Photo Klaudie Moravcova

We have heard about Emily for years now. We missed meeting her when we went to the Maryhill SheRide a few years back and since then she has been competing with the men in downhill... and winning. This young woman doesn't let anything get in the way of her goals, and when she hears "you can't" or "It's never going to happen" that fuels her even more. She skates downhill faster than most people drive their car on the freeway, is an IDF champion, skates for Team USA and still manages to attend college to get her degree. Whew!

We are extremely pleased to share this " Who's Rad" interview featuring Emily Pross with you!

Photo Gael Abudarham

 Who's Rad?  

Emily Pross 

Age?

23 years old

Home is? 

I was born and raised in Vernon, New Jersey. But I have lived in Mineral, Virginia for the last two years.

How long have you been downhill racing? 

I have been downhill racing for the last 7 years. I originally started downhill skating in 2012, but I was mostly into the freestyle aspect of it at first. By freestyle, I mean technical slides and flowing down the hill with style and grace. It was not until 2013 when I realized my love for downhill racing on a skateboard. Now I just want to go as fast as I can downhills. 

Photo CGSA Downhill

What made you get interested in doing downhill?

Well, growing up, I could never really figure how to ollie or do any of the fancy flatland street skating tricks on a regular skateboard. So instead I took my skateboard to the top of this hill I lived on and rode down that, and honestly, I could do that all day. I loved that gravity powered speed feeling.

You are going to school and racing – how do you juggle both?

I do and it is pretty rough. Fortunately, I took online classes through Berkeley College. Generally my plan of attack with school, and traveling to races, was trying to get all the work done ahead of time that I was assigned in the weeks I would be gone. Generally, the season would start in Australia, and I would be gone for about 3 weeks and go to two races. So I would talk to the professors and they would give the work for those 3 weeks I would be gone, because I knew once I got to my destination I would not feel like doing any kind of schoolwork. So I would knock out 3 weeks' worth of school work in 4 classes ahead of time. I would start this grind about a month before I would leave. It was very draining, mentally, having to all that extra work on top of the work that was due that week in all those classes.

What are you getting your degree in?

I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing and Communications. I’m actually in my last semester finishing that up.

Can you tell us what an average day is like for you? 

Since I am currently working on an internship with Twente Additive Manufacturing. My day starts out, getting up early around 5am or 6am. Try to complete some school work, before heading out the door to work at the internship at 8:30am. Then at the end of the day, I train at the gym generally around 5pm, for about 1 hr 1/2 - 3hrs, how long I train depends on how I feel. And then I return home, eat dinner, study some more, then go to bed, and repeat. Depending on my schedule, sometimes I’ll try and do some training in the morning before heading to work or doing anything else I have planned that day.

Speaking of training – can you tell us what type of training you do to prepare and keep your body in shape for your sport?

Generally, during the racing season, I participate in HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and keep a good mix of endurance, strength, and balance training in with my HIIT routine. To give you an idea, my favorite routine, is warming with low weight on weight lifting exercise, like say squats. Then without rest in between weight sets, I will sprint on the treadmill, or outside (depending on the weather) for 1:20 at a 10mph pace. I will repeat this 4 times, without resting in-between weight sets, while also adding weight to my strength training exercise. I’ll also do this with other weight training exercises in one training session. Aside from this, I also like to go for long-distance runs on occasion. As well as go to the bouldering gym. 

 We know you like to go FAST – what is the fastest speed you have clocked on your skateboard?

Photo Tyler Topping

"The fastest speed I clocked on a skateboard is 135.00kph. Which is 83.88 mph. This was at the top speed challenge up in Quebec Canada, I achieved the fastest for the ladies in that contest up there"

How did you get the nickname “The PROSSecutor”?

The nickname was actually given to me by one of friends in the downhill industry, Max Dubler. He gave me the nickname back in 2015 at an international Downhill Federation (IDF) race in Lillehammer, Norway. 2015 was when I started to realize my potential to do well in the open category. Because I had a decent qualifying time and made the final 64 man bracket in Open/Pro Men’s category, people were saying those that qualified worse than I got “Prossed.” That was when Dubler took it upon himself to say, “No, you all got PROSSecuted.” The name and term stuck ever since then.

Can you tell us about the different divisions in downhill, women, open, etc?

Of course. So much like other sports where they have a governing organization like NFL, NHL, and MLB. The IDF is the league and sanctioning body we race in as downhill skateboarders. In this league, we race under they're set of rules, and racing divisions/classes. These multiple different classes under their umbrella, have a points chase across multiple different races around the world, in order to crown a World Champion. The classes the IDF offers races in are, a Master’s Division, which is for people 35 years and up. A Women’s division, which all women of any age can compete in. A junior division that anyone under the age of 18 can compete in. A street luge division which, people who participate in, street luging, race against each other in. Lastly, they offer an Open category, which is the main racing division the IDF offers. In the Open category, anybody is allowed to participate, including those participating in the other divisions, excluding luge. The open category is very much similar to a “Pro Men’s” division, however, women are allowed to compete, which is called “Open.” 

Photo Tyler Topping

You are winning all the women’s comps and are also beating the men – can you tell us a little about what racing with the men is like, where it took place, and how it felt? 

Of course. I know it sounds weird, but I now have 2 “first” wins under my belt against the men. One was at a non-IDF sanctioned event in North Carolina, called Mt. Jefferson. This win happened in 2017. And my other was my first win in an IDF event, at the Seaside track in the Philippines. This happened in 2018.

The Mt. Jefferson race track is one of my favorite race tracks in the world, the track pretty much has all the features I like in a race track. Back in 2017 when I won, I won in the rain. Skateboarding in the rain is a whole different ball game. There is no traction, so you have to calculate and think about your technique and lines while navigating the road. I also remember it being particularly cold here, I remember being lined up on the starting for the final heat, and not being able to stop shivering. I honestly credit the cold to me winning, because, literally every heat I wanted to get to the bottom as fast I could so I could get out of the rain and try to warm myself up.

At the Mt. Jefferson race because it was not IDF, they only offered one class, open. However in the Philippines, I raced both Women’s and Open. This race was also extremely brutal because of the extreme heat and humidity. From the Quarterfinals till the end I was racing 2 race heats per round, and in the heat and humidity, it was extremely difficult. But this win was particularly special to me, because not only did I win against the men while racing an additional race heat per round. But I won against two former Open world Champions, who had the reputation of being hard to beat, so that special.

