Image via Lovell Family

 

Everyone has been talking about the new movie  "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things" since it launched on Amazon Prime a few weeks ago. One of the biggest questions with skaters has been, "who is the female skateboarder that nailed the stair jump?!"

Well, we have the answer, fourteen year old Mia Lovell from Arizona! She's competed at Exposure, Posieden, the Cal State Games (where she took home athlete of the year!), Dam Am and many more contests. Mia skates bowl and street,  has a killer skatepark at her house and is absolutely one of the nicest people to spend time with! She's not only an excellent skater, but now she can add actor to her resume.

Mia's IMDB listing

We decided that it was about time everyone learned what really happens when you get selected to skate in a major motion picture. Mia graciously took time out of her busy schedule to do this interview with us and share in the ins and outs, from being cast to being on set, and nailing that kickflip down the stairs scene.

If you haven't seen this film yet yet - put in on your watch list - because its really good!

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things tells the story of quick-witted teen Mark, contentedly living the same day in an endless loop whose world is turned upside-down when he meets mysterious Margaret also stuck in the time loop. Mark and Margaret form a magnetic partnership, setting out to find all the tiny things that make that one day perfect. What follows is a love story with a fantastical twist, as the two struggle to figure out how – and whether – to escape their never-ending day. Starring: Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity

Cindy:  So, let's talk about how you scored this excellent part of "Skate Rat Girl" in the new hit film "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things".  
 

Mia: Mike McGill was looking for a girl for the film and was talking with Amelia Brodka, and she showed him a video of me doing a kickflip down a six-stair!

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A post shared by 🤘Mia Lovell🤘 (@mia_sk8)

The instagram video that landed Mia the part!

 
Cindy: And that was it?  You didn’t even have to come in for an audition?

Mia: Yes, that’s right.  Mike called my dad and discussed it, and I got booked.

Mia with Mike McGill ~ Image via Lovell Family

Cindy: You live in Arizona, but the movie was filmed in Alabama. How soon did you have to leave to start shooting?

Mia: It was about a month before I left.

Cindy: Did they ask you to practice anything specifically before you came?

Mia: Well, I knew it would be a stair set feature, but I didn't know how big, so I just kind of practiced my tricks on stairs leading up to it.

Cindy: But you already feel comfortable hitting stairs; you've got this pretty down – which is good.  How many stairs did you have to kickflip down in the film?

Mia: It was a six stair, I believe, but they were really deep, so they're like twice as deep as regular stairs. Plus, it was in Alabama, and the weather was really rough, very humid, so there were times when I landed that I scrapped myself up a little bit.

Cindy: So, was Mike McGill, your stunt Coordinator, on set?

Mia: Mike was the stunt coordinator for the film, so he coordinated everything I did. And when I was doing my stunts, I got to talk to actors a little bit, and they were really nice.

Mia on set with lead actress, Kathryn Newton ~ Image via Lovell Family

Cindy: How many days were you there?

Mia: About three days

Cindy: Did they ask you to do anything besides kick flipping the stairs, was there anything you did for the movie that was cut out and that we didn't see?

Mia: Everything that I did was put in. I was pretty happy about that!

Cindy: Wow, that's really cool because a lot of things usually get cut. You had a speaking part, too, right? Are you a member of SAG now?

Mia: I did. I’m not SAG yet because I have done two film things, and I think you need three to be SAG?

"The Map of Tiny Perfect Things" Trailer

Cindy: I think this is so cool because people have this idea that you need to live in Southern California to have these opportunities, and you're proof that if you just skate hard, have a positive attitude, people notice you – Instagram is a great place for that - no matter where you may live.  Movies aren't always filmed in Southern California anyway. In your case, you went to Mobile, Alabama.


Mia: Yes, I was in Fairfield, Alabama, for this. I love that town. It was awesome being down there.

Cindy: I’ve been to Mobile quite a few times. There are few skate parks and good skate spots - did you get to go skate anywhere else, or did you just have to concentrate on a movie and the set?

Mia: The first day we got there was kind of like a practice day, so they took me to the actual set and had us skate it. And then, and then we just kind of hung out and went to a couple skate spots. Then on another day they actually filmed everything.

Mia in make-up before filming ~ Photo Lovell Family

Cindy:  Were you nervous once they said, rolling, and you had to do it on cue. Did it make you nervous at all or just like, hey, this isn't another day at the skate park.

Mia:  I guess it is a little nerve-wracking because like everyone's looking at you, the skaters are there like watching and stuff, and they were all super cool. And then all the people filming, but once you start skating, you're kind of dialed into it, I think.

Cindy: Yeah, I think you get that skater mentality right, and you just zone in, just like you do for contests because you're used to that as well, you know once you do a contest, there are tons of people watching, and now at like Vans US Open we have cameras everywhere and it kind of gets you prepared for all this, which is great. We never used to have that.

Were there other girls skating in in this movie too, or you're the only female and with all guys?


Mia: Yeah, I’m the only one in there, and all the rest were guys.

Cool. And you're the only one who got to make the kickflip down the stairs.

Mia: Yeah.

Editors Note: In the movie, all the guys fail while trying to make a kickflip down the stairs, but Mia’s character rolls up and does it flawlessly!

Mia getting mic'd up ~ photo Lovell family

Cindy: Now, what about your wardrobe? Did you bring some things and they selected from your real skate wardrobe, or did they have everything already for you and just said “hey, this is what you're going to wear?”

Mia: Leading up to it, they went to my Instagram looking for looks. So I brought some of my own stuff and on that practice day, I got to meet with the costume designers. I had my own little trailer and stuff while we were figuring out my outfit and stuff – it was really fun!

Cindy: Did they realize that it was kind of important that you wear your own shoes because of the feel on the board?

 Mia: Oh yeah, they were super, super cool about that.

 Cindy: I love that people realize that, because I work in that world, doing wardrobe styling and for many years I had to explain to clients like hey, they have to wear their own shoes for skateboarding, and BMX and this kind of stuff because you can't just throw on a new pair of shoes and have them dialed in immediately.

