In the first few years of X Games competitions, Mariah Duran was still slinging pizzas and doing fundraising to earn the necessary money to travel to competitions. Then, in 2016, Duran earned her first silver medal, and everything changed. She took her earnings, bought a car and went into heavy production mode, which earned her more prestigious placings at comps and the the opportunity for her to skate full-time.
Nowadays, the Women's Skateboard Street podium has become a familiar place for Duran to land at X Games. But with competitions taking a back seat this year, Duran isn't slowing down at all. Here, Brando's World of X catches up at home with the Albuquerque native.
It was announced this week that Lucy Adams will step down as Skateboard
England and Skateboard GB Board chair to spend more time with her
family, as she awaits the birth of her first child. Adams has served on the Board since Skateboard
England’s inception in 2016, working on a voluntary basis to support the
development of skateboarding in the United Kingdom.
She has been
credited with helping to create partnerships, promoting skateboarding
activity, developing a coaching programme and aiding the establishment
of the governing body.
As you may remember, Lucy Adams was also credited for bringing Sky Brown, England's brightest hope for a medal, to team GB.
"It has been an incredible opportunity to grow
skateboarding and I’m so proud of what we have achieved in the last five
years, establishing a new national governing body and supporting the
community," Adams said.
"I had hoped to still be involved as chair
at the Olympics, but the Tokyo delay due to coronavirus means that's no
longer feasible.
"I now need to focus on the next stage of my life, in supporting my partner and spending time with our baby.
"I will however still be involved with the governing body for the foreseeable future."
Adams
will continue to work with Skateboard GB to help shape its direction by
being involved in strategic planning over the next few months, the
organization said.
Skateboard England and Skateboard GB confirmed Alex Jordan will succeed Adams, stepping up from the vice-chair position.
Jordan has worked in the skateboard industry for many years and
created "The Skateparks Project", a website which maps all 1,500
skateparks across the UK. He has also supported various groups and campaigned for more than 50 new skateparks.
Skateboard
England and Skateboard GB chief executive James Hope-Gill praised the
contribution of Adams and said there was total confidence in Jordan as
he steps into the chair role.
"Lucy has done some fantastic work engaging stakeholders, partners and the skateboarding community," Hope-Gill said "We wouldn't be in this position pre-Tokyo and achieving government support without her".
"This is due to her dedication and the respect she has both within the skateboarding community and in the wider sports sector.
"It will be a hard act to follow, but Alex will do a great job and we have total confidence in him.
"We're excited about this next phase in skateboarding's development in the UK."
The organization hopes to propose a new date for the National Championships
later in the year, which will be the national qualifying event for the
rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Great to see that USA skateboarder, Jordyn Barratt, is now sponsored by Ralph Lauren as we head towards the Olympics! Ralph Lauren has proudly been sponsoring Team USA as an Official Outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams since 2008.
Ralph Lauren is also behind the Team USA Fund - why?
Unlike most Olympic and Paralympic teams, American athletes are not supported by federal funding. Donors to the Team USA Fund make athlete's dreams possible by funding everything they need to be successful both on and off the field of play: training stipends, mental health support, injury prevention, nutrition resources, and more.
July 25—the day skateboarding was set to make its NBC primetime debut on the biggest stage in sport—the Tokyo Olympic Games. But 2020 had other plans.
Skateboarding is more than any single competition—it’s our lives and a way to change the world. Skateboarders embody an incredible, unwavering ability to adapt and persevere—it's in our DNA. And this time it’s no different.
USA
Skateboarding proudly presents the trailer for our "Road to Tokyo”
documentary, premiering on television this fall.
The
film follows the USA Skateboarding team through the past 16 months of
training, qualifications, injuries, travel, juggling their careers
outside of competition, trials, and tribulations. Simultaneously, as the
American athletes and personalities leading the charge make their way
to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it showcases the sometimes-tumultuous
journey and growing pains of a subculture-turned-Olympic sport.
Join USA Skateboarding on the Road to Tokyo, coming to television this Fall.