I like to think, unrealistic goals, lead to unrealistic outcomes. I relate this to my goal of winning an open race because I was always told, “you can’t” “It’s never going to happen.” When something you worked so hard to achieve finally happens, you are left with this feeling of, what now? What do I do? 

Photo  Ras Sarunas

 You are setting records like this and paving the way for women in the sport – are there more goals like this coming up for you?

"For sure! My main goal in downhill is to inspire others, whether I have accomplished that or not, I do not know. But, my main goal for next is to be better than I was last year, as a competitor. Both mentally and physically"

Do the guys treat you differently now that you are competing with them and beating them?

Yes and no. Some guys, I can tell I have earned their respect as a competitor. However, I can still sense some resentment in the attitudes of some others.

You are also an IDF champion – how many times and which years?

Yes, I am a 5x IDF World Champion, 4x being undefeated. And with the win at the World Roller Games in Barcelona, I now have 6 World Titles.

You were named recently to the USA National Team – what does that mean to you?

As a whole, it felt really cool because this was the first time Downhill Skateboarding has ever been apart of something at this magnitude. All in all, it was a huge step forward for the sport, and I felt proud to be apart of the downhill community.

Can you explain what it was like to go to Barcelona and compete?

The event in Barcelona was beautifully run. It was really spectacular to see all the best skaters in the world come together at a single event. Normally at most events, everyone can’t make it, so it was cool to really see the whole downhill scene come together.

You brought home the gold for the USA there – what does your medal look like?

The medal is pretty cool. The medal actually looks like a wheel. It has a gold rim with a concrete center. In the concrete, the WRG games logo is stamped along with downhill’s event symbol. On the inside of the medal is a gold skateboard bearing with “World Roller Games” engraved into. The bearing spins too, which is pretty neat. 

Photo Via Kebbek Skateboards

You have your own pro model board with Kebbek – sweet! Tell us about the graphics, the design, how that came about? 

The graphic is pretty cool, it was made by an artist out in Nelson, BC. The focal point of the graphic is a Bald Eagle, which I thought was pretty sweet considering I’m one of their few riders from the United States. This design came about from testing and riding multiple different boards in the market. I gleaned a little bit from each of the boards I liked, and have ridden in the past, and mashed all these components together to make my pro-model. 

Any advice for girls who want to follow in your footsteps?

Rusty Williams

"If you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything. At times you are going to feel alone, but remember to keep your eyes on the prize and stay focused on the end goal."

"Do not let others tell you that you can’t, because they are only saying that to scare you from what you CAN do."

Girls in action sports that inspire you?

I love following Crossfit and the athletes who compete in the games. Women, such as Tia-Clair Toomey, Katrin Daviosdottir, and Jessica Griffith. These women, are major inspirations for me in keeping me motivated in my passion for training and working out. 

I’m also a huge fan of American Ninja Warrior, and I have massive respect for Jessie Graff. She helps keep me inspired to compete against all humans, rather than just the women. 

Sponsor Shout Out:

Kebbek Skateboards

Hondar 

Three Things You Don't Know About Me...

1. I’m a huge fan of kombucha, and do my own home brewing. In the future, I would like to possibly start a kombucha beverage company.

2. I have a fear of falling from high places, and I credit this fear to my sister. On family vacation whenever I would look out of the edge of a cliff, or something similar, my sister would also come from behind and give me a little nudge/jerk forward. This would cause me to lose my balance and think I was about to free-fall off the edge. Because of this, to this day, I hate being close to the edges of cliffs even if there is a safety railing across it.

3. I’m currently learning another language, Portuguese.

What’s Next? 

Honestly, I am not sure. I would like to keep pursuing the IDF world tour. But, since the sport is so small it is very hard, for me financially, to fund all that traveling year after year. One thing Would like to do is pursue coaching. I think I could bring a lot of stuff to the table to help someone succeed in this sport and others. For now though, I kind of just going to go with the flow, see what doors open, and close, and go from there.

Make sure you follow Emily at:

Instagram

@emilylongboards

Facebook 

facebook.com/emilypross

Cindy Whitehead ~ Photo Ian Logan

It's the 10th anniversary of the legendary espnW Summit and this year TWO skateboarders will be up on stage speaking about what it's like to be female in skateboarding.

Jordyn Barratt ~ Photo Ian Logan

On Tuesday, October 22  at 11:30 AM  (Pacific Time)  - Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Founder, Cindy Whitehead, will be giving a 10-minute talk on "Rule Breaking, Disruption and Starting a Revolution" which discusses how women working together, can create awareness for female athletes and help change the conversation and dynamic in male-dominated sports.


On Wednesday, October 23 at 10:30 AM (Pacific Time)- Pro Skateboarder and Olympic hopeful, Jordyn Barratt, will be on the "Voices of the Future" panel where she will join two other young athletes to discuss their respective sports as we head towards the Olympics in 2020.

The Summit is invite-only and is sold out, but you can catch the entire three-day summit on the ESPN app starting October 21 and follow along on espnW Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Bryce Wettstein ~ Photo Acosta

USA Nationals for Women's Park and Street happened today and the girls were ruling! If you didn't happen to catch the live feed on The Berrics Instagram, we can tell you there was some serious skating going down!