Mia waiting to skate ~ Photo Lovell family

Mia: The producers were actually very familiar with skating. Both of their kids skate, and one was in the scene with me. They were really great with me. They made me feel really awesome and special.

Cindy: It sounds like you had a really good experience, and it sounds like the cast and crew were super nice. Was there a favorite part of your three days there?

Mia: After I land the trick in the scene, I come back and kind of celebrate with everybody. And it felt like so real, you know, is such a good feeling…

Cindy:  like a real skatepark moment, where all your friends give you high fives and congratulate you for making it?

Mia:  Yeah.  It just felt so real and awesome!

Cindy:  Were you sad to leave and go home?

Mia: I was. The trailer, the set, and the people were just so much fun.

Mia in front of her trailer on set - Photo via Lovell family

Cindy:  That's so cool. It sounds like you'll have an opportunity to do more acting and stunt work like this.  It was great seeing you in this film Mia! Big Congrats!!

 

 

You can catch Mia in "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things" playing now on Amazon Prime

Image via New Balance

 

 Samarria Brevard is making some serious history. Samarria becomes the very first Black female skater to get her own signature shoe - this one with New Balance Numeric. Talk about a history making moment in women's skateboarding! 

 This new edition shoe was designed in collaboration with New Balance Numeric athlete Samarria Brevard, with colors inspired by dragonflies.  

Retails for $74.99 - Coming Soon

 And that's not all!

Samarria now has her own signature truck from Thunder Trucks!

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Photo Bryce Kanights

     

2020 USA Skateboarding National Team - Women's Park

Front Row: Brighton Zeuner, Bryce Wettstein, Jordyn Barratt, Arianna Carmona

Back Row: Jordan Santana & Minna Stess

 Disciplines Park and Street; The Berrics to Host Street Final, CA Training Facility to Host Park

Vista, Calif. (March 11, 2021) — Together with Toyota and The Berrics, USA Skateboarding - the governing body for skateboarding in the United States will move forward with a 2021 National Championships with a new format combining both digital video and an in-person Olympic-qualifying format. Originally scheduled as a live event for March, USA Skateboarding decided to pivot to virtual qualifying for the athletes' safety during the pandemic. Video submissions will be 45-second runs for both Park and Street at the skatepark of their choice with in-person finals following Olympic event formats. The top-12 ranked Americans will be pre-qualified into the quarterfinals. Points awarded to the finalists will count towards World Skateboarding Rankings and Olympic qualifying. Men's and Women's Skateboard Park and Street events will make their Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games this summer in Japan.

“With the health and safety of the skaters as our primary concern, we’ve had to adapt our National Championships to a format that works in the time of Covid,” said Josh Friedberg, CEO, USA Skateboarding. “The good news is that American skaters will still have a chance to earn Olympic Qualifying points in an open and accessible qualifying process that will give skaters from all over the country a chance to participate in the National Championships alongside some of the best skaters in the world."

** More info coming soon on how/where to submit your videos! 

USA Skateboarding National Championships presented by Toyota Virtual Video and In-Person Finals Schedule

• April 9 – April 22: Open Qualifying Video Submissions

• April 23 – April 26: Open Qualifying Judging

• April 27 – May 3: 36 Quarterfinalists Announced, Quarterfinals Video Submissions

• May 4: Quarterfinals Judging

• May 5 – May 11: 20 Semifinalists Announced, Semifinals Video Submissions

• May 12: Semifinals Judging

• May 13: 8 Finalists Announced

• May 27 – May 30: Finals In-person, Street — The Berrics, Park — CA | TF

“Toyota is thrilled to partner with USA Skateboarding as presenting sponsor of the 2021 USA Skateboard- ing National Championships,” said Dedra DeLilli, group manager, Olympic and Paralympic Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “As the landscape around sport competitions has rapidly evolved over the last year, we commend USA Skateboarding for pivoting to both virtual and in-person qualifying to ensure the safety of those involved and so that these elite athletes can compete at the highest level in pursuit of their Olympic dreams as skateboarding is set to make its debut at Tokyo 2020.”

Skateboarders currently have the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics based on their two best results in World Skate sanctioned events during the 2019 qualifying season (ended September 30, 2019) combined with their four best results during the 2020 - 2021 qualifying season ending June 30. We’re hopeful that there will be other Olympic Skateboarding Qualifying events before the Games — but with time running short, these National Championships will be one of the only opportunities for American Olympic hopefuls to compete prior to the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

USA Skateboarding will host the Junior and Adaptive National Championships this coming fall.

Image via Adidas

 

Adidas Skateboarding celebrated International Women's Day with  an announcement about a dual-release with Pro riders, Nora Vasconcellos and Maité Steenhoudt, that unveils their respective colorways for two iconic silhouettes from the brand’s archives — Gazelle ADV by Nora and Samba ADV by Maité . In celebration of International Women’s Day and the brand’s ongoing commitment to empowering female athletes, both timeless models have been re-imagined and updated for skateboarding.

Image via Adidas

The adidas Gazelle, reimagined for Skateboarding by Nora Vasconcellos. Sophisticated materialization meets retro details for a timeless look. A White leather upper is paired with a nubuck suede t-toe and heel tab for a high-end finish. The exposed foam padded tongue and Gum overlay nods to classic skateboarding style. 

Image via Adidas

Vasconcellos’ original art on the heel tab and sockliner adds her personal touch to the iconic design while paying tribute to her mother and other female athletes who have fought for equal access to participate in sports with a special story printed on the footbed

Image via Adidas

The adidas Samba, updated for the first time for skateboarding by Maité Steenhoudt. Capturing the classic elements of the original Samba, Steenhoudt’s design features a Black suede upper with White leather stripes. Wanting the shoe to look better with wear, Steenhoudt added a hidden layer under the t-toe that reveals color as you wear it down. 

Image via Adidas

A handwritten “Samba” and original artwork on the sockliner. Adding to the design is a hidden message on the footbed paying homage to her Antwerp skate crew as well as a subtle nod to her mother and grandmother on the collars. 

