Wednesday is the middle of the week and sometimes you just need something good to get you through the next few days…

For us, this new music video from indie darling mokina is it!

The video “Stars”, filmed in her home base of Portugal, is a celebration of friendships — the intimate, romantic and platonic bonds we form through them, and is pictured here through her group of eight girl friends skateboarding, eating pizza, and chasing sunsets.

Shot by Portuguese videographer, photographer and skateboarder João Pedro Cordeiro, the video was styled by Segunda Vida, a vintage surfwear brand run by Beatriz Mota, one of the skateboarders featured in the video; as well as Sana, a knitted hat company created by Debbie who also shines through the cast, and local brand Big Raven.

The ensemble of the video also features girl bosses Sina Luxor, interdisciplinary artist and athlete; Kaman Lim, creator of handmade knitted goods; Galina Bakker and Dana Scheltens who work for the Netherlands’ biggest surf community Surfana; Talia Kaufman, who has worked with several NGOs empowering girls through skate and sports worldwide.

Sit back, relax, listen to the awesome music and enjoy the video on repeat

Front L to R: Bryce Wettstein, Jordan Santana, Jordyn Barratt, Minna Stess, Poe Pinson, Paige Heyn, Mariah Duran, Samarria Brevard ~. Photo: Chris Ortiz

USA Skateboarding Announces 2022 National Team at Toyota-Sponsored Event

Sixteen Skateboarders Named to National Team Including Thirteen Returning, Three New Members with Olympian Alexis Sablone as the New Women’s Head Coach

Los Angeles, Calif. (April 12, 2022) — Together with Toyota, USA Skateboarding - the U.S. governing body for skateboarding - announced that 16 members would join the 2022 skateboarding national team to kick off the new season. Skaters named to the national team were based on performance in international level events during the year before their selection for Men’s Park and Street and Women’s Park and Street. The team is led by Andrew Nicolaus, Men’s Head Coach; Alexis Sablone, Women’s Head Coach; and Mimi Knoop, High Performance Director. Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where Team USA earned two bronzes from Cory Juneau (Park) and Jagger Eaton (Street). For the women, Alexis Sablone and Bryce Wettstein made it to the finals earning fourth and sixth place, respectively. In all, nine Skateboarding Olympians will return to the 2022 national team.

Over the past two days, the USA Skateboarding staff and 2022 team members spent time together at The Berrics gathering content, fitting the Nike team kits for the season, and onboarding new members, including Women’s Street skaters Paige Heyn, Poe Pinson, and Men’s Park skater Gavin Bottger.

“It was really fun to get everyone together and celebrate our 2022 national team in person. The level of talent is incredible, and I’m excited to see what our first-time team members are able to do with more opportunities to compete this year,” said Josh Friedberg, CEO of USA Skateboarding. “Huge thanks to our top sponsors Toyota and Nike SB, Dream Hollywood and Tao for the hospitality, and the Berrics for hosting our media day once again.”

“Toyota is proud to continue its sponsorship of USA Skateboarding and congratulates the 2022 National Team” said Dedra DeLilli, Group Manager, Sponsorship Strategy, Integration and Activation “This amazing group of athletes are great ambassadors of their sport. We are excited for the 2022 team and are proud of their incredible efforts on the street, in the park and for their meaningful contributions in their communities.”

The skaters named to the 2022 USA Skateboarding National Team include:

Minna, Jordan, Bryce, Jordyn and Women’s Coach Alexis Sablone

Women’s Park

Bryce Wettstein (Encinitas, CA)

Jordan Santana (Houston, TX)

Jordyn Barratt. (Haleiwa, HI)

Minna Stess (Petaluma, CA)

Poe, Paige, Mariah, Samarria and Women’s Coach Alexis Sablone

Women’s Street

Mariah Duran (Albuquerque, NM)

Paige Heyn (Tempe, AZ)

Poe Pinson (Fernandina Beach, FL)

Samarria Brevard (Riverside, CA)

Great Brittain had their National Championships last weekend and In the women's event, 14-year-old Lola Tambling claimed victory with a score of 42.58, Bombette Martin, who was GB's representative at the Tokyo Games and won the 2021 National Championships, was second with a score of 41.34, with Lilly Strachan third on 38.05.

Sky Brown who is still skating for GB was a no-show, presumably because of her podium finish at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

Stay tuned to see who is named to the GB Olympic team as we get closer to the Paris Olympics!

