We are big fans of Ricci Tres, so when Nike SB offered to let us drop this cool video of Ricci promoting the new Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Be True, we were all in! Watch Ricci skate the streets of Los Angeles and hear what it’s like to Be True, every single day.

Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Be True

Via Nike SB - We see you always, in all ways. Celebrating Trans joy, the timeless skate shoe delivers a fresh look that honors living genuinely and authentically. The eye-catching design uses the artwork of trans man and artist Xavier Schipani to illustrate the euphoric feeling and joy of being free to express who you are. His figurative graphics bring trans athletes to the playing field, highlighting how sport has the ability to unify. And radiant colors showcase the power of pride. Take a closer look, the chain link graphic inside represents the bonds within the Trans community worldwide. Lace up and let yourself shine—we're listening.

All Photos Chris Hooten

We are so honored to be a co-sponsor of this fantastic event!

The 6th annual Venice Ladies and LGBTQ+ Jam went off under beautiful sunny skies - we couldn’t have asked for a better day! The skaters were encouraging each other, and the crowd was cheering for each and every one of them! Skaters spanned from as young as four years old all the way up to our master’s division, where 50+ was the norm!

Scroll on for so much goodness from the day!

Mazel air over the channel

Mother and daughter duo - Julie and Quinne

The woman who makes all of this happen Heidi Lemmon, and SHOF Inductee Gale Webb

Anna with a nice BS air over the hip

Evette awarding Kateyln her 1st place medal

Sydney smiling and skating

Michelle Yooon

Prizes for Street comp

The awesome Lance Lemond

Skaters everywhere!

Nia getting a mommy assit

Penny and Tracie G.

DJ VRSA

Julie cruising her way to the podium

Katelyn with an invert - showing the style that earned her 1st place

Legendary Venice skater, Pauline Branom watching the action

Girls Play LA was in the house!!

A podium full of smiling faces and lots of swag!

DJ VRSA

Cheryl with a rock and roll on the hip in the snake run

Penny attacking the snake run

Julie winning a bag of swag and looking pretty stoked about it!

Quinne BS grind in the bowl

Our amazing announcer/MC Bart Saric

Maya handing out prizes to the competitors

Cheryl BS grind

Rob from Downhill Dogs

Evette giving out medals

Lonny Hiramoto OG Superstar

Dailynn taking home some goods!

Pauline & Lonny

Julie cruising

Tuma on the mic

Brooke, Penny and Nona competed in Pup Cup and took home tons of prizes!

Pauline flowing through the snake run

Nona has a little asist from dad during the pup cup

Tracie G - WCMX off the stairs!

The 25+ division ruled!! Such a great turn out!!

Nia thinking about her next run for pup-cup.

Mac Attac - total Venice style!

Mayziewith a stylish FS grind

Alex taking home the spoils

So many happy faces!

Sydney having a blast in the snake run

This about sums it up - what a GREAT day!!

We have to thank all the support this event was given this year, not only by our amazing sponsors but also Girls Play LA,  LA Parks and Rec, and the City of Los Angeles.

We say this every year, but it is so true... The best part of this event is seeing so many girls come out and skate, meet one another, and form friendships, and they now have a group of girls to continue skating with throughout the year. That's what keeps these girls progressing.

Huge thanks to the City of Los Angeles, LA Recreation and Parks, Venice Recreation Center, Venice Art Walls, DJ VRSA, Skate Park Association International, Heidi Lemmon, Lance Lemond, Kimi Kallman, Bart Saric our fabulous announcer, Lonnie Hiramoto, all the judges and volunteers, the photographers - Lauren Muller, Gale Webb, and Chris Hooten, who covered the event, as well as the numerous sponsors who sent so much product that the girls went home with a big bags of swag.

Hope to see everyone again next year!

Thanks to Chris Hooten for the use of all his images!

** Please check out our instagram for additional coverage of the event!

The 2022 USA Skateboarding National Championships (presented by Toyota) semifinalists have been revealed. Watch today's video to get familiar with who's moving on to the next phase in Men's & Women's Park and Street disciplines.

The Semis will be held at CA Skateparks training facility on December 3, and the Finals will happen on the 4th. Visit USASkateboarding.com for more information!

Congrats to our team riders Minna Stess, Klara Kermoade, Katelyn West, and Maya Kenny for making the semi-finals!

We love Yndiara Asp, so we couldn’t wait to watch this new video about her from Santa Cruz Skateboards.

Life comes at all of us differently. Some people use their situation as an excuse and others use it to fuel their fire. Yndiara grew up in Florianópolis, Brazil and still resides in the Magic Islands to this day. From growing up surfing the Magic Islands to skating the biggest contests in the world, Yndiara stays centered with her loving family and passion for skateboarding.

Produced by Joe Perrin & Trevar Cushing.