Both the Gazelle ADV by Nora and Samba ADV by Maité releases March 16th at specialty skate retailers and adidas.com/skateboarding. The retail price tag is set at $100 USD and $80 USD, respectively.

Kyra, Kala and Quinne at Venice Skatepark ~ Photo Ian Logan

 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

 

Today's the day to thank the women who came before us, to cheer for the women and girls that are charging now, and to lift up and encourage the girls that will later lead us to full equality.

 

Check out our Instagram for a tribute to women skaters of the '70s

We celebrate all of you - today and everyday. 💗

Check out Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team rider Lola Glass, she's part of this new Adidas campaign about community and what it means. Lola is a badass illustrator (AKA The Young Vandal) and street artist, so when her friend and global street artist, SacSix, asked her to participate, she jumped at the chance to show people her inspirational place, Coney Island, and show off her Dusters x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Board!

Along with the in-store mural  - which you can check out in person at the Adidas flagship store located at 115 Spring Street, SacSix designed a limited edition 'Zine (that Lola is also featured in) and sticker pack.

 

 

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A post shared by @sacsix

 

 

 

"The 'Zine features each of my friends, a piece of their art and a statement about their community. There’s a campaign in the Adidas originals store in New York that goes along with a fanzine. It was a real fun side project." ~ SacSix

 

Big congrats Lola!

 

Margielyn Didal of the Philippines wins ASIA SKATER OF THE YEAR - a well deserved honor in itself!

But there is MORE!

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She takes home the award for STYLE FOR MILES, as well as...

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the award for  FASTEST FEET IN THE EAST.

All in all Margielyn took home $1,800 winning these three coveted awards, which were well deserved. Even during COVID she has been training safely and daily to prepare for the Olympics.

We can't wait to see her compete in the coming months!

Lizzie Armanto in the all-new Vans Skate Classics

This is AWESOME news!!!

Vans is launching the all-new Skate Classics, their most iconic silhouettes with an updated, extra-tough construction designed first and foremost for skateboarders.   

Completely redesigned with skaters in mind, Skate Classics deliver more of what Vans skaters like Lizzie Armanto need to enable maximum progression. 

 So much goodness packed into one shoe - Reinforced materials and upgraded construction provide added durability and energy-return cushioning for longer skate sessions, while a few finishing touches to the overall aesthetic prove that Skate Classics don’t just perform, they also look damn good doing it.

 These classics last longer and feel better than ever before!  We love that the PopCush energy-return footbeds snap back and won’t pack out, keeping legs feeling fresh to skate longer. And who doesn't want a longer sesh while staying comfy?

An always-stylish classic white/blue colorway prevails across the Skate Authentic, Skate Slip-On, Skate Sk8-Hi, Skate Old Skool, and Skate Era, while a new sidewall finish, Checkerboard flag, and “Skateboarding” branding subtly enhance these timeless styles. 

 

Go inside Lizzie Armanto’s world with her personally curated Vans Spotify Playlist, live now.  

All images via Vans

 

The Vans Skate Classics collection, featuring the Skate Authentic, Skate Slip-On, Skate Sk8-Hi, Skate Old Skool, and Skate Era, will be available on March 4, 2021, at Vans Skate retailers and Vans.com/Skate.

Stephanie Person skating a demo at the 49ers football game

You may not know her skate history (yet), but one thing for sure is Stephanie Person paved the way for so many girls today, and it’s time her story was heard.

This started out as an interview but developed into more of a long and interesting conversation because Stephanie’s story is compelling, intense, and honest. Her path in skateboarding during the ’80s was not always easy. Still, she was always out there making things happen for herself and ultimately changing the game for the girls and women who came after her.

Read on to hear what it was like to be the very first, Black female pro skateboarder.

*This article has been edited and condensed for clarity

Cindy: I know you started skateboarding at age 16, and your rise was pretty fast; how did you start making a name for yourself in skateboarding?

Stephanie: I put on a skateboard competition when I was in high school; actually, this skater kid came up to me; he said, let’s do a competition at our high school, but then they said that was a liability. So then we asked to do it at the community center.

We needed sponsors and prizes. The skater kid said to me, you make the calls – so I was like, OK, I will. I had TransWorld and Thrasher Magazines, and I looked in the back. All the phone numbers were there, and every company that I called donated something for the competition as prizes. So I had UPS coming to my house every day for a couple of weeks. In fact, Gullwing was my first truck sponsor because of this.

Then the Community Center said they changed their mind because they were worried about the liability. I was like, oh my God, everyone is coming from everywhere, now what?

So I ended up changing the date to the 4th of July and holding it in a Park and Ride parking lot, as I knew it would be empty that day. My mom kept saying, don’t do it. If someone gets hurt, I’m going to be liable - because I wasn’t eighteen at the time.

We had banners going around this entire parking lot, and five hundred kids came. We had sponsored amateurs from everywhere. And that’s when my name got on the map.

Stephanie with her skate team

Cindy: That is huge, putting on a skate contest and getting all the sponsors lined up – especially since you were only in high school. What did you do next?

Stephanie: Then the O’Brien brothers, who were sponsored skaters, knocked on my door. They wanted me to throw another contest during the time the Capitola Classic was coming -all the pros come in for that. I said no as the first contest almost gave me a nervous breakdown. Eventually, I said yes, and I did everything again. All the guys came from the Capitola Classic, and Kevin Thatcher asked, are you the Black girl that threw this contest? I said yes, and the next thing I knew, it was everywhere that Stephanie Person put on the Montague Contest.

Cindy: Did you also travel for contests within California?

Stephanie: Then I started entering other competitions; there was one in Oceanside, and they did have a female freestyle division. I was about seventeen. I started skating street. Then I did CASL contests and did a lot of those in Southern California in the '80s. Then I met Cara-Beth Burnside, and vert skating took off again. That's when Judi Oyama (’70s pro-female vert skater on Santa Cruz) called up Richard Novak and got me hooked up with Santa Cruz.

