Sablone.


1. Momiji Nishiya, 81.00 (JPN)

2. Lacey Baker, 81.00 (USA)

3. Leticia Bufoni, 78.00 (BRA)

4. Rayssa Leal, 77.00 (BRA)

5. Yumeka Oda, 76.00 (JPN)

6. Candy Jacobs, 74.00 (NED)

7. Poe Pinson, 73.00 (USA)


 SUNDAY 12:45 PT / 2:45 CT / 3:45 ET
Watch the Women's Street Finals on ABC

 

Check out this new video series from Monster Energy - this one features the always rad, Lizzie Armanto.

She’s the only female to land Tony Hawk’s infamous 360 loop, the first female to be featured on the cover of Transworld Skateboarding and she’s looking to get back on top at X Games Skateboard park. This quirky park skater bears a competitive spirit that fuels her passion to consistently push the boundaries and make strides within her journey as a skateboarder.

Enjoy!

Misugu at Boise Qualifiers - photo via X-Games

X-Games Minneapolis is going to be full of surprises this year - especially in Women's Park! Two of the three women who were on podium last year won't be competing this time around.  Gold medalist, Brighton Zeuner, is out with an injury and Sabre Norris, last years silver medalist is unable to attend. Sakura Yosozumi who took home the bronze last year will be competing.

Jordyn Barratt is another past X-Games medalist that is out this year due to a recent injury. It's a bummer because Jordyn always keeps the energy up and pushes not only herself but the rest of the field. All these ladies will be missed.


There will be quite a few new young faces this year, and the power and tricks they bring is something to look forward to.

Here are a few of the women's park skaters, age fifteen and under,  that you should keep your eye on and WHY.

MINNA STESS thirteen-year-old Minna Stess was an alternate a few years back at X-Games but this is her first year competing in the finals and she has been on fire recently. Look for varying runs with numerous tricks on each wall. Minna is ripping harder than ever and you'd never guess she is coming off a big injury.

COCONA HIRAKI is the youngest competitor in women's park at just ten years old. She hails from Japan and this young girl is having no trouble keeping up with the seasoned veterans. Her style is reminiscent of a young Christian Hosoi.

SKY BROWN is eleven years old and you may know her, not only from skateboarding, but also from her recent win on Dancing With the Stars. This will be her first X-Games. Sky only started competing on the circuit recently, but has been moving her way up the leader board.

MISUGU OKAMOTO is twelve years old and if you've been hearing about a young girl throwing down 540 McTwists about 4-5 feet out of the bowl, this is the girl they are talking about. Her consistency and poise under pressure has been landing her in the first place spot at the last three comps. We expect more of the same here.

BRYCE WETTSTEIN  at fifteen years old, this seems to be Bryce's year, she is coming into her own and her runs are solid and flow nicely. If you watched her at qualifiers in Boise you know she is determined to make a good showing here.



WOMEN'S PARK FINAL COMPETITORS

Lizzie Armanto
Sky Brown
Nicole Hause
Cocona Hiraki
Kihana Ogawa
Misugu Okamoto
Poppy Starr Olsen
Minna Stess
Kody Tamanaha
Mami Tezuka
Bryce Wettstein
Sakura Yosozumi

Leticia Bufoni at last yaers X-Games - Photo via X-Games

Here are some ladies to keep your eye on in the women's street qualifiers - again, new faces and some serious skating happening!

Veterans like Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Alexis Sablone, Mariah Duran, Samarria Brevard, Pamela Rosa, Aori Nishimura and Candy Jacobs will bring their A game as always. But watch out for eleven year old Rayssa Leal and skate veteran, Alana Smith, who is back to skating after a long hiatus - these two are on fire, and it will be a battle.


WOMEN'S STREET QUALIFIER COMPETITORS

Lacey Baker
Samarria Brevard
Leticia Bufoni
Mariah Duran
Kristin Ebeling
Nanaka Fujisawa
Meagan Guy
Candy Jacobs
Rayssa Leal
Funa Nakayama
Aori Nishimura
Momiji Nishiya
Yumeka Oda
Poe Pinson
Pamela Rosa
Alexis Sablone
Alana Smith


  
WHERE & WHEN TO WATCH


THURSDAY 1 PM PT / 3 PM CT / 4 PM ET 

Watch the Women's Street Prelims on Youtube streamed live ---->  HERE


FRIDAY 5:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM CT / 8:30 PM ET

Watch the Women's Park Finals on ESPN


SUNDAY 12:45 PT / 2:45 CT / 3:45 ET

Watch the Women's Street Finals on ABC

A pro skater by definition, Lizzie Armanto still gets the competition jitters from time to time. But she’s able to enter her zone, gain focus and get the job done. That same contest focus also applies to her Harley-Davidson. And when not skating, Lizzie utilizes her improved focus to ride her motorcycle with clarity. Need a dose of Armanto focus? Watch and learn.