RESULTS - FINALS - WOMEN'S PARK

PODIUM

1.Bryce Wettstein
2. Kody Tamanaha
3. Minna Stess

Mariah Duran

RESULTS - FINALS - WOMEN'S STREET

PODIUM

1. Mariah Duran
2. Alexis Sablone
3. Samarria Brevard

The USA Skateboarding Toyota 2019 National Championships Concludes Today with a Newly-Named 2020 National Team

First Row (l to r): Stess, Wettstein, Carmona; Second row (l to r): Zeuner, Duran, Santana, Smith, Baker, Brevard, Sablone, Barratt; Third row (l to r): Huston, Eaton, Jordan, Rennie, Schaar, Reynolds, McCoy, Wright, Juneau 

PHOTO CREDIT: Robert Brink/ USA Skateboarding

The skaters named to the 2020 USA Skateboarding National Team include:

Women’s Park

Ariana Carmona (Buena Park, CA)
Brighton Zeuner (Encinitas, CA)
Bryce Wettstein (Encinitas, CA)
Jordyn Barratt (Haleiwa, HI)
Jordan Santana (Houston, TX)
Minna Stess (Petaluma, CA)

Women’s Street

Alana Smith (Fort Worth, TX)
Alexis Sablone (Old Saybrook, CT)
Lacey Baker (Covina, CA)
Mariah Duran (Albuquerque, NM)
Samarria Brevard (Riverside, CA)


Vista, Calif. (October 20, 2019) — Together with Toyota and Nike, Inc, USA Skateboarding - the governing body for skateboarding in the United States - announced 22 members would join the 2020 USA Skateboarding National Team. Men’s and Women’s Skateboard Park and Street events will make their Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

 “There wasn't a better way to cap off five national championship events than being able to announce our 2020 national team,” said Josh Friedberg, CEO of USA Skateboarding. “With the support of Toyota, Nike, and the USOPC, we have been able to evolve as an organization to better support the needs of more skateboarders during the second season of qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo. We’re really excited to be a part of skateboarding’s impact on the Olympic movement and can’t wait to watch our American skateboarders do what they do best in Tokyo next summer!”

Skateboarders will have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics based on their two best results in World Skate sanctioned events during the 2019 qualifying season (ended September 30, 2019) combined with their five best results during the 2020 qualifying season (October 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020). The 2020 World Championships will also be a direct qualifier for the games for the top three podium spots at each event.

Parade spent a wet day in London with Nora Vasconcellos - grabbing an English breakfast, checking out the Grant Museum of Zoology and hitting a local DIY spot. 

She gave them her thoughts on skateboarding, the Olympics, her drawings and shares the inspiration behind her new unisex Adidas Nora Collection. 

 Nora Vasconcellos x Adidas on PARADE ~ Photos Kasia Bobula

 
This is the first true skate collection that has a female skateboarder's name on it (check out the legit patch on each item that says "Nora Vasconcellos, 1992 Pembroke, MA) - Hell Yes - to Adidas and Nora! This is a major breakthrough for women in skate.

Make sure you shop the collection on PARADE, an awesome platform that brings together the best brands and skate shops, all in one place.

We loved waking up to this new Pantene commercial that is airing in India. In a culture that really has not been at the forefront of encouraging girls and women to live their lives freely - we love seeing Panetene show what "freedom" as a woman looks like - free to skate, surf, direct, ride a motorcycle, and more.

We are pretty sure we see our little friend Kamali skateboarding in this!

Pantene's New #FreedomHair campaign inspires young girls to write their own story. It is not about telling the girls what they should or should not do but inspiring them by showing the endless possibilities that life presents. The film is a set of questions and avenues that her life could take, none of them right or wrong. Only she can decide what her story will be.

Good Job Pantene!!

Photo and info via ANOC

The ANOC World Beach Games in Quatar, Spain happened yesterday and even though most of the women in the field fell at some point during their run, they got back up and skated hard.

But in the end it was fan favorite, seventeen year old, Sakura Yosozumi, winning the gold medal. Yosozumi became an instant hit in Aspire Park. Not only among fans, but also among the other skateboarders.

Her biggest rival was also Japanese, Kihana Ogawa, who went on to win the silver medal .

Fifteen-year-old Julia Benedetti brought home the bronze medal for Spain.

In case you missed this annoncement  - The USA Skateboarding Toyota 2019 National Championships are happening this week - this is the first Olympic qualifying event of the second season for American skaters.

** We have not seen any info as of yet on a live feed, so stay tuned for updates as we receive them

California Training Facility in Vista, California is the location for the inaugural USA Skateboarding Toyota 2019 National Championships on October 16-20, 2019.

This Olympic qualifying event is the first points earning opportunity for American skaters in the second season of Olympic Qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

• Women's Street (Olympic Qualifier)
• Women's Park (Olympic Qualifier)

Olympic Qualifying Points

Women's, Street and Park disciplines will receive Olympic Qualifying points outlined below.

These points will count towards one of the 5 results in season two of Olympic Qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games unless they are replaced by 5 higher points total results before the end of qualifying, May 31, 2020.

• 1st Place - 3330 Olympic Qualifying WSR points
• 2nd Place - 2000 Olympic Qualifying WSR points
• 3rd Place - 1200 Olympic Qualifying WSR points

Points will be paid to 42nd place overall

Seeded Skaters

The following skaters will be pre-seeded into the semifinals of their respective events based on their position as one of the top 12 American skaters in the World Skateboarding Rankings as of September 30, 2019.

Women's Park

1. Bryce WETTSTEIN
2. Jordan SANTANA
3. Arianna CARMONA
4. Minna STESS
5. Brighton ZEUNER
6. Alana SMITH
7. Jordyn BARRATT
8. Nicole HAUSE
9. Hunter LONG
10. Bella KENWORTHY
11. Nora VASCONCELLOS
12. Kody TAMANAHA


Women's Street

1. Mariah DURAN
2. Alexis SABLONE
3. Alana SMITH
4. Lacey BAKER
5. Samarria BREVARD
6. Kendra LONG
7. Jenn SOTO
8. Meagan GUY
9. Paige HEYN
10. Kiana PARRA
11. Poe PINSON
12. Samantha NARVAEZ


Provisional Schedule (subject to change based on total number of entrants)


Oct 17 8am - 8pm

• Women's Park Open Practice and Qualifiers
• Practice - Women's Street Open Qualifiers

Oct 18 8am - 8pm

• Women's Street Open Practice and Qualifiers
• Practice - Men and Women Street Semifinals Pre-Seeded Skaters

Oct 19 8am - 8pm

• Women's Park Practice and Semifinals
• Women's Street Practice and Semifinals

Oct 20 8am - 8:30pm

• 2020 USA Skateboarding National Team Announcement 3-3:30pm
• Women's Park Finals
• Women's Street Finals



All info via California Training Facilities Website.

Adidas Skateboarding and Nora Vasconcellos are preparing to release the team rider’s first-ever unisex collection of apparel and footwear. Designed for FW19, the six-piece capsule draws from Vasconcellos’ fluid personal style and her love of skateboarding.

