Minna Stess ~ Photo Ian Logan

It’s been a minute after Nationals and we have all been waiting eagerly for the USA Skateboarding team announcement and here it is!

**We are proud to say the list includes GN4LW team rider Minna Stess!!!

All info via USA Skateboarding

The U.S. governing body for skateboarding - announced that 16 members would join the 2023 National Skateboarding team. Skaters named to the national team were based off selection criteria listed on the athlete resources page at usaskateboarding.com. 
-
The skaters named to the 2023 USA Skateboarding National Team in no particular order:

Men’s Park:
@tatecarew
@jaggereaton
@gavinbottger
@liampace_
-
Women’s Park
@brycewettstein
@ruby_lilley
@minnastess
@gracemarhoefer
-
Men’s Street
@jaggereaton
@nyjah
@chrisjoslin_
@bradenhoban
-
Women’s Street
@paigeheyn
@_meaganguy
@mariahduran_
@poepinson
-
@toyotausa @teamtoyota #usaskateboarding #olympicskateboarding #teamtoyota #toyota

We love Adrianne Sloboh’s style, commitment when throwing down tricks and watching her always have the best time. This new Krux Trucks video part with the “Queen of Balance” is everything we love her for.

You can now hit the streets with Adrianne Sloboh and her new Krux K5 DLK Pro trucks with multi color grafitti art by Alex Solano and SLO BOH tag pad print on baseplate.

You can get Adrianne’s new Krux Truck HERE and at skate shops worldwide

The Pom Pom x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word collab Skate Deck

Check out our holiday gift guide, full of rad ideas for the skateboarder on your gift list!

We've put together a list of 5 amazing gifts, that any skateboarder in your life would love to unwrap this holiday season!

All products shown can be purchased online, so no rushing around from store to store, trying to hunt them down. Some sites are offering free shipping or discount codes as well. All products listed are things we put our trust in and have first-hand experience with.

Happy Holidays!

Elise Crigar with the new Pom Pom x GN4LW Deck

1. Pom Pom x Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Skate Deck - We did our very first collaboration deck with Pom Pom Skateboards and we love the rad graphics that are infused with elements from our logos and artwork throughout the years. The beautiful teal color on bottom and pink wood stain on top makes it so beautiful you may want to hang it on the wall! But at 8.5 wide this is the perfect board to ride if you want some stability when you skate and to have a smooth ride. It also gives all proceeds back to our fiscally sponsored non-profit GN4LW Movement! $70 and there is a 15% off coupon on the site!

2. Four Wheels and a Board: The Smithsonian History of Skateboarding - this new book by co-authors Jane Rogers and Betsy Gordon, designed by skaters Elise Crigar and Alex Barnes, is a fresh take on the history of skateboarding. It also includes chapters from GN4LW founder, Cindy Whitehead, about what it was really like for women skateboarding in the 70s and 80s. Visually stunning and chock full of great information and beautiful photographs - any skater in your life will love it! On sale now at Amazon for $28.63

3. Independent Stage 11 Primitive Mid Skate Trucks - We just used these awesome trucks on our new Pom Pom x GN4LW Collab board and they are sweeeet! Gold trucks are a rarity, so get ready to be stopped every where you skate and get asked about them. We love the look and the ride so much! We used 159’s on our board. But they do come in 144, 149 and 139 as well. $64.95 Get them at CCS

4. Bigfoot Magazine - Our favorite non-traditional spicy skateboard mag has a special right now, the latest issue of Bigfoot and a Bigfoot tee for only $25. This is a deal that can’t be beat! Perfect as a core git or as socking stuffers. Get yours before they sell out! Did we mention that team rider Minna Stess is on the cover? Even more reason to get a copy! $25 includes Bigfoot Mag anda Bigfoot tee!

GN4LW team riders Briel, Evette, Quinne, and Klara with the new S1 Helmet collab

5. S1 Helmet x GN4LW - Our new Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word x S1 Helmet collab just dropped and we are in LOVE! S1 provides the best protection around and this new pink and purple color way with light blue straps is yummy! All proceeds from this helmet go back into our fiscally sponsored non-profit Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement. $84.99 and available at S1 Helmets (they ship fast!)

Vans Skateboarding is proud to announce the latest collection with progressive and influential skater Lizzie Armanto. Designed in close partnership with Lizzie and leading with Vans Skateboarding’s The Lizzie silhouette, the Lizzie Armanto collection was made to represent something else entirely for a new generation of skateboarders.

 This season, Vans and Lizzie set out to build a collection that mixes her personal style with functional skate details for a combination of everyday footwear and apparel meant for everyone. The Lizzie, which represents Vans’ first signature skate shoe designed by a woman in 20 years, gets an update in a Quilted Grape Leaf colorway and materialization. The hero of the collection is supported by a head-to-toe line up of apparel and accessories, all boasting Vans’ VR3 designation: strict materials guidelines for products made with one or a combination of at least 30% regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable and recycled materials. Inspired by organic tree patterns and her journey toward living a more sustainable life, Lizzie and Vans created a collection utilizing a mix of organic and recycled elements while incorporating a woodgrain pattern throughout the styles, infusing the apparel and footwear with the uniqueness that defines Lizzie on and off the board.