Leticia Bufoni now has her own Tech Deck - finally, a female model of this rad little toy is available for every girl who likes to skate! Perhaps this is just the beginning of the female pro models for Tech Deck - we sure hope so!

The new Vans x Thrasher "Arms Wide Open" video - the vibes are good and spots are scorched in this epic all-girl adventure throughout countries in the South Pacific.

Featuring established skaters Fabiana Delfino and Breana Geering as well as some ripping new talent like Helena Long, Amy Ram, Lucy Adams, & Una Farrar.

Lizzie Armanto - image via Thrasher

This new "High N' Dry" video from Thrasher is a MUST see - the skating by these guys is INSANE and we were stoked to see Lizzie Armanto skating in it as well - badass!

Read the entire article on the Thrasher website.

Rayssa Leal - Image via Street League

The women's finals today at SLS in Los Angeles were nothing short of amazing! So many turns and twists in this event - hard to take your eyes away, and even if you saw it live, it's well worth a second viewing.

Today history was made when eleven year old Rayssa Leal won the women's comp beating out seasoned veterans along the way. And a relatively unknown twelve year old, Yumeka Oda, made the finals at the Los Angeles stop. We saw that not only is Alana Smith is back on the competive circuit - competing in street at the Los Angeles stop of SLS, but also in park at the recent VPS contest in Montreal - this woman is a dual threat, and it's so good to see her competing again. Today Alana posted the highest score in the trick section and took home 3rd place - pretty rad considering she hasn't competed in recent years!


 RESULTS - SLS LOS ANGELES

1st  Rayssa Leal 23.3
2nd  Pamela Rosa 22.8
3rd  Alana Smith   22.5


4th Aori Nishimura  22.1
5th Margielyn Didal 21.7
6th Leticia Bufoni 21.0
7th Alexis Sablone 16.3
8th Yumeka Oda  8.1

Here is what everyone has been waiting for - the preview of the 2019 World Tour Street League Los Angeles course!

Watch the world’s best female skateboarders compete for crucial championship points, July 27-28 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA.

SLS London in May was full of surprises with young newcomer, Rayssa Leal, making podium by taking 3rd place and knocking SLS favorite, Leticia Bufoni, into 4th. We also saw AU's Hayley Wilson nab the second place spot, so the podium is not the same as it was in years past - which makes for an exciting contest!

The Los Angeles stop could be potentially even more exciting!


WATCH THE WOMEN'S FINALS LIVE:


USA PT -  Sunday 7/28  starts at  4:00 PM

USA EDT -  Sunday 7/28  starts at 7:00 PM


LIVE on SLS YouTube or at  Streetleague.com 

Check out this new REVLON Commercial music by A$AP Freg with his new track "Wam". The piece is about telling people to "step out of line" an not to conform to what people tell you that you should do.  It's extremly powerful.

We also love that it features skateboarder Beatrice Domond. Keep an eye out for her at 1:13 and towards the end of the video as well.

Song: “Wam”
Performed by A$AP Ferg ft. MadeinTYO
A$AP Ferg appears courtesy of A$AP Worldwide/Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records By Arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

#StepOutOfLine
#LiveBoldly
#RevlonSoFierce

Schaar and Zeuner ending the day with the USOC media summit

(PRESS RELEASE) New York, NY - July 23, 2019 - History was made today on the TODAY Show with the morning show highlighting the new Olympic sports making their debut in Tokyo - Skateboarding, and Climbing. California Skateparks and USA Skateboarding brought skateboarding onto the plaza at Rockefeller Center today with custom-made ramps where local skaters showcased the sport and Olympic Hopefuls Brighton Zeuner, and Tom Schaar represented throughout the day at the USOC / NBC media summit.

"I am excited about the possibility to represent my country at the Olympics," said Zeuner. "I love seeing the progression of women's skateboarding, and I think it's a perfect time to be a female skateboarder."