“ The beauty is that [skateboarding] is accessible to anyone, if they are willing to try it, ” Nora says. “I love designing boards and graphics, but this is the pinnacle of what I’ve designed product-wise. It is a universal collection breaking the barrier of saying ‘this is for a man’ or ‘this is for a woman.’ I can see guys I skate with like Diego Najera and Miles Silvas going for the darker palette and someone like DeAndre Thebpanya going for some of the other colors – it all compliments each other.”















The unisex collection consists of color-blocked, pastel polos in short-sleeve and long-sleeve variations, a lavender chino pant, an insulated yellow fleece, and a hand-painted, watercolor T-shirt referencing Vasconcellos’ love of florals. A matching 3MC is also featured in the capsule, with customized details including the rider’s name and original artwork on the insole. Her hometown of Pembroke, Massachusetts and her birth year are then stitched into the heel tabs.

With apparel sizes ranging from XXXS to XXL, and footwear starting at a women’s 5.5 and men’s 4, Nora Vasconcellos’ unisex adidas Skateboarding collection releases October 17.

Photo Ian Logan

We have been waiting for this beautiful new book by our friend and legendary photographer, Hugh Holland, to come out since we attended his Silver. Skate. Seventies. M+B Gallery show in Los Angeles in 2017.

Unseen photographs from Hugh's archives, all in black and white, take you back to the soulful and carefree days of skateboarding in its infancy when skateboarders were exploring empty backyard pools, drainage ditches, and skateboarding through the canyon's near Los Angeles.

Photo Ian Logan

From 1974-1978 Holland captured it all, from his bird's eye view - sometimes in a van traveling with skaters, othertimes perched nearby as they carved up a backyard pool, ditch or skatepark.  It's interesting to point out, that these black and white images were taken in the very beginning, prior to his color work, when Holland was experimenting with photography techniques and capturing skateboarders as they too were trying out new terrain and creating a free flowing style that captivated the world.

The stunning images are sure to make you yearn for the halcyon days of the 1970s.

In 2010 Holland's first book, Locals Only, published by AMMO Books, sold out quickly in a first run, oversized edition. A smaller re-release soon followed. It has now been almost 10 years since that first book release, and people have been wondering, waiting and asking, "is there more?".

There is, and we have to say that this new book is GORGEOUS and inspiring.

Photo Ian Logan

The never before published photo collection will be available in 2 ways:

~  A limited edition box set. Only 500 numbered copies of this special package are available worldwide. Drawing design inspiration from vintage photo packaging, the 12×15 inch box features a metallic printed sticker on the cover and includes the following:

• A numbered copy of Silver. Skate. Seventies., signed by Hugh Holland.

• A never-before released, 9 x 12 inch black and white, gelatin silver print entitled Deep Canyon Drive, stamped and signed by Hugh Holland. This print is packaged in a clear acid-free archival envelope for protection and is suitable for framing.

• A custom sheet of 1970s skateboarding inspired silver metallic stickers.

Available on October 29 ~ $300 USD

Pre order via Chronicle Books

Photo Ian Logan

The Silver. Skate. Seventies. book will also be available as a single unit hardcover edition which is a must even if you score a boxed set - which you may want to keep intact.

Available on October 22 ~ $40.00 USD

Pre order on Amazon 




BOOK SIGNING ~  Los Angeles

M+B Gallery
612 N. Almont, West Hollywood, CA
Saturday, October 19, 2019
4-7 PM



M+B is pleased to announce Silver. Skate. Seventies., an exhibition of black and white photographs by Hugh Holland on the occasion of the release of his latest monograph published by Chronicle Chroma Books. The exhibition includes never-before-seen photographs from Holland’s archives, including some of his earliest photographs documenting the rise of the Southern California skateboard revolution in the 70s. The exhibition runs from October 19 to November 9, 2019, with an opening reception and book signing at M+B's West Hollywood location on Saturday, October 19 from 4 to 7 pm.

Hugh Holland ~ Photo Ian Logan

  

Hugh Holland (b. 1942, United States) first exhibited at M+B Gallery in 2006 and again in 2010. Museum exhibitions include a 2018 solo show at the SFO Museum in San Francisco and a 2014 solo exhibition at the Pera Museum in Istanbul. His work was also included in the seminal Art in the Streets exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in 2011, curated by Jeffrey Deitch and Aaron Rose, and in the 2008 Endless Summer exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art, curated by Alex Israel. Gallery exhibitions have also been been held in Paris, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, Germany and England. A monograph of the artist’s color images, Locals Only, was published by AMMO Books in conjunction with M+B in 2010, and his second monograph, Silver. Skate. Seventies., was published by Chronicle Chroma Books in 2019. 

To see more of Hugh Holland’s work, please visit his website, HughHolland.com

Sky captured in Los Angeles by Jenny Sampson

We ran into photographer Jenny Sampson at the Exposure Skate contest last year, and we were intrigued by her old school photography techniques - and that she was shooting portraits of a lot of the female skaters, as opposed to action shots.  She has one book on skateboarding out and another one (that you don't want to miss!) launching soon.

Read on for a very inspiring interview with this rad woman!


Name?     Jenny Sampson

Age?   49     (I’ll be 50 on October 22!!)

Where do you live/work?

I live in Berkeley, California and was born and raised in San Francisco. In all capacities of my work, I am everywhere. My photography –sometimes I am shooting at home and I process all my film at home (black and white film) and sometimes I shoot in the field, which is where I met you, or at a client’s home. I make silver gelatin prints in the city in my darkroom (my dad built it and printed in there before I was born). I am also a catering chef, so of course I am all over the Bay Area with that.

Jenny working her magic - photo via Jenny's instagram

How did you get started in photography?

Well, I first learned to process and print in the 6th grade. I had begun taking photos before then with my Kodak Instamatic that my parents bought for me. My father always had a camera in his hands to photograph us, usually on vacations since he was always working when we were home. I knew I wanted to do what my dad did –or at least what I saw him do, which was use a cool camera and take pictures.

What type of photography do you do when you are not shooting portraits of skateboarders?

I love photographing people, but I am not always around them. With my wet plate process (the process I use to make tintypes of skaters), I make still lives which I do at home. When I am out and about, I’ll often carry around another camera (2¼ or 35 mm or polaroid). I tend to photograph kind of odd or quirky mundane scenes on the fly. And since I am often around food as a chef, I take snap shots of food –but not like those foodie pics. I’m usually focusing more on the geometric, patterned stuff.