From a young age, Leticia Bufoni knew what she wanted to do: be a pro skateboarder. From humble beginnings in Brazil, Bufoni practiced hard and developed her skills into one of the most well-rounded competitive street skateboarders in the world. Now, her sights are set on the next level of professional skateboarding: competitive domination.
Check out this new video from X-Games BEING Leticia Bufoni.
Alexis Sablone has now unveiled her latest collaboration with Converse - "Designed by Alexis" The collection pays tribute to Japan, the capsule consists of her favorite Converse silhouettes: the One Star Pro, the Jack Purcell and the Louie Lopez Pro, which is a nod to her fellow CONS teammate.
The Louie Lopez Pro in a new colorway
Jack Purcell Mid Top in Black
The Alexis Cons One Star Pro is back with some rad updates!
Check out that sole detail!!
Watch the rad video - Filmed, edited, animated, and scored by Alexis Sablone during Covid-19
lockdown 2020 in Brooklyn, NYC.
Check out her “Designed By" Alexis pack
available in stores and online now at www.converse.com
A true embodiment
of Vans’ DNA, Lizzie Armanto is an icon of originality and positivity.
With her down-to-earth, fashion-forward, barrier-breaking approach, it’s
no wonder Lizzie has become a role model to skateboarders around the
world.
Never one to remain
complacent in her style both on and off the board, Lizzie’s fun approach
is reflected in her latest collection with Vans, featuring the Old
Skool Pro Lizzie Armanto and a signature apparel
pack infused with Lizzie’s signature beating-heart graphic and positive
messaging. The design takes cues from natural tones and wild terrain,
according to Lizzie:
“My latest collection
was inspired from a photo I took of a spring time California landscape,
covered in plants and wildflowers.”
The Old Skool Pro Lizzie
packs bold style and serious performance into a shoe for those who
aspire to Lizzie’s arresting abilities on a skateboard. The shoe’s
full-suede, antique-white upper with debossed Checkerboard
combines with a translucent Sidestripe and a contrasting black rubber
sole, creating a graceful aesthetic with a bit of attitude. Lizzie’s
initials are debossed on the heelcup as well as printed alongside her
signature beating-heart graphic on an olive-gold
sockliner.
The shoe features
PopCush, Vans’ brand-new, Pro-Skate-exclusive technology. A meticulously
tuned foam recipe offers impact protection, superior cushioning, and
better energy return for every type of skating.As
the brand’s most progressive sockliner to date, PopCush is Vans’ standard best-in-class upgrade for skating longer and harder.
Original gum rubber
compound offers superior grip and support, while Pro Vulc Lite
construction provides ultimate boardfeel, flex, and grip. DURACAP
reinforced underlays in high-wear areas add unrivaled durability
and prolong the life of the shoe.
Accompanying the
Lizzie’s Old Skool Pro is a line of signature apparel, including the
Heart Lizzie baby tee in blue surf, legging in black, coaches jacket in
antique white, backpack in antique white, sock in white,
and hat in black. Lizzie’s signature beating-heart graphic can be found
across the collection, from prominent placement on the baby tee to a
more subtle nod on the inside front lining of the coaches jacket. A
reminder to “skate with heart” is emblazoned on
the legging’s interior waist band and backpack’s strap.
The Vans Old Skool Pro Lizzie Armanto Pack is now available at Vans retailers andvans.com/skate.
In 1999, the video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater shook the world when it sold 9 million copies upon release and forever changed the skateboarding scene.
And this year the game features female skateboarders and non-binary skateboarders: Leo Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Aori Nishimura, Lizzie Armanto and Elissa Steamer.
PRETENDING I’M A SUPERMAN tells the story behind the game that changed lives and shaped a generation.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with legendary skater Tony Hawk, as well as industry stars Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and Eric Koston, award-winning director Ludvig Gür takes audiences through an intimate yet extraordinary journey, chronicling the meteoric rise of skateboarding’s most famous name.