Photo of Stephanie by Judi Oyama

Cindy: I hope you don’t mind Stephanie, but we decided to ask Judi what made her push for you to be on the Santa Cruz team. Here are Judi’s memories from that time…

“The first time I saw Stephanie skate, she caught my eye, not because she was a young woman vert skater, but because she was aggressive and had a style that was strong and fluid. She didn’t hold back and went for moves that most guys couldn’t even make. I knew that Stephanie had talent and would be a good representative for Santa Cruz Skateboards. She coached me to knee slide on the Raging Waters half pipe before I tried to ride it. She said if you can fall, you won’t get hurt. Sitting on the edge and taking the leap of faith that I wouldn’t get hurt was a great tip. I use it to this day when I see young girls learning to ride the deep stuff.” ~ Judi Oyama  

Cindy: When you finished High School, did things change for you?

Stephanie: I ended up moving to Southern California and living with eight street skaters, I was skating vert at that time, but I stayed with them in that house for about six months

I was like, everyone is so sponsored, and I don’t see any other girls ever except a couple, so I thought, why can’t I be sponsored? So I started calling around, just like I did, to get sponsors for those skateboard competitions. I ended up getting sponsored by a ton of companies.

I was first sponsored by Madrid back then, and a skateboard shop in San Jose was my first shop sponsor. Then Rector Pads, Speed Wheels, Venture, Billabong, and Swatch. That was very interesting because I called Swatch up and said, “you guys have a new team out, but you don’t have any girls.” They said they had their team, but I kept explaining that having a female team rider would bring so much more attention to their demos.

I had opened up a 49er’s football game on the vert ramp – Christian Hosoi was there. We were asked to do stuff like that from time to time, so I explained that when you have a big crowd watching, not everyone skates, and most people don’t even know what a 50/50 grind is, but when they watch a girl drop-in, that gets attention. The company agreed, and then I was on Swatch.

Editors Note: Swatch was a popular company that made inexpensive (compared to quartz) watches with colorful plastic faces and bands. Swatch was very well-known and successful in the mid-’80s – ultra-cool. They tapped into musicians and skateboarders to popularize their brand. 

I got all these sponsors myself, which people found to be very different; if there was a sponsor I wanted, I went after it.

1986 Thunder Trucks Ad in Thrasher featuring Stephanie Person

Cindy: I noticed something interesting when I was researching you, Stephanie. You used to skate for Thunder Trucks, is that right?

 Stephanie: Yes.

Cindy: And they did an ad with you in Thrasher magazine, way back in 1986.

Stephanie: Yes, they did.

Cindy: It’s interesting because Samarria Brevard, the only Black female skater we have on the women’s USA National skateboard team, is currently sponsored by Thunder Trucks. I don’t think people realize that you paved the way for this situation, and for other situations that we will get to later in this interview.

Editors Note: It was almost unheard of for a company to put an ad in a mag like Thrasher of a female skater in 1986. Forget Black or White. Just talking about gender here. It was rare. And if you add race on top of gender, Stephanie was really setting herself apart and breaking skateboarding stereotypes for generations to come.

Stephanie: I’ve been in Thrasher a few times.

Cindy: You’ve been in quite a few magazines that people may not be aware of, right?

Stephanie: Yeah, there was a skateboard magazine called Power Edge, and I wrote an article for that called “Equal Time” or something. I was in Thrasher in a feature about girls skateboarding called "Sugar and Spice...?" And the Thunder Trucks ad in Thrasher. I was in TransWorld and had a few other photos in magazines here and there. I was also in the 1984 skate video, Future Primitive – doing a boneless. In 2010 I was featured in "How We Roll" a six-month exhibition of Black Surf and Skate Culture at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. They used that photo of me about the exhibit on a billboard during the X Games that year - that was cool! 

 Stephanie (BW shot on right) "Sugar and Spice..?" April 1986 issue of Thrasher

Cindy: People may not realize how rare it was for a girl to get coverage skating vert back in those days. In the 70s, Skateboarder magazine covered the girls doing freestyle, slalom, and a few banked walls. Then when we transitioned into vert, it became more about the guys in every issue. It was almost as if they were saying, "girls don’t skate pools and half-pipes." But you pushed past that and kept pushing for coverage when it was mainly TransWorld and Thrasher. 

How many girls did you skate with back then?

Stephanie: There was; Cara-Beth, Lori Rigsby, and I, and everybody else was not very strong. They weren’t very legit.

Cindy: And you girls didn’t have female divisions in contests like we did, right? We had the Gold Cup Series and the Hester Series, and we had to go out there and skate and practice for those contests every day. But what did you girls have as far as contests?

Stephanie: There were no female competitions, so we skated against the guys.

Cindy: We had that same situation in the beginning, and then we got women’s competitions.

Stephanie at a backyard ramp with her male skater friends

Stephanie: My entire adult skate career, I don’t know how many dozens and dozens of competitions I entered, but I was always skating against the guys.

Cindy: So, we actually went backward during that time with women in skate. For our group, when the skateparks closed, a lot of the girls dropped out to go to college, or they were focused on relationships, etc. You were the generation that kept that underground scene going. So punk compared to any other part of skateboarding.

Stephanie: Super underground, especially living in Northern California, because they were really into punk rock and all the punk bands. In Southern California, it was more like George Michael and dayglow. When I was in high school, I was listening to Ska, and I was listening to rockabilly and punk, that very NorCal vibe.

Cindy: Judi Oyama and I talked about that over the years. You have to really want it when you live in NorCal, because it was not like SoCal, where there were skate parks everywhere, and it was easy to skate. And almost all the manufacturers were down here. Luckily, you have NHS up there, and you skated for Santa Cruz, which we’ll get to in a second. But even now, there is this whole thing about being from NorCal – to me, NorCal is very punk and core in skate – like Steve Olsen core.

Stephanie in Fallbrook late'80s ~ Photo Mark Waters

Stephanie: I think during your era, it was like, a lot of parks closed of insurance problems.

 And after that, I believe that women really, just in general, had a hard time.