Jazzmen & Nathalie ~ Seattle

What got you interested in skaters and made you want to take photos of them?

Ok, this is kind of a long story.

The seed was planted in 1995 when I lived in Seattle. I used to ride my bike to work past a skatepark on 5th Avenue across from the Memorial Stadium in the Seattle Center. There were always tons of guys there skating –at that time, my photography was very much about quirky, truncated portraiture, gesture and posture. I thought the skatepark would be a great place to shoot because I figured people would ignore me (which I prefer when I shoot –except for tintype, of course) and there was a perfect concentration of people. They were focused on and interacting with each other and doing their thing –I could be ignored and shoot this organic scene. But I was completely intimidated and didn’t know how to approach them. I beat myself up every time I biked by them knowing I was missing out on this thing that I knew could be so good.

Years later, I had moved back to the Bay Area. I learned how to make tintypes and recognized that I needed a portable darkroom because, as a roaming photographer at heart, I saw potential tintypes everywhere (I had been making tintypes at home using my basement as a darkroom or at Rayko –the photo center in SF where I learned how to make tintypes). I built a portable darkroom and went to the Berkeley skatepark –I had just discovered it weeks before and unconsciously decided that was where I needed to go in order to test out my portable set up.

I distracted myself from the insecurity and feelings of intimidation with this portable photographic process. I made about eight portraits that day in January 2010 and I immediately knew I was on to something. (Some of my favorite skater portraits to this day I made at that very first skatepark tintype shoot.)

The more time I spent at skate parks observing and interacting with the folks there, the more I saw this rich culture that I had been previously unaware of, so I kept on going. It was so much fun, even though it was still intimidating –I was really putting myself in situations that weren’t naturally comfortable for me, but I saw it as a personal challenge to get over it. I’ve learned a lot about myself and strangers that I never could have foreseen at the beginning of this project-series. It has been life-changing for me.

Ivonne ~ Encinitas

Why did you decide to focus on the old art of tintype?

I fell in love with it immediately. I had known about tintypes –and daguerreotypes because I had seen them in museums, but that was kind of it. I didn’t know the history or anything about them. I saw a contemporary tintype that Michael Schindler made at Rayko Photo Center in 2007 or early 2008. It was beautiful! I signed up for a workshop pretty much immediately and once I saw the actual process, I was hooked. I loved the making of the chemistry (as opposed to the black and white darkroom where you simply dilute the pre-mixed chemistry with water, with wet plate, you use recipes from the 19th century, raw chemistry, beakers, scales, pipettes –the works.); I loved the magical aspect of the plates clearing in the fix. And surprisingly enough for me, I didn’t mind (and have come to love) the slower process of making the actual exposure. I had always shot on the fly, no tripod, no extra gear, super easy. I never thought I could deal with a large camera that required a tripod. It seemed too slow for me. Now what I do requires a car full of equipment. Making a tintype is another world. Your brain is in a different gear to make pictures and the finished plate is hauntingly beautiful so whatever my hang-up was before, it was erased with the tintype.

Can you explain to our readers what tintype photography is?

So a tintype is the actual photograph made using the wet plate collodion photographic process that was invented in 1851. Though it wasn’t the first photographic process, it was instrumental in bringing photography to many more people (than the previous processes) because it was the first portable photographic process and more affordable –it also was less toxic. It is called a tintype because in those days, tin was considered to be a cheap metal, and the process was cheaper than the others, hence “tintype” even though they were never actually on a sheet of tin (I use aluminum sheets). The reason why it is called “wet plate collodion” is that the metal plate on which the image sits must remain wet with chemistry throughout the entire process of making the tintype. Basically you are making film by doing this –although the film base is a piece of metal instead of a flexible, transparent substrate. Exposures for tintypes are very long in comparison to modern photography; my subjects must remain perfectly still for about 30 seconds although the actual exposure is generally about four seconds. That 30 seconds has to do with using a view camera and the fact that focusing cannot be done while the plate holder is in the camera.

Without going into too much detail, the process is as follows: pouring a viscous liquid, salted collodion, onto a metal plate (if a piece of glass is used instead of the metal plate, the end result is called an ambrotype) and then submerging that plate into a bath of silver nitrate where it becomes light sensitive. The collodion layer acts somewhat like as a glue for the silver nitrate to adhere to the plate.

After the plate is sensitized in the silver, while it is still wet, it is placed in a plate holder which is then slid into the view camera and an exposure is made. The plate is processed by pouring developer onto the plate, water poured to stop development (these steps are done in a darkroom), and then fixed (outside of the darkroom). That last step, in the fixer, is the magical part that I love sharing with my subjects. This is when you can see the image appear while the unexposed silver floats off the surface of the plate.

Lacey Baker ~ Seattle

What was it like getting skaters (who are all about movement) to sit still for the length of time it takes to do a tintype?

That’s a great question. Way easier than you might think! I can confidently say that, with extremely few exceptions, every skater I’ve photographed was totally into it and remained surprisingly still. My opinion: because they have to have such good balance to execute their tricks, they are able to remain super still. Sounds odd but it makes sense to me.

Do you like to talk and get to know your subject a little prior to taking their photo or is it better not to?

I definitely like to talk and get to know my subjects. I don’t feel like I need to get their story beforehand. Because it is a long process, and usually they are at the skate park to skate, I try to make it move along as fast as possible, at least in the beginning. Once we’ve begun the setup, then there is more time to talk.

What ways do you try & make skaters comfortable in front of the camera when they are not used to sitting still for a portrait?

There is a lot going on in my head when I'm doing a tintype shoot. I need to make sure the light is right, the temperature is right (if it is too hot there can be problems), the plate is poured properly and within the right time frame. Sometimes I am moving around not talking in order to take care of that stuff and so I shift from serious, silent technician to chatty, friendly photographer. I tell my subjects a little bit about what I am doing –sometimes they ask more questions, sometimes not; I want them to be as comfortable as possible because that will help getting a beautiful and honest portrait, but also it helps them remain still for the exposure. I give them pretty specific instructions about certain details (e.g. “you can blink!) that won’t affect their stance. I see making a portrait like this as a collaboration between them and me, so I’m genuinely interested in them which I hope helps them relax. Sometimes they have ideas of how they position themselves and sometimes they want me to direct them. Some people are more outgoing or shy than others. Sometimes we end up telling each other silly stories and laughing, and other times it’s more subdued, but I am a bit of a goofball at heart so even if it gets serious for a moment, I return to the goof pretty quickly.