ACTUALLY SEEING THAT SHE CAN, MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Barbie is committed to shining a light on empowering role models
past and present in an effort to inspire more girls. As a key part of
their ongoing global initiative, the Dream Gap Project, Barbie is introducing
girls to women’s stories from all walks of life to show them they can be
anything. #MoreRoleModels
The latest Barbie role models are all extraordinary women that are being honored with a doll in their likeness.
We are excited to see our young friend, and rad skateboarder, Nyimas Bunga Cinta from Indonesia as one of the Barbie featured athletes!
Nyimas Bunga Cinta, at age
12 was the youngest medal receiver in the 2018 Asian Games when she won
bronze in the Woman Street’s Event. Her love of skateboard started when
she was a second grader and her desire to take the profession seriously
continued to rise even more as she watched skateboarding videos. Having
competed in almost 30 competitions, she has received 10 medals in
International events including Bronze and Silver medal in SEAGAMES
Philippines 2019 and around 11 medals in National/Local Events - where
she dominated 1st place in most competitions.
Being the 1st
Indonesian to ever win the Gold Medal in the Vans Park Series Asia’s
Regional, Bunga is deemed to be the best and continues to uphold as the
most potential skateboarder out there.
Photographer Jenny Sampson's new book Skater Girls
Foreword by Becky Beal
Contributions by Cindy Whitehead
We can not wait for photographer Jenny Sampson's new book Skater Girls , a follow up to her 2017 book Skaters, both published by Daylight. Skater Girls
drops in September 2020 and we know so many girls out there will want
get their hands on it. The new book retails for $45.00 USD and $58.99 CN. Stay tuned for more info and a sneak peek!
"These
women are my skate sisters -- we are the only ones who really know what
it was like to forge that path, blaze that trail, and dare to be
'different.' Sometimes we were celebrated for being female, but not for
the reasons we may have wanted. Other times, we were ignored because we
were girls and young women ...Through it all, we skated and never let
any of the negatives diminish the feeling we had when we jumped on our
skateboards and were flying through the bowls and pools that we loved."
-- Cindy Whitehead, '70s pro skateboarder, 2016 Skateboard Hall of Fame inductee
In Jenny Sampson's follow-up monograph to Skaters (Daylight,
2017) featuring her acclaimed collection of tintype portraits of male
and female skateboarders, the American photographer, who is based in
Berkeley, California, chose to focus exclusively on female
skateboarders. Although historically a male-dominated sport, there have
always been girls in the skateboarding landscape. By turning her lens on
these fearless females in skate parks and at events all over
California, Washington and Oregon, Sampson hopes Skater Girls(Daylight,
September, 2020) will increase visibility and celebrate these girls and
non-binary people, young and older, who have been breaking down this
gender wall with their skater girl power.
The idea for Skater Girls was born in 2017 when Sampson was approaching the deadline to deliver work for her first book. One
day in early 2017, she was setting up to photograph at Emeryville skate
park in Northern California when to her delight she noticed there were
many more women skateboarders in the park than usual. She observed and
then introduced herself to a small group of skater girls and asked if
she could photograph them. They agreed and Sampson led them to her
camera and portable darkroom to make their portraits.
That
day was a turning point for Sampson. She felt a kinship with these
women who opened up to her so warmly and knew that moving forward she
would focus on making portraits of female skateboarders. That same day
she learned of an organization called Skate Like a Girl, and a few weeks
later went to an event they held in Santa Rosa. "There I discovered a
whole new world-to me. Girl skaters abounded."
Jazzmen and Nathalie, Seattle, 2019
Jasmine, Seattle, 2018
Kandice, Los Angeles, 2018
The
portraits featured in this book were all made in a portable darkroom
using a 160-year-old photographic process known as wet plate collodion
that requires long exposure times and the subjects to be perfectly
still. "There is a connection that takes place when I photograph them
using the slow photographic process, wet plate collodion. The
photographic practice requires patience, interaction and collaboration
and it mirrors the inclusive landscape in which these photographs are
made."