Schaar and Zeuner on NBC News “Stay Tuned” Snapchat Show

Tom Schaar on the possibility of representing Team USA: "The fact that I have the opportunity to represent my country in the Olympics is the highest honor, but even crazier is that it would be for skateboarding. I started skating because it's just really fun, and now that I have to chance to make it to the Olympics for something that I just really enjoyed as a kid is incredible to me. I'm also really excited to see how much this progresses skateboarding as a sport."

Both Zeuner and Schaar were named to the USA Skateboarding National Team in March competing in Skateboard Park.

Local tri state community of skaters particpated in today’s one year out celebration

Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word founder and 70's pro skateboarder, Cindy Whitehead, is featured on the METIZA Podcast this week talking about everything girls skateboarding.

You can LISTEN to the METIZA Podast ---->  HERE

Take a listen to this exciting podcast and hear Cindy speak with Paige Bird, Co-founder of METIZA about:


~ How Cindy has always tried to live life with NO regrets

~ The "one girl" theory in skateboarding, and why it's NOT the answer

~ How the Japanese team dropped in and created a new dynamic in girls skateboarding

~ Why accolades, like her 2016 Skateboarding Hall of Fame induction, are not the end goal

~  After you get done thanking the women who support you, who else so you need to thank?

~  And much more!

Lizzie Armanto

Watch this recap from VPS with announcers Chris Cote, Alex White and Tony Hawk about what how it all went down during the women's finals at VPS Montreal. Some great insight on how Yndiara Asp surpassed Jordyn Barratt to take the win. 

It is SO great having a female announcer in the mix this year - Alex is spot on with her comments and assessments of the skaters and the action. She is a pleasure to listen to during the contest and after.

We're looking forward to more of this!

Billabong's latest video "Creatures of Color" captures pro surfers Laura Enever, Felicity Palmateer, and Alessa Quizon in a world that is haze of pink and red thanks to the use of infrared cameras. The Billabong team says;


"being immersed in surfing can sometimes feel as if you are stepping into a portal to a different planet where life becomes more colorful. the freedom, the smell, the excitement, you become one with your surroundings. a place where you can roam free and surf empty waves."






Sit back and watch this gorgeous video Creatures of Color with the music turned UP for a relaxing and immersive experience.

Podium - Women's Park Nanjing, China ~ photo via World Skate

Well, we saw this coming during the Dew Tour in Long Beach, and in the early morning hours (if you were up at 3 AM watching the finals in Pacific Time) it actually happened. The podium at the International Skateboarding Open in Nanjing, China - a 2020 Olympics qualifying event for women's park - saw a full podium sweep by the Japanese team and the USA team had to be content with a 7th place finish from USA's Bryce Wettstein, who rode really well and is starting to really get into her groove at these competitions.

For so many years the USA has really been the leader in women's skateboarding, but in the past two years we have seen a gradual, and now, an even more powerful shift with the Japanese and Brazilian women really pushing hard  - they are not just lapping at our heels, they are running fast to try and get past us.

The Olympics are just 370 days away and we certainly have a lot of catching up to do when you now have female skaters like twelve-year-old Misugu Okamoto from Japan, throwing down 540's that are high and clean and taking 1st at the last two Olympic qualifying events, with scores nowhere near her closest competitor. That is the new reality, and fast progression we are seeing in women's skateboarding.

It was also unfortunate that three of the top ranked USA skaters were out with injuries at this event - Brighton Zeuner hurt her ankle in practice sessions, Jordyn Barratt appeared before semi-finals with her arm in a sling, and Nicole Hause is still recovering from a knee injury. So the USA field of competitors was down by three...

Thirteen-year-old Minna Stess was back and skating extremely well after recuperating from elbow surgery just a few months ago, and scored a nice 10th place finish for the USA. Minna is pushing hard this season and is definitely "one to watch".

Brazil's Yndiara Asp fresh off her stunning VPS win in Montreal,  had to settle for 4th place at this event.

Sky Brown was in first as we headed from quarter-finals into semi's but could not keep that momentum going, as the top-seeded skaters where added to the mix during semi-finals, where she then dropped to third. She put in a good showing for Britain, taking home 5th place during the finals.

Poppy Starr Olsen from AU skated well and scored a nice 6th place finish. Poppy has been coming over to the USA from Australia and has skated with the American girls for many years now, and is always a force to be reckoned with.

Isadora Pacheco rounded out the finals with an 8th place finish.