Hannah ~ Seattle

Have you had to explain that with tintype motion isn’t possible in the normal sense?

Yeah, practically every single time! I have a few funny stories about motion and tintypes and tell them when the subject comes up. The stories can be a good way to loosen people up, which is super important.


What gave you the idea of doing a book of male & female skater portraits?

I actually never thought of a male book or female book. My first book isn’t a male book –there are girls in there, too! It’s just that for that body of work, I went to random skateparks and would photograph anyone whose attention I could get and then whoever would say “yes.” As we all know, there are usually more guys at skateparks. When I did see a girl, I would try to approach her, but, honestly, it wasn’t easy. That was (and sometimes still is) the most challenging part of this work –getting people’s attention. I eventually gained much more confidence to walk up to people, even though it was (and is still) difficult for me.

When I was shooting toward the end of my book deadline in 2017, I came upon a gaggle of girls at the Emeryville skate park. I photographed them and they were awesome. It made me so happy to see a group of girls at a skate park because I hadn’t seen it before. They told me about a Skate Like a Girl event that was happening in Santa Rosa and so I went to that. I was unaware of SLAG and I had never gone to a skateboard event to shoot before. That was that.

I didn’t even know too much about the pros (girls or guys) but I knew a little bit. It turned out that the event was a competition as well as a viewing of Quit Your Day Job, a film by Monique O’Toole and Erik Sandoval. I saw Vanessa Torres and Mariah Duran there and I am sure there were others, but I was super green couldn’t ID anyone. I know I made some super lame comments not knowing to whom I was talking, but oh well, what are you gonna do? (I got myself educated, is what I did!) It was at that event, I think, that I knew that my next series would be just girl skaters. Since then, I’ve learned even more about skateboard culture. I knew nothing of the girl skaters for one major reason. They weren’t given the attention or exposure that was given to the guys.

Jenny's first book ~ SKATERS

We know you have a second book coming out next year – can you tell us a little about that and when it will be released?

Yes, I am so excited! Skater Girls is dropping in the Fall of 2020, possibly earlier. My publisher, Daylight Books, publishes art and photography books. They did a beautiful job on my first monograph, Skaters and were interested in doing a follow-up so here we are. It is great timing, too, because the Olympics is going to bring a lot of attention to skateboarding (actually, I suppose for some people maybe this isn’t good?). Plus girl skaters are getting so much more well-deserved attention and exposure. It is an exciting time we’re in.

I should add that I am still shooting for this body of work and for the book. I am traveling up and down the west coast and will likely put calls out when I am planning to be at certain skateparks. For the girls, I’ve mainly been going to specific events because I know there will be tons of girl skaters to shoot --otherwise, it’s chancy that there will be many girls at any random skatepark. So follow me on Instagram to see when I’m setting up!

Will it be the same size and format as SKATERS?

Yeah, that’s the plan.

Will there be a gallery show?

I hope so! I am currently working on exhibitions around the time of and following the publishing of Skater Girls. I have been showing my skaters and girl skaters for many years in various capacities around the country. A few of them are going to be in a show at Sparks Gallery in San Diego –I think that exhibition is from October 19 – November 19.

What has the response been like from the skate community when the first book came out?

Totally positive. They are such a supportive group. I love the skate community. This is not your average way to photograph skaters, so everyone’s been down with it. Tintypes are pretty cool.

Laura ~ Encinitas

We met you at Exposure Skate Contest in 2018 and you were taking tintypes of various female skaters – can you explain the cost of shooting this way vs. a digital or even a “film” camera – so people understand what goes into making a single portrait?

In some ways it is difficult to put a price on it, suffice it to say they are expensive to make. I buy all the raw ingredients to make the chemistry. I buy sheets of aluminum and cut them to size with a metal shearer. Each individual plate takes anywhere from 10-20 minutes to make depending on circumstances. That one plate is the only copy, so I have to get the exposure right; I must develop it correctly; I must wash and handle that plate without scratching it; I need to dry and pack it up without damaging the surface; I copy-shoot and/or scan it, also without damaging the surface; and last I have to varnish it without catching it on fire or getting too much dust and crap on the surface. And also, by the way, my subjects have to remain still for the shot, which can sometimes be challenging. If any of those things doesn’t go right, it’s a loss. A loss of my subjects time (which is valuable because often they are competing or skating and this is their one chance for the shot), a loss of my time (often I have driven hours from home for the shoot) and a loss of of money from my pocket. And there is literally only one exposure, that’s it. But all of this is part of the deal. You win some you lose some. It is an investment on many levels and I love it.

Here is a list of the preparations for me to shoot at a skate park or event:

• Cut and pack aluminum plates (must cut far more that you might need) and protective sleeves.
• Prepare all chemistry: sometimes up to several liters of developer, clean silver nitrate bath, pack extra silver nitrate, mix fixer.
• Pack tent frame/tent; tables, towels, photographic trays, fan, headlamp, batteries.
• Pack camera/s, tripod, loupe, stool, darkcloth, reflectors.
• Pack photographic trays for washing; pack drying rack and up to 18 gallons water.
• Print/pack contact/model release forms; business/postcards.
• Pack anything else I might possibly need.

So there is a lot going on to make just one tintype at a skate park or event. My record number of plates is 30 in 6 hours, which is TOTALLY insane –and not all of them are successful plates. This was at an event where I had a photography assistant who was capable of handling all interactions, maintaining model releases and waiting lists as well as the washing of all plates, drying and sleeving them –oh yes and also acts as my handler -- “Jenny, drink water! Your next person is Sophia.” (This may not sound like a lot, but I guarantee you, it is a lot of work for 30 tintypes of which perhaps fewer than 10 are up to snuff.) I should add that this is six hours of shooting plus an additional four hours of pre and post-shoot work.

What are some of your favorite places (skateparks, street, backyard pools) to shoot the tintypes portrait?

