Lynnette Fraas was a competitive freestyle skateboarder in the 1970s, sponsored by Banzai skateboards, whose name started to appear in contest results in 1976. She is from San Diego and attended Mission Bay Senior High (1978-1980).
At the 2nd Annual Amateur Freestyle contest in Oceanside on July 11, 1976 there were 2000 spectators according to the National Skateboard Review (September 1976) and at 13 years old, Lynnette came 3rd in the “Girls Open Class” with Kym Milburn (15) taking the win, and Diane Patterson (14) in 2nd.
She also competed at the Thousand Oaks Contest, sponsored by the Aquanetics Surf Shop, placing 4th behind Kerry Cooper, Becky Martinez, and Kym Milburn. The October 1976 issue of National Skateboard Review noted that there were over one hundred entries, as Erbes Road was a long, isolated stretch and centrally located, appealing to skaters from northern and southern California.
Lynnette’s older brother was Robert “Bobby” Fraas, seen here performing a “gorilla grip,” enjoying Spring Valley (Skateboard Heaven) skatepark with Lynnette along for the ride, and skating the Flower Bowl, taken by David DPS Paul. I imagine he was a big influence for Lynnette.
At the 1978 California Skateboard State Championships, Lynnette placed 3rd in Freestyle for Girls 13 and over, behind Suzette Owens and Jackie Jones, and ahead of Jana Payne.
June 1978 was the National Pro-Am Freestyle contest at Oceanside. Lynette came 5th in the amateur sponsored division for 13-15 year-olds, behind Suzette Owens, Kym Milburn, Bonnie Rose, and Jana Payne. Her routine was well-documented:
The following year, Lynnette again competed at the Oceanside Nationals in July 1979 and in the November 1979 issue of Skateboarder it was noted that, “Lynette Fraas, sister of pro skater Bobby Fraas, had a routine which was beautiful and very feminine while featuring a high degree of difficult maneuvers.” Lynnette placed first ahead of Michelle Kolar for the “Independent Girls” all ages division.
Michelle reported that trying to forge on into the 1980s as a competitive freestyle skater was an exercise in frustration since the scene shifted away from choreographed skateboarding to “street style” deemed more aggressive and masculine, and the preference of the male majority.
Based on Lynnette’s Facebook profile, she went on to become a digital creator and still lives in Oceanside.
Womxn Skateboard History 