Lucia, Oakland, 2019
Ohmala, Grass Valley, 2018
Yulin, Los Angeles, 2018
Part
of the beauty of a tintype is the timelessness that it imbues. While
Sampson's subjects are wearing contemporary styles and plenty of logos,
there still remains a timelessness in their portraits. "Ultimately,
despite the contemporary subject matter and modern details, we see a
unique honesty and are struck by the strength and determination of these
skaters. They are purposeful and courageous, open, playful and
supportive; I admire their respectful and shrewd fight for a place in
the world," says Sampson.
Amelia, Seattle 2019
Carly, Samantha, Tabitha, Suzy, Encinitas, 2018
Devan, Los Angeles, 2018
In her essay Becky Beal, EdD, Professor of Kinesiology, Cal State East Bay, and co-author of Moving Boarders: Skateboarding and the Shifting Landscape of Urban Youth Sports writes,
"Jenny Sampson's collection of portraits encourages us to re-examine
our assumptions of who is a skateboarder by acknowledging the variety of
gender expressions that are cultivated in and articulated through
skateboarding. I find Sampson's photos powerful in their representation
of women as complex and confident, and I find them joyful because of the
wide-ranging forms of skateboarder identity being supported in these
communities. Sampson's collection celebrates skateboarding while
simultaneously challenging traditional narratives of 'authenticity,'
extending the notion of what it means to be a skateboarder."
Leo, Seattle, 2018
Kristen and Holly, Oakland 2019
Briana, Los Angeles, 2018
The
growing popularity of female skateboarders was in play at the Academy
Awards in 2020, when a film about girls skateboarding in Afghanistan,
"Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)," won the Oscar
for best documentary (short subject) -- the first Oscar ever given to a
film that features skateboarding. In 2021, the Tokyo Olympic Games will
include skateboarding as an official event, for both men and women, for
the first time.
We're proud to announce that Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word
is featured on an episode of L'ÉQUIPAGE.tv - "SKATE THE WORLD" - USA
West Coast - where skateboarding was born. (This was all filmed
pre-COVID!)
The show features some of the South Bay-based GN4LW
skaters - Quinne, Kala, Kyra, Briel, and host Mathieu Cyr learns what
the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word movement is really about and why it's so
important for GN4LW founder Cindy Whitehead to encourage the next generation of skater girls.
You can catch us at the 24-minute mark during the show.
Get ready, because now you'll have 5 options of female skateboarders when playing the new Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 & 2!
Get stoked, because the first two games in the critically acclaimed Tony Hawk™ Pro Skater™ franchise – Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ and Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 2 – are returning fully remastered and in one awesome package. Developed by the masters of the remasters – Vicarious Visions – the games that defined a generation are back and will blend original levels, classic pro skaters, old-school tricks, iconic songs from the original franchise, and more that fans remember from the ‘90s and 2000’s with added features, HD graphics, new tricks, and iconic controls to provide players with a super awesome gameplay experience. The fun doesn’t stop there,
With the launch of the remaster on September 4, 2020, the legacy continues with some of the most preeminent pro skaters in the world today -- Nyjah Huston, Leo Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Aori Nishimura, Lizzie Armanto, Shane O’Neill, Riley Hawk and Tyshawn Jones -- joining the lineup of OG pro skaters.
KEY FEATURES:
• HD to the Max – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2’s amazing HD graphics allow players to pull off reverts, wall plants, lip tricks and manuals with even longer combos in brilliantly vivid detail.
• Faithful Remaster – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 combines original levels, original pro skaters, tricks, and modes from the first two games in the franchise into one gnarly package.
• Added Features – New tricks, secrets and more to uncover will take the original games to the next level! Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 also provides loads of gameplay options with online multiplayer modes. New features to the remaster also include even more goals than before, added challenges to amp up gameplay and more.
• Sick Customization – Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater modes are back! But new this time around is a robust editor enabling new ways of customization. Players will be able to share new parks online with friends, remix already published parks with their own personal flavor, and outfit skaters with tons of customization options.
• Iconic Soundtrack – Get ready to kick, push and trick to one of the greatest videogame soundtracks ever as many iconic and fan-favorite songs from the soundtrack that defined a generation return with the new remaster.