I actually like all sorts of places –I like fences and trees and cars. The depth of field is shallow so most of these details are out of focus, but they look good that way. Fences are a great way to stabilize my subjects plus I think they look cool. I love the geometry and patterns they offer.

Ziggy ~ Bakersfield

Do you have an all time favorite image that you have taken?

I suppose if I had to pick one, it would have to Ziggy, Bakersfield, 2010. But there are several –and they can change, too. But Ziggy is pretty much way up there.


Do you skate yourself?

Nope. I learned to skate at summer camp when I was about 10. There were three of us girls who picked the skateboarding activity all week long; by the end of the week, I could skate up the ramp, do a kick turn and come back down. (The three of us placed during the competition --1st, 2nd and 3rd!) But, sadly, not anymore.


Any female photographers in the world that you look up to?

Well, I admire all of them, really. Especially the ones who are shooting video –I still can’t imagine riding and shooting at the same time. It is all such a commitment and it’s been such a male dominated world for so long. Norma Ibarra, Zorah Olivia, Norma Ibarra, Monique O’Toole, Kristin Ebeling, Desiree Astorga, Olga Aquilar just to name a few.

Any advice for someone who wants to get into photography?

Just shoot. Get your hands on any camera you can –it doesn’t have to be a good or expensive camera –your phone is fine, too. If you are truly into it, I recommend using an actual camera because there is a physicality to it that can be important and getting a phone out of your hands is a good thing. But it is important to remember that it isn’t about the equipment, it’s about your eye and exercising that muscle. Go for a walk that is purely for making pictures. Walk around the block. Wander around your home. It doesn’t matter. Eventually take classes or a workshop with a photographer whom you admire, if you can afford to. Shoot, shoot, shoot.

Amelia ~ Seattle

What about advice for girls who want to skate?

First thing --if you can afford to get a board, buy one and stand on it on a rug. Haha, that is my non-skater advice because that’s what I did a few years ago to try to get (back) on a board. But really, I think that if you are shy, or scared or insecure about it, look for a girl skate organization near you –there are more and more every day and they can provide a safe, supportive environment for you to learn and they also probably have a skateboard you can use if you don’t have one. If you aren’t shy, or scared or insecure, do the same thing. Or get your hands on a board and stand on it on the sidewalk outside your house. Just get on it. Make sure you are protected (helmet, pads) and learn how to fall so that you minimize injury. Know that you are going to fall, so be prepared and educate yourself about how to make it less scary and painful. I think this goes for anyone who wants to skate, yes? I kind of feel silly giving this sort of advice as a non-skater, but that’s my advice nonetheless.

Where can we see your work? 

www.jennysampson.com
IG @jennysampsonphotography

I’ve had work in Analog Forever Magazine, The Hand, SPOT
My work will be in a show in San Diego at Sparks Gallery from 10/18-11/19

History in women's skateboarding is being made yet again - this time it's The Berrics stepping up.

One of its most popular series put on by The Berrics is Battle At The Berrics, and now, for the first time ever, the company is set to introduce a women’s-only iteration of its famed head-to-head contest.

As BATB began back in 2008 and the ranks of men’s champs include skateboarding savants like Paul Rodriguez, Chris Joslin, and PJ Ladd, it’s one of the most esteemed tests of skill in the world of action sports. The contestants face off in a bracket-style, single elimination, winner-takes-all tournament. In each round, two skilled riders go trick for trick in a H.O.R.S.E.-style game of flat ground skating until one can’t hang. The winner moves to the next round to face another challenger, the loser skates off to compete another day. The tricks are heavy and the competition is even heavier — it’s likely that some of the world’s finest female skaters will be vying for the #1 spot and the prestige that comes with it.

Want to get in on the action? If you’re a shredding girl who’d like to participate, you can upload your best flatground maneuvers to Instagram, and use the hashtag #WhoIsInWBATB for your chance to enter. The chosen contestants will be officially announced on October 14.

Head over to theberrics.com for more info.

Globe x B4BC | October Art Exhibit - Month-long art show at the Globe Hermosa store

Globe has teamed up with Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) to help raise funds for B4BC’s mission to promote awareness and early detection of breast cancer.

Using donated skateboard decks from Globe, the art show will feature art from Mark Appleyard, Sammy Montano, Keith Shore, Sebo Walker, Sean Vranizan, Aaron Rosenstock, Lauren Allik, Aaron Gonzalez, Pedro Atala and other local artists. All proceeds from the auction go to B4BC.

The collection will be launched with a VIP party on October 3rd at the Globe store in Hermosa Beach, including the above featured guest artists in person.

Bid online for these exclusive artists decks from October 3rd to 31st at:
bit.ly/b4bcglobeauction
Release date: 1st October 2019


VIP LAUNCH PARTY - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 at 7 PM

GLOBE STORE
140 PIER AVENUE
HERMOSA BEACH 





 

ABOUT BOARDING FOR BREAST CANCER:
Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation that advocates early detection and a healthy, active, and sustainable lifestyle as the best means for breast cancer prevention. Founded in 1996, B4BC empowers young people to make positive choices that promote lifelong wellness through outreach, prevention, sustainability, and support programs.



ABOUT GLOBE:
United by over three decades of boardsports, street culture, design and film, GLOBE represents an international network of riders and designers. Emerging out of the Melbourne underground skate scene of the 1970s, Australian brothers Stephen, Peter and Matt Hill started a skateboard distribution business that set off a new movement in Australia and eventually led to the launch of the GLOBE brand in 1994. GLOBE is premium boardsports footwear, apparel and skateboards.

We love Skate Wild and how they support skateboarders via their skate camp scholarship program with New Balance.

We had the opportunity of working with Skate Wild this summer and helped send four girls to YMCA Skate Camp during "girls week" on Skate Wild scholarships. The girls had a blast, and an amazing opportunity they may not have had available to them otherwise.






Skate Wild is a non profit organization set up to connect shands-onders to the outdoors. Our two favorite things are Skateboarding and Wilderness and our program are aimed at fostering an appreciation of the outdoors. All our participants get real hands on experience with outdoor living ski,lls and see that spending time in the outdoors can be just as gnarly as skateboarding. Special thanks to the New Balance Foundation for making this program possible. Without their support we wouldn’t have been able to get so many kids up to the woods for this life changing experience.