Edited by Eric Danescu

This advert from UK high-end department store, John Lewis, gives us all the feels. Watch it and be prepared to shed a tear (or three).

It’s the things we do that mean the most. 🛹

“This Christmas it’s about what we do that matters most. That’s why we used our advert this Christmas to highlight an issue close to hearts, so that together, we can be a force for positive change for a generation of young people growing up in care or who have experienced being in care. We want every young person to feel valued and seen and have the same opportunity for a happier Christmas and a happier future. Find out more about what we’re doing and how you can help too though our website”

Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word x Pom Pom Collab Deck

It took nine years of people asking us to do this, but it's finally here! 👏 Today we are proud to announce the launch of our FIRST Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word skate deck. 🛹

We found the perfect collab partner in Pom Pom Skateboards to create a deck that is not only high quality, a great size, and shape but also has sick colors and a mix of our original, well-loved graphics. 💗+☠️

Deck Specs:

Hot pink stain, teal graphic bottom

8.5" wide, 7 Ply Canadian Maple, 14 1/4 Wheelbase, 7" nose, 6 3/4" tail

** Each of these collab decks comes with stickers from GN4LW & POM POM **

This is a LIMITED-EDITION deck - so get yours while you can! 🏁

All proceeds go back to the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement - a fiscally sponsored non-profit. 🙏

Get out and SKATE! ✔️

The new stickers for the Venice Ladies and LGBTQ Jam! ~ Designed by Heidi Lemmon

This is one of our favorite events of the year! Not only because Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word is a co-host of the event, but because this is the day that non-traditional skaters take over Venice Skatepark for a fun day of skating and competing. From the youngest skaters in the “Pup Cup” to 25+ skaters, this event has something for everyone! We hand out medals and so many prizes from our awesome sponsors - it really is the best! In past years, we have seen over 100 non-traditional skaters show up and compete - skaters from all over the world to skate the legendary Venice Skatepark with us!

Save the Date, and we can’t wait to see you there!!

We also now have an early sign-up form link (this is a FREE event!) HERE

We have to say how cool this couple is! pro skaters Lizzie Armanto and her husband Axel Cruysberghs star in Thrasher Magazine’s new video “Till Death Do Us” Part, and it’s the first time a husband and wife have had a video skate part together. How rad is that?!

We give it two thumbs up!!

Amelia Brodka / Co-Founder of Exposure Skate ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Day two of exposure was just as jam-packed and exciting as day one! We hung out at the vert ramp and watched practice unfold. From the smallest girls to the adult skaters - all were ripping and having fun.

Scroll down for more images - and if we didn’t have a name or get it correct please let us know via a DM on Instagram (we are only human)

Thanks so much to Exposure Skate for having us!

Enjoy!!

Yuzuki Mizote ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Arianna Carmona ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Mei Nakano ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Ruby Lilley ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Joey Yarbrough ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Arianna Carmona

Lulu Johnson

Arianna Carmona

Ruby Lilley

Erina Takatsuki

Cona Suganami

Michelle Yoon

Jessie Frietze-Armenta

Katelyn West

Arianna Carmona

Kihana Ogawa

Lola Tambling

Carlin Makibbin

Aaliyah Wilson

Klara Kermoade ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Michelle Yoon ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Harlow Johnsey ~Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Mazel Alegado ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Carlin Makibbin

Elle Warne

Juno

Phoenix

Lady Meek

Mei Nakano

Autumn Tust

Mayzie Feher

Cona Suganami

We’ve been eagerly waiting for this video part from 10-year-old Reese Nelson to drop. Tony Hawk and Birdhouse have been dropping hints for a while now, but today it was finally released - along with the news that Reese is now a full-fledged member of the Birdhouse team Huge news when you just turned 10 a day ago! Congrats Reese!

BTW - if you haven’t seen this mini shredder skate, you are in for a treat!

Image of Rayssa Leal via Street League

Well, it’s finally here - the SLS Super Crown Championship, and you can watch the women compete LIVE from Rio de Janeiro… Nov. 5-6th.

Rayssa Leal is hoping to take it after winning the last three SLS contests - Jacksonville, Seattle, and Las Vegas. But as we know, anything can happen at an SLS event. Tune in because so many women want that trophy, and Rayssa will be battling Pamela Rosa, Yumeka Oda, Momiji Nishiya, and four other skaters that make it through the “last chance qualifier” to compete in the finals.

P.S. we have our eye on the young newcomers Chloe Covell and Poe Pinson, to make it through to the finals. Fingers crossed!

It’s going to be something you don’t want to miss!!

WATCH THE WOMEN COMPETE LIVE!