• Killer Lineup – They’re all back! Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Geoff Rowley, Bucky Lasek, Elissa Steamer, Kareem Campbell, Andrew Reynolds, Bob Burnquist, Chad Muska and the rest of the pro skaters from the original two games are back and brought to life in HD detail.
Additionally, a new crop of talent that reflects modern skateboarding rounds out the skater options that fans can choose from, including Nyjah Huston, Leo Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Aori Nishimura, Lizzie Armanto, Shane O’Neill, Riley Hawk and Tyshawn Jones. While some of the new pros have appeared in past Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 will mark the first time that they will grind, ollie and kickflip in the first two games from the franchise.
Check out the new game in action!
Platforms: PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 4 Pro, the family of Xbox One devices from Microsoft, including the Xbox One X, and on PC through the Epic platform.
Release Date: September 4, 2020
MSRP&: $39.99 (base game)
$49.99 (digital deluxe edition). Includes unique retro content and gear. $99.99 (Collector’s edition). Includes a limited-run Birdhouse deck. *Digital pre-orders are available now and give early access to the Warehouse Demo starting Aug. 14, 2020
ESRB Rating: Teen
Languages: Fully localized (VO + subtitles) in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America) and Portuguese (Brazil) and Japanese.
When Mimi Knoop entered her first skateboarding competition at 24 years old, she never anticipated leaving her mark on the sport forever. But in the early 2000s, she formed an alliance with pioneering skateboarder Cara-Beth Burnside to make a simple request: that the X Games—and the rest of the skateboarding industry—treat women skateboarders the same way they treat their male peers.
You can listen to this Season 5 Sidedoor podcast via The Smithsonian Education link - HERE
And after the podcast, make sure you scroll down the page to check out some really cool items from women's skateboarding over the years, that now reside in the Smithsonian Museum collections.
(please credit accordingly if sharing on social media - we are all in this together - thanks!)
Skaters all over the country are banning together to help protest police brutality and support Black Lives Matter by taking to the streets and City Hall. We've been part of two protests now and this one in downtown on Sunday, June 21 in downtown Los Angeles, which was also Go Skateboarding day, had great energy, awesome speakers and a complete mix of longboarders and street skaters all with something to say and sharing their support for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and so many other Black lives that have been lost way too soon. ❤
The Skate Witches started as a way to create connections in a niche skate scene and became something more. Tired of not seeing skaters they identified with represented in mainstream skate magazines and films, the founders decided to make their own media instead.
Through a unique blend of skateboarding, art, humor, and DIY ethos, The Skate Witches are creating the world they want to see.
Music Credits:
'Boring Angel' by Oneohtrix Point Never, courtesy of Warp Records:
More info on The Skate Witches and the Workshop Series (photography, videography & writing) they have in collaboration with Vans, that you can get involved with - just CLICK HERE
Event Will Serve as the Last Olympic Qualifying Event in The U.S. Before the Tokyo Summer Games
The Adventure Sports Network (ASN) and MTN DEWⓇ announced today that its annual summer Dew Tour skateboard competition and festival, will now be held in May 2021, in light of the postponement of the Tokyo Summer Games and safety regulations and guidelines concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a global company, MTN DEW and PepsiCo see the health and safety of our staff and fans as our first priority,” commented Nicole Portwood, MTN DEW VP of Marketing. “With this in mind, we want to be sure we’re taking the necessary steps to help protect our communities around the world, and this includes postponing large-scale events such as the Dew Tour. As tough as this decision is, it’s the right thing to do and gives us even more to look forward to in 2021. We’ll drop in together soon.”
In June 2019, Dew Tour served as the first global Olympic qualifying event in the U.S. for men’s and women’s skateboard street and park competitions. In May 2021, Dew Tour will continue as an Olympic qualifying event, in partnership with World Skate, serving as the last qualifier for park events in the U.S. before the Tokyo Games. The exact dates are forthcoming.
“Postponing the Dew Tour Long Beach weekend until 2021 is the best decision to ensure the safety of our athletes, fans, partners, vendors and staff during these unprecedented times,” explained Courtney Gresik, Dew Tour VP and General Manager. “The Dew Tour remains committed to the progression of skateboarding, furthering awareness and appreciation of the sport as we lead up to the 2021 Olympic Games. We look forward to our return to Long Beach in 2021 for a weekend packed with fun, excitement and Olympic-level competition that our fans have come to expect from our events.”