Back then, I think when I was around, guys would try to pit me against Cara-Beth and Lori all the time, just because we were the only females. I don’t like that feeling. It gives me a rash.

Cindy: Yes, Judi and I have always been on the same page with that – bringing girls up with you is what we should all be doing. Unfortunately, some don’t feel that there is enough of the pie to go around, and that creates an insular situation – which no one benefits from in the long run.

Cindy: I read that in 1988 you turned pro. Is that correct?

Stephanie: Yes, but it wasn’t like that was the year I turned pro. You really didn’t have a choice – there were no amateur competitions in Europe where I was skating, so you had to compete in the pro divisions.

Cindy: It’s interesting to hear this and discuss it because nowadays, people feel that being pro means you have a pro model board. Girls didn’t have that back in the day – in freestyle days, yes – but only a couple girls had those pro models, but not during the vert days in the late ’70s and ’80s. During my era, you turned pro by going to a contest, entering the women’s pro division, and then you couldn’t go back to AM.

Stephanie: There were no amateur contests, no girls divisions in Europe. You just skated. A lot of the Americans were coming over to Europe to skate. So first I went over there to visit, then I moved there. I was skating with Tony Hawk and skating in the Pro Series. I lived there for 16 years.

The story behind that is so crazy because there was a picture of me doing a Frontside Air on an L-shaped ramp at a waterslide park which ran in the San Jose Mercury newspaper. I had Santa Cruz wheels in it – Richard Novak put it on the office wall there. Soon after, he asked for the team’s ideas and insights for a new video, and I was the only one who sent a page of ideas in. Later I approached Richard with a plan for me and Jeff Hedges, another AM, to go to Europe, promote the brand, hand out stickers, meet with shops, etc. Jeff said, “he will never pay for us to go to Europe,” but after hearing my pitch, Richard pulled out his Rolodex and started going through it and asked when we wanted to go and when do you want to come back – I’m green lighting this for you guys to go.

When we got back, I found out that the guys were complaining about me – they were saying I slept with everyone in Europe, which was not true because I was a virgin until I was 24 years old. I was getting too much attention, and there was jealousy, and I was asked to leave the team. I was about 20 years old at this point. I felt like had I been a guy, none of this would have been a problem.  

This got me to Death Box, which back then was a small company in Europe, which ended up turning into Flip with Jeremy Fox. They asked me to ride for them, so it ended up being in my favor that I got off Santa Cruz and rode for them.

Cindy: What age were you when you first started with Santa Cruz?

Stephanie: I think I was like 19 years old then. I went to Europe at age twenty and stayed there for sixteen years. I came back when I was about thirty-five. My family kind of fell apart here in California, so I didn’t know where to go. So I thought I’ll just stay in Europe and live the life. And I did. I toured for five years, all over while I was there.

Cindy: As I remember, that was a point in time for skateboarding that while parks were closing here and people were turning to street. Things in Europe were still happening with vert because they were still embracing what we thought we had lost.

Stephanie in Germany doing an interview at a contest

Stephanie: When I did go to Europe to skate, I found that it was very different. People were very sweet and kind and awesome. It was a very different cultural experience.

J. Grant Brittain was over there covering contests, so people there were now hearing about me, but here in the states, they weren’t because I chose to be in Europe. I was still skating full hardcore, but I ended up losing contact with people like Judi because I was over there for so long.

Cindy: Back when you skated, forget female skaters, there probably weren’t any black skaters, male or female, is that right?

Stephanie: There were maybe a handful of Black male skaters.

There were no Black female skaters, except me during that time.

Cindy: Not to mention, you were like one of three girls skating hard – that’s not a lot. This is why it’s crucial to hear stories like yours, Stephanie – we are all getting older. The women’s stories in skateboarding are not being told in depth. When we are gone, those stories will go with us unless they are preserved for future generations.

Stephanie: Oh, I have a lot of stories from back in those days…

Cindy: I know you were recently featured in Thrasher sharing some of your skate history, which is pretty great!

Stephanie: Yes, but when Thrasher interviewed me, there’s all this stuff I really wanted to talk about but didn’t get to.

Cindy: OK, let's talk about that stuff here. 

For instance, my experience was very different from Lori Rigsby’s. It was: girls shouldn’t skate; get the fuck out of here. Those were, like, tough situations. I went to a skateboard ramp in the south, and the Klan came and tried to beat me up.

Photo of Stephanie ~ Martin Willners

I had a very famous skateboarder try and rape me in a hotel room because I was just by myself. I wasn’t Laurie the blonde golden girl, or Cara-Beth, who grew up in the whole royalty of the Vans era and had all those people backing her. I never had a spot either, like Cara-Beth had Del Mar, and all we had was ramps that kept getting torn down. So I never had a consistent skate spot, you’d get used to one ramp, and then that was gone, and you’d have to skate shitty, even worse ramps. 

It always felt like I never had backup from a group

of guys, I was always fighting my way to stay relevant and be me, and it was never easy. Everything, every single story, every single second of it was absolutely grueling and very hard.

Cindy: That was obviously extremely hard, and I am sorry you had to go through all that, but just know you opened so many doors – like Judi getting you on Santa Cruz, she has quietly done the same thing in the past few years, getting Minna Stess on the team. And, of course, Samarria is now on Thunder Trucks – you paved the way for that door to open up back in 1986. These are only two examples. There are so many more Black girls skating nowadays, and you led the charge.

Cindy: When did you stop skating vert – or have you?

Stephanie: What eventually took me out of skateboarding was I busted my knee – it took ten surgery's  and four years of recovery to get over that. If that never happened, I’d still been skating hard and probably would have done even more.

Cindy: I really appreciate the time and depth you are giving us for this conversation. These are things that we, as female skaters, don’t usually share or get asked about – so thank you for being so honest, raw, and real.

Judi and I think that next up for you should be a Skateboarding Hall of Fame nomination!

Stephanie: Aw, thank you, you girls are so sweet!

Cindy: Thank YOU! I appreciate that you fought so hard for yourself and others in skateboarding. As a Black female skater, you paved the way for so many girls today, so thank you so much for all you’ve done, and just know what there’s a lot of us that definitely appreciate it!

