Kym Agresti from Santa Cruz was a skateboarder, artist, photographer, and zine writer. In her artist’s bio she wrote that, “1984 was a great year to be 18 years old. The skateboarding world was exploding and I was there right in its midst. One Friday my high school arts teacher let me rent a 35 mm Canon camera for the weekend along with two rolls of Tri-X400 black and white film. I asked him, ‘what am I supposed to take photos of?’ He responded that it’s all up to you, whatever your creative vision finds interesting.” That permission and encouragement was exactly what Kym needed and by the end of the weekend she had easily shot both rolls of 36 frames.
Photo: Kym noted that she rarely had photos taken because she tended to be the one behind the camera. This one was taken at Ft. Miley in San Francisco. Her inspiration included the photographers, Glen E. Friedman Tobin Yelland, Luke Ogden and Tod Swank.
Kym was consumed with “skateboarding, skateboarding, music and more skateboarding,” which she considered a lifestyle and definitely not a phase or a hobby! In her bio, she reflected on the rewarding, yet exhausting experience of draining a pool for skateboarding purposes. She wrote, “Even with a good pump it’s extremely hard work, taking up to three days depending on the pool size. You get pool slime all over your body, and pool dust stuck to your nose like quick cement and your arms are so tired from scrubbing that you’re almost too tired to skate. However it’s all about the transition and shape and most of the time well worth the hard work.”
Most of Kym’s skateboarding friends were guys, and they were often in bands. Since she was already documenting the scene, it made sense that Kym would go on to publish the zine Hectic Times from 1990 to 1995 – a total of nine issues. According to a review by Flipside of Issue Number 4, the zine included “Lots of reviews, skate stuff and pics from the Keynote Club. Good looking and worth a read if you ever want to know what goes on in Santa Cruz other than boardwalking and hippiedom.” Another review by Maximum Rock ‘n Roll noted that “The zine interviews bands and talks about cool places to skate… and they haven’t run out of material yet.”
In her editorial, Kym encouraged her readers to support their scene, “Buy from independent record labels, go look for a pool [to skate], express your self, be your self and listen to others.” Kym’s zine also included two cassette compilations of local bands, and it was noted that she her photograph was featured on the album cover for The Loudmouths in 2000.
Fellow skateboarder Ramdasha Bikceem was stoked on Kym and featured a photo of her skateboarding in their zine Gunk No. 3 (1993). Ramdasha wrote: “This is Kym Agresti and she puts out a cool sk8 fanzine called Hectic Times 2-1645 E. Cliff Dr. Suite 17 Santa Cruz, C.A. 95062.”
Based on her connection with Ramdasha and her love of music, I would assume that Kym was also part of the Riot Grrrl movement that was intent on elevating the presence and rights of women to participate in subcultures and be treated with respect.
The photo below by Kym is from the early 1990s featuring Canadian ripper, Lisa Jak Wietzke skating a ramp in Santa Cruz:
Kym shared how this photo came about since she was recruited to document the Jaks skate team, which she described as a “deranged but highly organized skateboard team founded in San Francisco in 1980 with no pros, no sponsors.” The team had expanded up and down the coast from San Diego to Vancouver, BC.
Kym explained that, from 1985 to 1990, she never met any other female skateboard photographers. She did however get some of her work published in Thrasher, TransWorld, Strange Noes and a variety of underground zines. “Some [photos] got used for promo, posters, sponsor ads, record covers. Even though I did not make tons of money, the fact that I was getting paid to do something I love is a great feeling.”
Kym went on to study at the Art Institute San Francisco (after being awarded a full scholarship). Kym also acknowledged that in the 1980s, the education system did not how to approach dyslexia or ADHD, but she persevered and graduated from her program even though there were lots of distractions like skateboarding road trips in California, and the Northwest States. “Portland Oregon (and surround towns) were main stops and great places to stay as there was so much skating there, tons of backyard ramps, empty pools, parks, and of course, there was Burnside [skate park].” The only frustration was gaining a “guilty by association” reputation since she was drawn to risky behaviour, no rules, and folks who struggled with addiction, living on the edge.
Kym now lives in San Francisco, working as a counselor.
This post was edited on December 30, 2024 after Kym and I connected over email and I was forwarded her Artist’s Bio, thanks to Ted Barrow.
Womxn Skateboard History 