 Created with inclusivity in mind, The Lizzie is built around improved fit and durability — the shoe features a new vulcanized construction, with a higher outsole cup and rounded edges for a stable, broken-in feel. The Lizzie’s standout features include:

• New micro-waffle tread design and SickStick™ Rubber for maximum grip, flex grooves, and a waffle lug perimeter for durability

• Universal fit featuring EcoCush™ foam, a 70% biobased PU foam (Fates) partially sourced from plants, to increase boardfeel

• 100% organic cotton textiles for the quarter-panel, tongue, and lining material

• Stretch tongue straps for added lockdown and tongue stabilization

• Floating heel mustache pull for ease of entry

• 3D molded DURACAP™ toe for durability in high-wear areas

The collection also includes the Armanto jumpsuit, an easy to wear, all-gender apparel option made with 98% organic cotton stretch twill sewn into a relaxed, everyday fit. After debuting a similar look on the world stage in Tokyo, Lizzie partnered with the Vans team to create a jumpsuit like the one that she wore during the event and was excited to include this iconic silhouette in her collection. The Armanto jumpsuit features a button front placket, adjustable waist, straight leg, and novelty tonal woodgrain embroidery at the front and back yoke and patch pockets. Alongside the jumpsuit, the apparel collection includes the Armanto Skate Tote made with 100% recycled PET and a 40% organic cotton Armanto Ticker Sock. The collection is rounded out with a short sleeve ringer tee, LS tee, skate hoodie, skate dress, and skate legging short.

A true embodiment of Vans’ DNA, Lizzie Armanto is an icon of originality and positivity. With her down-to-earth, fashion-forward, barrier-breaking approach, it’s no wonder Lizzie has become a role model to skateboarders around the world. Moving to Santa Monica at age 14, Lizzie quickly became a fixture at local skate park The Cove. While she spent every day refining her skateboarding skills, she never imagined it as a career for herself. It is perhaps this humble attitude along with her unrelenting drive that has paved the way for the iconic milestones she’s achieved today. From being the first female to complete Tony Hawk’s 360 Loop, to gracing the covers of TransWorld Skateboarding and Thrasher, and competing on the world stage in Tokyo, Lizzie is inspiring the next generation of skateboarders to be their most authentic selves.

The Lizzie in Quilted Grape Leaf and Lizzie Armanto Collection are available now at Vans Skateboarding retail locations and at Vans.com/Skateboarding.

(left to right) Grace Marhoefer, Bruce Wettstein, Ruby Lilley ~ Photo via USA Skateboarding

This weekend was nerve wracking for so many people in skateboarding. It was the weekend of the semi- finals and finals for the 2022 USA National Skateboarding Championships, presented by Toyota, that took place at CATF in Vista, CA. This event determines who will now be on the 2023 USA National Skateboarding Team. (This does NOT determine who will compete in Paris in 2024)

There was a huge new crop of female skaters trying out for the Women’s Street Division and an even larger group trying out for the Women’s Park Team. It was nice to see Jordyn Barratt, Minna Stess, Jordan Santana, Bryce Wettstein and Arianna Carmona still in the mix and competing at high levels. Twelve year old GN4LW team rider, Katelyn West, made the finals and was simply stoked to be skating with women she has looked up to since she started skating.

Rumor has it that the top TWO in each discipline will make the USA National Team and the other TWO spots (there are 4 spots total in each discipline) will be filled by the discretion of USA Skateboarding. We are eagerly waiting for the official announcement. We are also hoping they will share the criteria of how the selections are made for the 2 other spots. Points from previous year? Potential gauged at event? Or?

Stay Tuned!!!

Congrats to all the skaters this weekend!

(left to right) Christine Cottam, Paige Heyn, Secret Lynn - Photo via USA Skateboarding

Women’s Street Podium

1. Paige Heyn

2. Secret Lynn

3. Christine Cottam

Women’s Park Podium

1. Bryce Wettstein

2. Ruby Lilley

3. Grace Marhoefer

Bigfoot Magazine’s Try DIY Event Series - Team Rider Katelyn West featured ~ Photo Ian Logan

This is so BRILLIANT! Bigfoot Magazine is doing exactly what we wish we’d see non-traditional skaters do more of - get out of the man-made (perfect) skateparks and skate DIY! Back in the day, we skated ditches, full pipes, abandoned pools and more - this is where you really learn to “figure it out”. Which makes you a better skater overall.

Migz - the brainchild behind Bigfoot Magazine has started a series of events with skate session meet-ups at super cool DIY spots. One of our favorites spots that just re-opened is San Pedro’s Channel Street - which just happens to be the second one on the “Try DIY” list.

To get more info on all the events Bigfoot Magazine has planned head on over to their site HERE

Klara in the new S1 x GN4LW Collab Helmet ~ Photo Ian Logan

Klara with a Smith Grind in the S1 x GN4LW Collab Helmet ~ Photo Ian Logan

Briel and Evette in the new GN4LW x S1 Collab Helmet ~ Photo Ian Logan

We can’t even begin to tell you just how excited we are about our newest collab helmet with S1 Helmets! From the beautiful watercolor purple and pink graphic to the baby blue straps and GN4LW logo - it’s all perfection!

Not too mention the safety rating - The S1 x GN4LW Lifer Helmet is fully certified to help protect against multiple low impacts and single high impacts. The helmet has specially formulated EPS Fusion Foam, it’s Certified for Multi-Impact (ASTM) as well as Certified High Impact (CPSC) and it’s 5x More Protective than Regular Skate Helmets on the market!

We are proud to be partners with S1 on our helmets for all these reasons and more.

Get one in time for the holiday’s HERE!

Klara showing off the baby blue GN4LW logo and straps on the new helmet ~ Photo Ian Logan

** This GN4LW x S1 Collab Helmet helmet gives proceeds back to the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement - a fiscally sponsored non-profit.

We’re huge fans of P448 shoes so when we saw that GB’s Bombette Martin is now sponsored by them and this video dropped - we were stoked! Check out this new line of sneakers that are perfect for skateboarding and beyond.

To see more about P448 x Bombette check it out HERE

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