You can follow Stephanie on her Instagram

We are so sad to hear that this will be the final issue of Stoke Much Magazine. This skate mag has shown diversity throughout each issue and it's beautifully done. We are truly sad to see it go.

We are honored to have team rider Briel Weingartner grace the cover and local South Bay skate friends Hannah Tallman and Katsumi Castro be featured inside.

Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word founder, Cindy Whitehead, has the last page in the issue , skating through an empty water park in the desert.

 All photos were taken by Ian Logan 

There are still some copies of this issue left and you can purchase one (or more) HERE, also check out the Skate Bud book and app!

The magazine may be shelved, but there is more goodness coming from Zach & Tiffany at Stoke Much - that you can be sure of!

 Los Angeles skater, Dalia Lundquist is featured prominently in this new music video from Kito, VanJess, and Channel Tres. The song is called "recap" and we have it on repeat! Dalia does a great job as the young female skater throughout the video - congrats Dalia!

Check out this rad video interview with skater girls in Long Beach, California that Cal State University's Digg Magazine showcased.

Skaters ~ Megan Anderson, Brenda Tran, Kaylee Crawford, Lydia Mae Martinez

Video by Briana Mutlu

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A post shared by Exposure (@exposureskate)

We are so excited to share that Exposure Skate is offering (2) $5k college scholarships.

Exposure has partnered with College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF)  to offer two scholarships for female-identifying or non binary skaters who contribute to their community. 

Applications are live!! Apply at EXPOSURE SKATE by June 1st!

"My Naked Truth" Starring Beatrice Domond | Urban Decay Cosmetics

Beatrice Domond ~ Solo Skate Magazine ~ Photo Mac Shafer

At 26 years old Beatrice Domond has helped pave the way for female skaters to create a career and space in skate that does not always involve competing. A rarity for women, and especially Black women. And don't think that it all came easily - she's worked hard for this career she has built - from sending out tapes of herself skateboarding at age 15, to practicing and skating eight hours a day - she has pushed for inclusion and earned it as well.

Beatrice has gone in directions most thought to be impossible, yet she has powered her way to being the first in many areas of skateboarding.

In 2015 Beatrice was in Supreme's "Cherry" video where she pulled off a no-comply impossible, but her video parts did not stop there. In 2019 she appeared in both the Boys of Summer video as well as Supreme's "Candyland" video.

Watch Beatrice in Supreme's Candyland Video

In 2018 Beatrice became a member of the team "Fucking Awesome".

As a skateboarder she has been featured in I-D Magazine, Vogue, Jenkem, WSJ, The Face,, Thrasher, Hypebeast, Transworld, Apartamento,and Dazed (to name a few).

The Berrics have sung her praises, and she earns respect on the street from skaters from NY to LA.

"My Naked Truth" Starring Beatrice Domond | Urban Decay Cosmetics

But her reach goes beyond skateboarding,  and the fashion world has taken notice - from being featured in  Tom Browne's golf collection, to a fashion profile on both Ssense and W Magazine, and even a video for cosmetics brand, Urban Decay, Beatrice is inspiring people from all walks of life.

 In 2019 she became the only woman on Supreme's Skateboarding Team. That is a HUGE deal in itself.

 Cover Girl:  In 2020 Juice Magazine made Beatrice their cover skater with a photo by Mike O’Meally. A full interview with Beatrice is inside the issue. Again, breaking glass ceilings in the skateboarding world. 

 Images via Vans

In 2021 Vans launched a new version of the AVE Pro with Beatrice's input - the shoe dropped to rave reviews and has signature details that Beatrice came up with.

Venture Trucks "Awake" video with Beatrice Domond 

Beatrice's sponsors include: Vans, Supreme New York,  Fucking Awesome, Venture, Spitfire and Boys of Summer.

You can follow Beatrice on her instagram @beatricedomond

Team rider Minna Stess is featured in this awesome CNN interview by Don Riddell. Get a glimpse inside Minna's life from the time she was a toddler learning to skate, to now, as she trains for the 2020 (now 2021) Olympics as the youngest member of the USA National Skateboard Team.

Go Minna!

We are huge fans of Mary Claire Morgan! If you follow her instagram page you will see why. She not only rips, but she is always having fun doing it. It's not about competing for Mary Claire, it's about encouraging more girls to skate and loving what she is skating, right that minute - that is the heart of a true soul skater!!

At age 13,  she was one of the only girls at the skateparks when she began skateboarding at age 7. Now, she encourages other girls to join the sport. And that is RAD!

 Sit back and enjoy this video on Mary Claire that just launched via the Charleston Post Courier!

Via Red Bull 

Take a tour of pro skater Leticia Bufoni's backyard skatepark 😎. 

If you ever dreamed of having your own backyard skatepark, then Leticia Bufoni's is one you should totally try and copy.

 From winning some of the best skate competitions in the world to training at home, check out a behind the scenes look into the life of Leticia.

 And while it seems like Leticia has been around winning contests forever - she is only 27 years old.

We love seeing skater girls we know pop up in rad projects like this one! 

The new music video for the Sia x David Guetta song, "Floating Through Space" dropped last night and it features badass Janthavy Norton!

** You may remember Janthavy from our Dusters x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word video where she slayed at the famous OG location, Baldy Pipe.

OK back to this video..

Golden Globe nominee Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, "Music", the new film written & directed by Sia + starring Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr. & Maddie Ziegler, will be out in select IMAX theaters for one-night only on February 10th and available in the US everywhere on demand February 12th

Get more info, and find out where and when to watch in your country https://bit.ly/2YJD1ho​ 

Sia's album Music (songs from and inspired by the motion picture) is out February 12, 2021 and features "Hey Boy," "Together,” "Courage To Change," & more. 