Thanks to Skate Wild for all they do!

Want to know more and be part of the Skate Wild program?  Check them out HERE

Looks like the 80's fashion brand, ESPRIT, is making a come back with their new "Throwback" collection. With styles and colors reminiscent of the 80's, this video also features skateboarders and BMX riders.

Stephanise Wise (one of our interns) a Venice local, is featured in the spot skateboarding and having fun.

Good going ESPRIT for making sure there was a female skateboarder!

Thrasher Magazine 1988 - Skaters Edge Column by Bonnie Blouin

Last night our friend Craig, turned us onto to this 1988 article in THRASHER Magazine that was written by South Carolina skateboarder, Bonnie Blouin. Bonnie's brother was Blaize Blouin who turned pro and rode for G&S back in the day.

Bonnie wrote a column for THRASHER during the late '80s called SKATER'S EDGE. She would write about best board set up and stuff like that. But in this particular issue, Bonnie wrote exactly how she felt about being the lone female skater in her hometown, but also about traveling to California to compete and being blown away that there are no women's divisions at contests - which surprised her.  She also wrote about the reality of dropping in and holding your own when a 185 lb guy looks at you from across the bowl and is determined to drop in on you.

Bonnie also makes the point that if you put female skaters in the mag other girls can see that they can do it too. Which we all know is so important in the progression of skateboarding.

One paragraph is especially telling:

"I no longer wonder why more girls don't skate. Unless a girl has the total strength and desire within herself to ride and keep riding, there is truly nothing to keep her motivated. In fact, society and a lot of guy skaters try to prevent girls from skating."

She goes on to mention the girls who came before her as her role models  (Pattie, Laura, Vicki) but that are no longer on the scene, the guys still have these older role models skating and being a presence  - the women do not.

This was one of the only pictures we could find online of Bonnie skating  - we wish there were more - her history, along with so many other '70s, '80's and '90's female skaters needs to be preserved.


The bottom line is, girls need to see other girls skateboarding, they need role models and to know that if she can do it, so can I.

We unfortunately lost Bonnie to suicide in the early '90s but her words ring true even today.

Photo via World Skate SB ~ photo Piero Capannini

Watch a replay of the entire women's comp!

The Women's SLS comps just keep getting better and better! This SLS World Championship showdown in Brazil was the best ever in the history of SLS! It came down to a battle between Pamela Rosa and Rayssa Leal during the "best trickk" portion of the contest and with ladies just going for it!

We won't spoil it for you, but watch Pamela answer back with a trick that will make your heart stop.

Yeah, it was that good!


PODIUM RESULTS

1. Pamela Rosa (Brasil)
2. Rayssa Leal (Brasil)
3. Aori Nishimura  (Japan)

LA SLS Women's Winner ~ Rayssa Leal ~ photo via SLS

After the showdown we saw at SLS  Los Angeles in July,  tuning in is a must for the World Championships this weekend!  Rayssa Leal, Leticia Bufoni, Lacey Baker, Pamela Rosa, Alana Smith and the rest of the girls are going to seriously be fighting for podium position.


This time around you can watch both the women's semi-finals as well as the finals LIVE!!

Watch LIVE as Street League heads to São Paulo for the 2019 World Championships! Catch both the Semifinals and Final rounds, LIVE!

September 21 & 22 on streetleague.com. You can also watch the livestream direct from the SLS Youtube page.

Check out the global schedule below for start times…

Photos via Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated Magazine.

It was nice to open Sports Illustrated Magazine today and see that one of our favorite photographers, Robert Beck, had been on assignment in Salt Lake City, UT covering the VPS Championships! And even better, the women received a 2 page spread in the 6-page piece!

Sakura Yosozumi (JPN), Kokana Hiraki (JPN) and Poppy Starr Olsen (AU) were all featured.

Thanks for highlighting women's skateboarding Robert and SI!!

The issue is on newsstands now - it's dated Sept 23-30 and is called the MONEY ISSUE and has a football player on the cover. Grab it while you can!!

Minna Stess at The World Championships  /  Photo Bryce Kanights

 This news just in!


Press Release Via World Skate:

World Skate Park Skateboarding World Championships Conclude First-Ever Olympic Qualifying Season in São Paulo, Brazil



The 2019 Olympic Skateboard Park qualifying season concluded this weekend at the World Skate Park Skateboarding World Championships in São Paulo, Brazil

For the U.S. women, 15-year-old Bryce Wettstein missed the finals by just one spot, but solidified her place as the highest ranked American Woman Park Skater with a 9th place at the World Championships along with her fifth place finish at the International Skateboarding Open in
Nanjing in July.

With Brighton Zeuner and Jordyn Barratt - two of the top American women Park skaters - unable to compete in the World Championships due to injuries, skateboarding is seeing the rise of young talent including 15-year-old Jordan Santana who placed 12th at the São Paulo World Championships and 13-year-old Minna Stess who placed 16th.


Editors Note  ** We'd also like to give a big shout out to Arianna Carmona who placed 13th at the World Championships and after this event is now ranked 3rd for USA women and 15th in the world as we head towards the Olympics.



USA WOMENS PARK RANKINGS AS OF 9/16/19    (this info via World Skate Website)


1. Bryce Wettstein
2. Jordan Santana
3. Arianna Carmona
4. Minna Stess


* Huge thanks to Bryce Kanights for allowing us to use this photo of Minna Stess! 
 

About USA Skateboarding

As the recognized governing body for skateboarding in the United States, USA Skateboarding (USAS) is responsible for the selection, training, and fielding of national teams that compete in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and other sanctioned team events. USAS is also responsible for the development of youth skateboarding initiatives that support grassroots programs, education, licensing, and safety while respecting and enhancing the existing culture of skateboarding in the United States. USAS is dedicated to promoting and supporting the sport of Skateboarding while striving to guarantee that Skateboarding continues to provide the unique characteristics relevant to the sport's participants, and maintaining the integrity and authenticity of Skateboarding as a sport, a passion, and a lifestyle. For more information, visit USASkateboarding.net

Wtach Brighton Zeuner shred in this new video for Bronson Speed Co.  Brighton is riding the "Nora G3's" at Prince Park.

We suggest you grab a set immediately!