The new video by THERE Skateboards finally had its premiere and people are loving it. If you know, you know.

Featuring: Jessyka Bailey, Shag, Leo Bañuelos, Marbie, Nadair Asghari, Sam Bolton, Kat Sy, Briana King, Chandler Burton, Myles De Courcy, James Pitonyak, Jeff Cheung, & Kien Caples

Filmed by Rey Choto

Edited by Leo Bañuelos

Animations by Jeff Cheung

X Games Chiba 2022, presented by Yogibo, the first X Games event scheduled to take place in Japan, revealed more than 100 invited athletes at a press conference today in Chiba City. The event's Park and Street course designs were also unveiled, highlighting a colorful and unique course design inspired by Japanese origami.

The inaugural X Games Chiba event is set to debut April 22-24, 2022, featuring Skateboard, BMX and Moto X competitions over three days at ZOZOMARINE STADIUM. Along with world-class action sports competition and athletes, X Games Chiba will feature live musical performances, art installations, food, and festival experience.

WOMEN’S SKATEBOARD PARK - Invited Athletes

Yndiara Asp
Amelia Brodka
Cocona Hiraki
Ruby Lilley
Grace Marhoefer
Kisa Nakamura
Kihana Ogawa
Jordan Santana
Minna Stess
Mami Tezuka
Bryce Wettstein
Dora Varella
Sakura Yosozumi

WOMEN’S SKATEBOARD STREET - Invited Athletes

Andrea Benitez
Julia Brueckler
Lore Bruggeman
Chloe Covell
Rayssa Leal
Hina Maeda
Gabriela Mazetto
Funa Nakayama
Momiji Nishiya
Aori Nishimura
Yumeka Oda
Keet Oldenbeuving
Poe Pinson
Pamela Rosa
Nika Washington

Competition Schedule - Japan local Time - More info on how to watch in other countries coming soon!

Dropping in for the first time can be a bit scary. Watch Alex and Andrew Cannon break it down for you! If you somehow don’t know who Alex is, please google her. She’s a legend and knows her stuff!

Our OG 80s surf sisters are telling their stories and it’s one that is parallel to female skateboarders from that same era. This is a movie that everyone that has a daughter that surfs or skateboards should watch.

It's the 1980s and the world of professional surfing is a circus of fluorescent colors, peroxide hair, and radical male egos. GIRLS CAN’T SURF follows the journey of a band of renegade surfers who took on the male-dominated professional surfing world to achieve equality and change the sport forever.

Featuring surfing greats Jodie Cooper, Frieda Zamba, Pauline Menczer, Lisa Andersen, Pam Burridge, Wendy Botha, Layne Beachley, and more, GIRLS CAN'T SURF is a wild ride of clashing personalities, sexism, adventure, and heartbreak, with each woman fighting against the odds to make their dreams of competing a reality.

The film drops on April 19th on Apple TV.

Samarria Pro Bronson Bearing Release

The Ditch em’ Event is coming, Samarria Brevard’s Pro G3 Bearing Release Event. Ditch your old bearings and wheels for Samarria’s newest Pro G3 Bearings and Ricta Wheels at Bronson’s DITCH’ EM event x Skate Like a Girl. Meet on April 10th at Mike Fox Skatepark in Santa Cruz, CA

APRIL 10th, 9 AM - 12 PM

MIKE FOX SKATEPARK - 299 San Lorenzo Blvd., Santa Cruz, CA

While supplies last!

I LOVE SKATEBOARDING / A Girl’s Skate Video

We are so stoked about this new video that dropped today! S1 Helmets supports our movement in so many ways and creating this video together with S1 team riders and Girl is NOT a 4 letter word team riders was amazing!

Featuring (in order of appearance)

Quinne Daniels, Paige Tobin, Evette Halitzka, Klara Kermoade, Kaiya Daniels, Briel Weingartner

Created by S1 Helmets and Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word

Filming by Colin H. Clark

Music by Velour Academy

Image via Powell Peralta

Exciting news this week!! it was just announced that Sakura Yosozumi, Gold Meadlist for Women’s Park at the 2021 Olympics, is now pro for Powell Peralta. Her Flight Deck and 7 Ply Decks are in stock and shipping to skate shops worldwide. Awesome!!!