Pre-order now: https://sia.lnk.to/MusicID​ 

Director -Lior Molcho 

Cinematographer - Danit Sigler 

Producer - Chen Biton 

Line Producer - Stephanie Sosa 

Stunt coordinator - Deven MacNair 

2nd Camera - Tali Litmanovitz 

Editor - Danit Sigler 

Luke Wrangler - Katie C S 

Featuring Janthavy Norton,  Cory Mcmillin,  Bryan McGowan

 

We saw an instagram reel of cinematographer GianCarlo Stigliano's new mini skate documentary featuring Allie Frank, Caroline Duerr, and Rachel Barnfield and knew we needed to find out more about this amazing project. After you watch the film, you'll understand why. The way GianCarlo captured the true essence of skateboarding, the friendship between the three girls, and tackled the age old question, "why do you skate?" is superb.

We had some questions of our own for the crew, and we are stoked that they were happy and willing to talk about how this all came about and more!

Love For Skating - Mini Documentary from GianCarlo Stigliano on Vimeo.

 

We thought we'd start off by speaking with cinematographer GianCarlo and getting his perspective.

 

 

May we ask what made you decide to do a short film with female skateboarders?

Something I am very passionate about is being able to find local people who have really awesome talents, a business, or have a really fascinating story and be able to create a short profile film to tell their story. For me, it's a way to share hidden gems within our community and allow people to express themselves on film. For this project, initially, what sparked my interest was seeing a few photos of Allie skating vert. I have never seen that before and was immediately interested in what it took to be able to do that. I reached out to Allie to see if she would be interested in doing a small profile film about her and her passion for skating. After a few discussions, she brought up Caroline & Rachel. Allie wanted to see if I had any interest in including them in this project. She continued to explain the relationship they all shared with each other and I was immediately enlightened to create a bigger story. I saw the friendship between them and how they empower each other, hype each other up, their passion for helping and teaching younger girls and knew that this is a story not only about them but a story to inspire other girls to get after it and not be afraid to try something, even if society or people tell you, you cant. 

People are sometimes under the assumption that short films come together in hours, can you share with us how many days of filming it took to create this beautiful story?

In total 5 shoot days over the course of a month. 

 

Your films all touch upon very different subject matters - how  did you originally meet the three girls?

So I originally met Allie in middle school I believe. Or kinda knew of her. All I know is that I knew who she was when I saw those initial photos. We also have a lot of mutual friends so it wasn't like reaching out to a complete stranger. Once I reconnected with Allie and started up the conversation she introduced me to Caroline and Rachel. The first time I met them was on the first day of shooting. By the end of the shooting, we were all so comfortable with each other and I am so grateful to have met them.

 

 

Giancarlo during the filming of "Love for Skating"

What did you learn about female skateboarders after spending time filming this project?

 

During the filming process and traveling with them to different skateparks I realized that the skate community really is such an amazing and welcoming place for every person. Wherever we were, they were treated as equals and I think with the growing girls skate scene it's starting to become normal to see more and more girls skating and joining the community. Whenever Allie, Caroline, or Rachel would land a trick or try something new they would get the same amount of hype and claps and praises as everyone else did. For me, being an outsider in the skate community, it doesn't matter if you're a girl or a guy, as long as you have a passion for skating, you're a kind and humble person, you're active in the skate community and you're willing to try new tricks at the risk of slamming, people respect that, and treat you as one of their own.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about the filming process and working with Allie, Rachel & Caroline?

This was my first time filming skate and boy is it different than anything else I have ever filmed. It's so quick and you can miss something in an instant. There were moments where I may have shot 20 or more different takes of this one specific scene when they were trying to land a specific trick. A small part of me was like, "hopefully they land this soon, so we can move on." And the other part of me was so invested in the process that I didn't care how many tries it took I wanted to see them land that trick. The way they kept getting up after falling time and time again was inspiring to me and really showed their passion and willingness to not give up on something they're striving for. Filming with them has been a true honor and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share their story and hopefully have created a film that inspires other girls to overcome their fears and get after it.

 

 

 

Allie, you seem to be the ringleader behind this project, from answering our DM's to pulling the girls together for filming, so we're going to start with you, and get your take on some things we know people will want to know after watching the documentary. Allie is a technical skater and we could see her competing out here in California at some point in the near future. (fingers crossed!)

 

How old were you when you started skateboarding?

 

I started skateboarding when I was 19 in Hawaii. My friends would bring me to Banzai and I couldn’t keep watching on the side lines, I wanted in on the action. I started by rolling down a bank barefoot on a cruiser. It was so thrilling and I was hooked.

 

We saw so many locations in the film - what is your favorite place to skate?

 

This is a hard one. There’s so many fun/different spots around. It depends on what type of skating I’m in the mood for. I love a good hype session at Wharton in Philly when I’m on it. It’s a pretty tight bowl so you can go super fast. Everyone is usually fired up there. My hometown park in Brick, NJ is always fun to try new things at with my friends. My favorite park I’ve ever skated has to be Linda Vista in California. There are a couple backyard ramps and bowls that have a special place in my heart. Those are always the best times, barbecuing and hanging out with your crew in between lines. 

 

 Do you have a favorite trick?

 

 Feeble grinds to fakie, fakie to board slides or half cabs are my favorite at the moment. Once I can do frontside smith grinds on extensions that will be my favorite. 

 

What was it like filming this mini doc with GianCarlo - any moments that stand out?

 

It was exhilarating filming this but also very challenging. I’m pretty new to filming, it puts the pressure on. You don’t want to take up the filmer’s entire day trying to land one trick. What usually comes natural all the sudden becomes more difficult. Carlo was really efficient in helping us feel comfortable on camera. He would remind us that it’s all good if we don’t land something, which I thought was cool of him. He was going to capture what he was meant to capture. The highlight of the project was taking him to Philly with us. He was kicking it with us in the insanity of FDR. He got to meet some of our friends and experience more reasons why we love this. He really got a feel for the raw culture surrounding skateboarding. From fellow skaters egging each other on, all the diverse styles to the upbeat music and energy of a skaters night life.. I think he got a taste for the whole scene. He took the time to get to know us on a personal level which is why I think he nailed the short film. 

 

 

What message do you have for girls who want to start skateboarding, but may be the only girl at the skate spot?