Saturday, November 5th - Women’s Last Chance Qualifier

7:30 AM PT / 10:30 AM ET - Live on ESPN+

Sunday, November 6th - Women’s Finals

5:30 AM PT / 8:30 AM ET - Live on ESPN+

**You can also catch the women’s finals on ESPN

12 PM PT and 3 PM ET

Harlow Johnsey ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Exposure Skate 2022 was so good we can’t stop posting photos! This is part 2 of women’s bowl. Next up is vert! Stay tuned!

Thanks to Amelia Brodka and Lesli Cohen for this amazing event, year after year. And a big shout out to all the volunteers that keep things running so smoothly!

Nico Suganami ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Kate Kuno ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Tracy ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Ruby Lilley ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Mei Nakano ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Lulu Johnson

Aoi Fukuda

DM us on Instagram - we need her name

Autumn Tust

Lola Tambling ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Juno ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Cona Suganami ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Fay Ebert ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Leo Baker’s essay in Four Wheels and a Board

A new coffee table book about the history of skateboarding, the skaters, board graphics, and pivotal moments in skateboarding drops today.

Four Wheels and a Board, edited by Jane Rogers and Betsy Gordon, designed by Elise Crigar and Alex Barnes, and published by Smithsonian Books, chronicles skateboarding from its early surf roots to the recent 2020 Olympics.

Judi Oyama’s interview for Four Wheels and a Board

With essays and interviews from well know female and LGBTQ skaters throughout history, this is a book that every non-traditional skater should buy and read. Never before have these stories been told all in one place by the girls, women, and LGBTQ community that lived them.

At times the stories are very direct, and all are inspiring, coming from a marginalized group who forged their own way in a male-dominated industry. The essays and interviews are a factual look at the evolution of these non-traditional skateboarders. The book is filled with visual examples of these skaters’ history, and the layouts are stunning.

The cover of Four Wheels and a Board published by Smithsonian Books

You can order a copy of Four Wheels and a Board HERE

Maya Kenny ~ Photo Ian Logan

Our Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word AM team riders had such a great time at Exposure Skate! All six girls (Maya, Klara, Katelyn, Elle, Mazel, and Mayzie) skated in the bowl contest - four in the advanced division and 2 in Intermediate. Elle is a past Exposure competitor, but for the other girls, this was their first time competing at this fantastic contest that skaters from all over the world come to, and they handled it well!

Pro team rider Minna Stess (fresh off her 3rd place podium finish in Rio) opted to compete in the “longest Grind” event at Exposure, and it was so much fun to watch these skaters push it for so many coping blocks!

Mayzie Feher ~ Photo Ian Logan

Mazel Alegado ~ Photo Ian Logan

Elle Warne ~ Photo Ian Logan

Katelyn West ~ Photo Ian Logan

Klara Kermoade ~ Photo Ian Logan

Pro Team Rider Minna Stess competed in “Longest Grind” ~ Photo Ian Logan

Thanks to Amelia Brodka and Lesli Cohen for putting on this event year after year, and huge props to all the volunteers as well - this event would not happen without all of YOU!

Aaliyah Wilson ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

We are so thankful that this Pandemic is coming to an end and that Exposure Skate is back to being an in-person event! We love that Exposure did virtual contests for the past two years to keep the stoke going, but there is nothing better than seeing these non-traditional skaters shred in person!

Juno ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

We have so many great images from Day 1 that we will be running some here and some on our Instagram. There was so much talent at this contest you could not look away or even take a quick bathroom break, or you’d miss a spectacular run! There were skaters from China, a whole team from Australia, Japan was there, and a whole new crop of Americans showed up to show what’s been happening these past two years - and believe us when we tell you that the level of skating has risen substantially! And we are talking about every age group!

Yuzuki Mizote ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Ruby Lilley ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Matsouka ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Cona Suganami - Photos @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Thanks to Amelia Brodka, Lesli Cohen, and all the volunteers that make this event happen, it would not happen each year without your hard work and tireless efforts. We appreciate you all so very much!

Erina Takatsuki

Autumn Tust

Kate Kuno

Alice May

Mame Fremah Bonsu

Grace

Katie Pike

Lulu Johnson

Joey Yarbrough

Photos @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Mei Nakano- Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Minna Stess ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Lilly Erickson ~ Photo @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Lola Tambling

Jordyn barratt

Kihana Ogawa

Bryce Wettstein

Photos @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Nico Suganami ~ Photos @ianloganphoto x @girlisnota4letterword

Stay tuned for more Exposure photos this coming week!

GN4LW Team riders Katelyn, Klara, Mayzie, Maya and Mazel with the new issue of Bigfoot Magazine - Photo Ian Logan / at Exposure Skate 20222

When I was skating in the 70s, I dreamed of a day when I’d be able to buy a skate magazine that was filled with photos and articles about skaters that were not guys. I would have even settled for opening Skateboarder Magazine and seeing pages and pages of girls skateboarding vert, but that was just not the case.

