Author: Natalie Porter
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1970s News Clippings
Just like the 1960s New Clippings feature, all of these skateboarders are “mysteries,” so please reach out if someone is familiar as I’m always grateful for a little backstory. Names, newspapers and dates all listed below. Back to Top
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Denise Frohlick (Wait)
Denise Frohlick (Wait) of Coquitlam, BC was a champion skater in the early 1980s from Canada. I had come across her name in Thrasher within the September 1981 issue, within an article called “The Great Canadian Open.” On page 11, it was noted that in the banked bowl-riding contest at Seylynn skatepark, “Women’s Open winner…
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Anna Dimitriadou Kruse
Anna Dimitriadou Kruse (RIP) was born in Aurich, East Frisia in Germany on February 6th, 1991, and had family heritage in Greece, which she celebrated. She was a beloved skateboarder, known for her radiant smile, positive energy, and skateboarding skills. This entry is intended to celebrate her life, but please note that it includes details…
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Amy Pike Bradshaw
On Instagram, Amy Bradshaw has tagged herself @oldlady_skater, an identity which she celebrates. Over the years she has documented her skateboarding progress in photos and videos, her wavy silver hair flowing, and has garnered a devoted following. Amy was born in Inglewood, CA in 1964 and started skating around age 9. In an interview for…
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New York mystery 1978
In Skateboard World magazine for December 1978, there’s an article about the scene in New York called, “Skating in the Big Apple” by Mark Diamond and Charles Feldman. In Brooklyn, there was a team called “Performance Skateboard” which met up at Prospect Park, even though it wasn’t an actual skateboard park, and more of just…
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Gale Springer
Gale Springer (Chorpash) grew up near Venice Beach, and was a skateboarder in the late 1970s and early 1980s from age 12 to 19. She enjoyed competing in bowl, pool, and ramp. Gale and her twin brother, Johnny Springer were also Gale Webb’s little cousins, and became part of her early demonstration team around Southern…
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Alexis Schempp
Alexis Schempp (Allan) of Pittsburgh, PA has her mom to thank for introducing her to skateboarding in the early 2000s because after finding her mom’s old skateboard at age eight, she became hooked! The following year, when Alexis was nine, her family moved to Oceanside, CA and she was soon recognized for her fearless approach…
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Badass Barefoot skaters
It takes a certain level of confidence to skateboard barefoot, but back in the 1960s and 1970s many preferred it, especially those with a background in surfing. This era was also pre-grip tape, so it was more likely that surf wax or adhesive spray was applied to boards, as described in this article by Jenkem…
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Jodi McDonald
Jodi McDonald from West Palm Beach, Florida began skateboarding in 1986 when she was 14 years old, and according to fellow vert skater Heidi Fitzgerald, “Jodi brought speed, aggression – it was like, beautiful chaos when she skated.” [October 24th Update: Jodi’s battle with breast cancer continues, so please enjoy this post but consider donating…
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Francine Hill
Francine Hill was one of the photographed skateboarders who appeared in Cindy Berryman’s fantastic article, “Let’s hear it for the ladies” which was published in the August 1976 issue of Skateboarder, rallying for support (including equal contest pay) for the growing talent of female riders. Francine is taking a tight turn in a 9-foot deep…
Womxn Skateboard History 