Image via Powell Peralta

You can grab one of Sakura’s new pro boards HERE

Karly Moreno

Tonight Essie had an amazing launch party to celebrate their latest philanthropic initiative, hands all in in partnership with Project UnLonely, as well as their launch of the Essie Expressie Sk8 with Destiny nail polish collection. The event was held at The Annenberg Beach House and the OC Ramp painted in Essie’s new color collection was so fun! Nothing better than being right on the beach in Santa Monica, California, and skating a mini ramp with friends.

There were yummy eats and drinks, manicurists to give you a fresh and fast Essie Expressie manicure, skateboarding, friends, and good vibes. The weather could not have been more perfect - it was like a beautiful sunny and warm summer day.

Briana King

Hilary Shanks

It was great to see Briana King, Karly Moreno, TomTom, Hilary Shanks, and friends shredding the ramp throughout the party.

Make sure you check out our Instagram for a video of the event!

Photos @ianlogan x @girlisnota4letterword

Thanks so much to Essie for the invite!

The short film “A Good Friday to Fall” is written and directed by Rachelle Vinberg (from The Skate Kitchen and HBO’s BETTY) and features newcomer Dafny Estrada. It follows the two skaters throughout a fun day in the city where Rachelle shows Dafny what skateboarding and just having fun on your board is all about.

We don’t know how we missed this when it dropped in February, but we are happy we get to share it with you now!

In case you missed the live conversation with women in skateboarding today hosted by Los Angeles Public Library and Zach Moldof, you can watch the entire show here. This episode of LA MADE features skateboarders, Cindy Whitehead, Alex White, Monica Torres and Briana King!

Please join pro skateboarders Cindy Whitehead, Alex White, Briana King, and Monica Torres for a conversation about women in skateboarding through the years.

Hosted by Zach Moldof and the Los Angeles Public Library.

Thursday, March 17 at 4 PM PST streaming live on Facebook and YouTube.

More info HERE

Los Angeles is home to the most incredible mix of women who have shaped skateboarding. And while female riders have always been around, their entry into the skating industry is, unfortunately, fairly new. Join us to meet four trailblazing skaters who helped change the perception of what women in skateboarding mean and what the future of skating can look like.

Cindy Whitehead is one of the first female pro skaters, and today she runs Girl Is Not A 4 Letter Word, a non-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for women in skateboarding. Alex White was a sponsored skater and now works for one of the biggest and most respected conglomerates in skateboarding: NHS. Briana King is a savant of the contemporary era and one of the most-recognized skateboarders on the planet today. And Monica Torres is a pro skater and Brazilian transplant who won the first-ever Women’s Battle At The Berrics–a widely celebrated contest of the skateboard industry’s best talent.

Streaming live on the library's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Thanks to the generosity of Skate Bud, participants viewing this virtual program will have an opportunity to win a beginner's guide to skating book.

Photos Ian Logan x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word

The Vans x Lizzie Experience was “something else entirely”!

Bands were playing, cocktails and food were flowing, people were skating the bowl, checking out Lizzie’s new shoe, and having a blast. The party was held outside at Goya Studios in the heart of Hollywood and it was a perfect night - the sky was clear and it was a typical winter evening in California, which means a perfect 60 degrees.

All of Lizzie’s friends we’re there to celebrate with her, dance, skate, and be stoked that a female pro skater has her own signature shoe with Vans.

If you haven’t checked out Lizzie’s new shoe or her capsule collection, it’s in Vans stores now!

The Lizzie Experience goes on through this weekend - so if you are in Los Angeles, we suggest you check it out - tickets in the link!

Thanks so much to Vans for having us!

USA Olympian skateboarder, Bryce Wettstein, skateboards with rad longboarder Carla Javier-Brea and some amazing roller skaters in this new video for clothing company Wildfang.

Check out Wildfang’s other videos featuring these skaters on Youtbe!

If you are anywhere near Houston, TX make sure you put April 9th, 4-7 PM on your calendar because GROW is throwing a girl’s skate event. There will be live music, art, and prizest!

“Girls Roll on Wheels” takes place at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark at 103 Sabine Street in Houston.

Pro skateboarder Arianna Carmona will be there to do a skate demo and sign some autographs.

Bring your board and come on out and skate!

Team riders Klara and Briel ~ Photo Ian Logan

We are so excited to announce the launch of our NEW Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word website!