Fast forward to 2022 and why we are such HUGE fans of Bigfoot Magazine and have absolutely devoured the two previous issues. But we have to say that Issue 3, which launched at Exposure this past weekend, might just take the cake! With the words TEEN SKATER across the top (poking fun at those teen magazines that told us the best way to get a boy to like us and how to put on make-up) with Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team rider Minna Stess flying high on the cover, it is everything we dreamed that a skate magazine could (and should) be.

Minna Stess holding issue 3 of Bigfoot Magazine featuring her on the cover. Photo via Migz

The genius behind this magic is the tireless Meghan “Migz” McGuire, who designs Bigfoot, takes a lot of the photos, writes 90% of the hilarious articles, drums up advertisers, handles distribution, and everything else it takes to get a full-fledged magazine like this out there! Migzy comes up with so many awesome ideas for articles and interviews (shout out to Amy Caron for the great interview with Minna!) and always makes sure to lift up and inspire this large community of non-traditional skateboarders with her photos and words. The catchy headlines and magazine issue themes make it even more special.

Without women like Migz paving the way, we’d be stuck trying to be accepted and featured in traditional male-dominated skate magazines, and that recognition for non-traditional skaters is the exception, not the norm.

Fast forward to Exposure Skate Comp this past weekend - we surprised team riders Klara, Maya, Katelyn, and Mazel and our newest team rider, Mayzie, with a first glimpse of the new issue. When they opened the magazine, their eyes got wide, and they couldn’t believe that some of the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word team riders were featured in a genuine skate magazine - with photos of them shredding skateparks around Southern California and their names highlighting the two-page spread.

That is the magic of Bigfoot Magazine.

You can buy Bigfoot Magazine Issue 3 HERE.

Need a little mid-week break? Be at Volcom HQ this Thursday night for a skate meet-up and video premiere with Rachelle Vinberg, Monica Torres, and Liv Lovelace. There will be music, free tacos, ice cream, giveaways, pant customization, DIY grip tape, and more. Plus, Volcom will be introducing the ThisThatThem Skate Pant!

Thursday, October 27, from 5-9 PM

Volcom HQ - 1740 Monrovia Avenue, Costa Mesa

RSVP HERE

2020 USA National Team Heading to the Olympics - Photo Ian Logan

It’s that time of year - when the USA National Skateboarding Team holds their try-outs for new National Team Members in Bowl and Street. They have made the process pretty simple, and if you follow the link we have provided below, you will see that you will need to fill out a form, shoot an “UN-EDITED” video to submit, and wait to hear if you have made it to the Semi-Finals.

If you make it, then you’ll need to be at CATF to compete in the semi-finals and, hopefully, the finals!

Good Luck!

Pro Tips:

Under 18 or entering for Park? You must have a helmet on in your video submission.

This must be a recent and NEW - never been posted before - video

It must not be edited - one take only!

Filmed between now and November 16th

1 Minute in length!

You must have an open Instagram Account (not private) to load up your submission and tag

You also must add your Instagram link to your video submission form.

Make sure you read all directions carefully because if you miss one step, your submission may not be judged.

Get all the details HERE

This is one of our favorite events of the year! Not only because Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word is a co-host of the event, but because this is the day that non-traditional skaters take over Venice Skatepark for a fun day of skating and competing. From the youngest skaters in the “Pup Cup” to 25+ skaters, this event has something for everyone! We hand out medals and so many prizes from our awesome sponsors - it really is the best! In past years, we have seen over 100 non-traditional skaters show up and compete - skaters from all over the world to skate the legendary Venice Skatepark with us!

Save the Date, and we can’t wait to see you there!!

A Land for Everyone | Outdoors, Adventure, Skateboarding For All

A land in skateboarding is to do a trick successfully, and this land - the outdoors, skateboarding and adventure - is for everyone. 

‘A Land for Everyone’ is a project and short film following skateboard and adventure photographer Hannah Bailey and skateboarder Lyndsay McLaren as they explore the highlands of Scotland. As women who grew up in Scotland, Hannah and Lyndsay's teenage selves never imagined a career in skateboarding would be possible, so this adventure is a nod to their childhoods and the journeys they have been on ever since. 

In the short film by Rachel Sarah, we follow them through the wild, winding roads of Torridon as they explore the belief that ‘respect, protect and share’ applies in the outdoors, skateboarding, sport, the land, and everyday humanity. 

As we revisit and reclaim the highlands and lowlands of their youth, their goal is to challenge perspectives. Combining their love of adventure and the outdoors with their passion to protect it and invite more people into these spaces, they demonstrate that you don’t have to fit the stereotypical narrative for what a skateboarder or outdoors person looks or acts like to embrace everything that the land has to offer. 

A film by Rachel Sarah

Produced by Hannah Bailey

Supported by MPB @MPBCOM

…. For everyone.