A documentary from directors Parisa Urquhart and Ling Lee – showcased earlier this year at the Glasgow Film Festival - is to be screened on BBC Scotland. It has been made via the Right Here project, which is backed by BBC Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish Documentary Institute and Screen Scotland, to help emerging directors, and reflects the rich diversity of Scottish identity.
Long Live Livi is about three young skate girls and their bid to reinvigorate legendary Livingston skatepark. Livingston ‘Livi’ Skatepark is world-legendary among skaters. In the 1980s and ‘90s, Livi was thriving and attracting the best pro-skaters but forty years on the surfaces have deteriorated and become dangerous.
This documentary follows the story of three local
ambitious skate girls known as The Snagglerats. With the help of their
mums and old school skaters, the Snagglerats discover Livi’s unique
history shown using amazing 8mm archive footage, old skate magazines and
photos. There is also an unexpected chat with international skate
legend Tony Hawk. He fondly reminisces about his visit to legendary Livi
and says of the time: “Scotland had one of the few skate scenes in
Europe”.
As well as documenting their bid to restore the skatepark, the film demonstrates how the Snagglerats are also on a mission to get more girls into the sport. “We inspire girls to skate” says Snagglerat Poppie and she wants them to skate at Livi.
Long Live Livi airs on BBC Scotland (channel 108) on Thursday 11th June at 8.30pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer:
Costa Mesa, CALIF. (June 11, 2020) – Vans’ long-running original content series, Loveletters to Skateboarding is about the love communities around the world have for skateboarding: a common bond shared regardless of race, religion, and sexual orientation. The 11th season of Loveletters is a testament to this, premiering worldwide today with a 6-part series dedicated to the voices of the LGBTQ+ skate community.
Cher Strauberry and Jeff Grosso
Exploring topics of identity, acceptance, allyship and more, this season of Loveletters to Skateboarding uplifts the shared journeys of a vast community of skaters who have found solace and connection through skateboarding. With stories from well-known skaters such as Brian Anderson, Leo Baker, Breanna Geering and Cher Strauberry, to members of the Unity crew, Skate Witches, and locals from around the world, Loveletters highlights the diverse yet often unheard perspectives of an emerging skate community.
The Unity Crew
Messages of unity and equality must always be championed. The origins of the Pride Movement can be traced to formative voices from the black queer and trans community, who took pivotal action for their rights in the late ’60s. In honor of Pride Month, and in addition to using our collective voice to elevate these impactful stories, Vans is making a donation of $50,000 to the GSA Network, an organization working to unite trans and queer youth for racial and gender justice.
Elissa Steamer and Jeff Grosso
Vans’ Loveletters to LGBTQ+ was filmed earlier this year, before the passing of legendary skater and host Jeff Grosso, who was a champion for inclusive skateboarding. These episodes were undoubtedly the ones he was most proud of in the 11 years of the show. Jeff confessed, “I was taught at a young age to speak this way. I have been part of the problem, but I am trying to change…the last thing I want to do is make someone feel uncomfortable or make them not feel safe, especially when it comes to skateboarding.” Vans, alongside Jeff, believe all voices of the LGBTQ+ community deserve to be heard. In our Vans family, there is no place for hatred or bigotry, and it is our mission to welcome everyone into the creative community of skateboarding.
Watch Jeff Grosso’s Loveletters to Skateboarding now at YouTube.com/Vans and stay tuned for new episodes every Thursday.
Hopefully, you've been following along for all six episodes of the new HBO show BETTY. I'm sure everyone is bummed that Season 1 is over, but the great news is Season 2 is in the works with a release date of May 2021.
Yeah, it's a long time to wait, but we are stoked to hear that all the original cast members are slated to come back and we can't wait!
If you haven't caught Season 1 - watch the trailer below and spend some time on HBO catching up - you'll love this show!