As always, we will be bringing you daily updates on what is happening in the world of girls’ and womxn’s skateboarding, but with a fresh new look and feel. We hope you love it!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Team riders Kaiya, Quinne, Evette, Briel and Klara at a recent GN4LW skate session ~ Photo Ian Logan

Bryce has a new pro model with Stereo Skateboards

Bryce Wettstein had her Stereo for Thrasher part drop on March 2 and in anticipation, a party was held at her home with friends and family. What Bryce didn’t know is that her sponsor, Stereo Skateboards was also giving Bryce her own pro model!

Congrats Bryce!

You can buy Bryce’s new pro model HERE

As a trailblazer in skateboarding, Lizzie is an inspiration, breaking down the barriers of what’s possible. So, when Vans set out to create Lizzie’s first signature skateboarding shoe, we listened closely to her and what she needed to progress. The result is The Lizzie, Vans’ first signature skateboarding shoe designed by a woman in 20 years. The Lizzie provides something else entirely for a wider range of skateboarders whose needs are not being met. 

“I really enjoyed the process of creating a shoe from the ground up,” Lizzie said. “I felt compelled to make a shoe that is simple, functional, feels good on your feet and has a bit of soul, and feel proud of what we were able to accomplish.” 

To bring this vision to life, Lizzie worked closely with Vans’ Innovation and Product Development teams on a performance-fit last molded directly from 3D scans of her feet. Lizzie wanted a shoe that represented her completely—from a slimmer fit tailored to her foot shape, to a leaner outsole for a closer connection to her board and improved flexibility. The impact cushioning in typical skate shoes left Lizzie feeling like she was floating above her board, so Vans listened to create a new lower profile footbed. 

The Lizzie features a new vulcanized construction with a lower profile sidewall foxing tape, an exposed radiused outsole edge, and flex grooves for a stable, broken-in feel. The universal fit features the perfect amount of EcoCush™ cushioning, increasing boardfeel for a wider range of skaters. A new 3D Embossed DURACAP™ toe and Sidestripe has even more durability in high-wear areas, while an all-new micro-waffle tread and Sick-Stick™ rubber offers maximum grip. 

Because Lizzie is also passionate about preserving our planet, her signature shoe received the Vans VR3 Checkerboard Globe designation, meaning it follows strict footwear materials guidelines for all major components and has been designed and engineered to have a reduced carbon footprint compared to Vans’ canvas shoes. Under the VR3 designation, The Lizzie will always be made in part with organic cotton, natural rubber and biobased foam. For its debut, The Lizzie also utilizes suede across the entire shoe sourced from Leather Working Group (LWG) tanneries that have been rated gold or silver for environmental responsibility. 

“I feel very connected to nature, and I’m stoked that my shoe could bring me even closer to it. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to include sustainable materials and practices as much as possible throughout the entire process. It means a lot to me that Vans’ design team went the extra mile to make this happen,” Lizzie added.

The Lizzie is finished with minimal detailing, including Lizzie’s signature initials on the exterior tongue label as well as her first and last name on the underside of the heel flaps, visible only when flipped up. Bright pops of hand drawn citrus and botanical illustrations on the shoe’s interior lining speak to Lizzie’s love of plants.

  In addition to The Lizzie, the Vans x Lizzie Armanto collection features a head-to-toe assortment of apparel and accessories designed in collaboration with Lizzie that include workwear-inspired staples like the Lizzie Armanto vest and Armanto skate chinos in burro, a knit tank in black, and short sleeve mini tee in melon, as well as a bucket hat in natural, crew socks in white, and waistpack in burro. The offering features the same citrus and botanical graphics tying back to her signature shoe. 

Lizzie Armanto embodies the true spirit of creative expression in all its forms. With a storied career that includes many firsts—like the first woman to grace TransWorld SKATEboarding’s magazine cover and one of the first women in years to appear on the cover of Thrasher, the first to complete Tony Hawk’s Loop, and a part of the talented crew to compete in Tokyo’s 2021 Olympic skateboarding debut—Lizzie is a pioneer and role model. Continuing to break new ground, Vans and Lizzie are proud to deliver something else entirely for a new generation of skateboarders.

The Lizzie x Lizzie Armanto Collection will be available March 10, 2022 at Vans Skateboarding retailers and at Vans.com. To learn more, visit Vans.com/lizzie