 

 "Instead of feeling like you don’t belong, know that everyone thinks it’s rad to see a girl going after it."

 

Be more curious than afraid. Let go of what you look like, accept that you are going to fall at times and focus on the feeling. It’s all about having fun. Remember why you wanted to start in the first place. Imagine if someone else started to skateboard because of you. You might just help someone find their purpose in this wild life and that’s amazing. 

 

Last words?

 

Follow your dreams. Even if it doesn’t feel like it’s happening for you right now, remember that hard work pays off. You’re on your way! Everyone grows and learns at a different pace on their own path. Take others accomplishments as inspiration that you can too, because we are all just human beings. And most importantly always get back up. Allow all the falls to redirect you to achieving what you set out for in the first place. 

Rachel is always smiling and going for it - it's no wonder that Allie and Caroline approached her at the skatepark and they all became fast friends.While she has only been skating since 2018 she has picked it up fast and has great style - and has a lot of wisdom to share, so read on!

What made you want to skateboard originally?

I started skating in October of 2018, when I was 15. My brother was pretty into skating at the time and really gave me that push to start going to the parks with him. After my first day at the park I had fallen in love. My dad, brother, and I then went ahead to build a mini ramp in our yard, which became my safe spot.

Any place that is your absolute favorite "go to" place to ride?

My all time favorite place to skate is Wharton’s warehouse in Philly. I also love my local park in brick. Both parks always have such a welcoming feel and atmosphere. All the locals for both parks make each sesh super fun and hype. 

How about your "go to" tricks?

My favorite tricks are sweepers and bonelesses/boneless disasters. I love the feeling of landing both tricks. 

 Can you share with us what this filming experience was like?

Filming with Carlo was awesome. He is such a positive and pure genuine guy to be around. Filming definitely was different to me. I am pretty camera shy to begin with, I'm not the biggest fan of having eyes on me but Carlo made me feel so comfortable. He is beyond patient and we all appreciated that so much when we took forever to land something. He pushed us to keep trying not only for his clip, but he knew when we could do something rather than giving up. 

What do you wish other girls getting started in skateboarding knew to make it easier when going to the park for the first time?

Skate with your body and your heart and not with your head. Of course it scary, trust me I know the worries, nerves, anxieties, thoughts, shaky legs, embarrassed red cheeks from just holding your board the first times at the parks let alone actually trying to drop in and learn tricks. It is beyond worth it. Push through the fear and the uncomfortableness for the first month or so and it will change your life forever. Everyone will be so stoked to see you start trying and everyone has been the beginner at the park so know how you feel. The skate community is so welcoming to beginners let alone any gnarly female trying to break the gender norms of this sport. 

Words of wisdom?

"Never limit yourself. Don’t hold back because you already think you can’t do something and never be afraid of falling."

 If you never fall you’ll never succeed in skating. Push yourself and enjoy the beauty of skateboarding.

 

In this film you get the sense that Caroline is a true soul skater - the OG kind, who would be right at home in Venice, CA back in the '70s slashing and grinding backyard pools, as she is now skating her heart out anywhere she goes. She brings that old school vibe to the group and it's seriously fun to watch her skate! Her answers below fall right in line with the OG vibe - we love it!

What made you pick up a skateboard?

 

I got on the skateboard for the first time when I was pretty little. Thanks to my Dad- an old skater and avid surfer- my garage was fully equipped with skateboards and surfboards growing up. He taught me how to surf and skate but I truly began pursuing skating over 3 years ago now.  

Where would you skate daily, if you could?

I have a lot of love for brick skate park in NJ. I spend much of my time in Philly and skate FDR, Wharton Street Warehouse, and Grays Ferry a bunch. 

That trick you just love to do?

frontside layback

 What was this filming experience like for you?

Carlo was very fun to film with. He’s a great communicator, talented filmmaker and all around genuine human being. His support behind the lens most definitely made a difference when filming. 

What do you want every girl starting out to know?

 

 

 "My advice for girls who want to start skating but feel outnumbered by the boys at the park is to believe in yourself and just be yourself."

 

 

 

Don’t let fear hold you back from making friends or making progress at the skatepark. 

Big thanks to GianCarlo, Allie, Caroline and Rachel for taking the time to do this interview!

                Samarria with a tre flip down the twelve  stair   ~  Photo Mark Kohlman ESPN

In honor of Black History Month we wanted to shout out a female skater who is currently paving the way in the skate industry for so many others. Twenty seven year old, Samarria Brevard, from Riverside, CA  has quietly had a lot of "firsts" in skateboarding - more than you may realize!

 In 2016 Samarria Brevard became the first Black woman to ever have a pro model board  - this one was with Hoopla, and after that things really took off...

2017 saw Samarria landing on the podium at the X-Games in Minneapolis and taking home the silver medal for women's street - no other Black woman in skate history had made podium at the X-Games, until now. With a tre flip down the 12 stair no less!

That same year, she was selected to be part of Thrasher's "King of the Road" tour as a guest of the Enjoi team - winning the mystery guest MVP!

Also in 2017 (yes, it was a hell of a great year for Samarria!)  she broke down barriers and became the first Black female to have a full part in a skate film - Quit Your Day Job (her part is amazing - if you have not seen this film yet, watch it HERE!)

Photo via Enjoi

Later in the year, Enjoi decided she should be a full fledged member of the team and surprised her with her own signature pro-model.

In April 2018 she became the first woman to compete against the guys in the X Games Real Street video contest.

In 2020 Skateism Magazine released issue 6 with Samarria and her beautiful smile plastered on its cover. You can get the issue HERE

 

In the September 2020 issue of Thrasher, Tre Williams did an interview with Samarria and it's pretty awesome - you can read it HERE 

Photo via USA Skateboarding

Last but not least - did you know that Samarria is on the USA National Team for Women's Street as we head toward to the 2021 Olympics?

Samarria currently rides for  Enjoi, New Balance, Ricta, Bronson, RSQ, Thunder Trucks & Mob

Follow Samarria on her instagram @samarriabrevard