Author: Natalie Porter
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Terry Brown
Terry Brown from Santa Cruz began skateboarding at age 5 and was encouraged to skateboard by her brothers, even though her parents were less enthusiastic. At age 14 pro skater John Hudson noticed her skating at Harbor and encouraged her to take up slalom. Terry excelled in slalom contests, but she also enjoyed skating bowl…
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Lia Halloran
Lia Halloran is now a globally recognized artist creating massive, surreal images of space and sky, and at the heart of her story and creative inspiration is a passion for skateboarding, as well as physics and astronomy! Lia “was born in Chicago, IL, and grew up surfing and skateboarding in the San Francisco Bay Area…
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Yvonne Cucci
Yvonne Cucci (Summerfield) was originally a mystery until this post was shared on social media and we connected for an interview on Friday, September 2nd, 2022. Yvonne grew up in Torrance, California and played many sports such as flag football, softball and soccer as a kid. She was active and loved being outside. The best…
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Elisabeth “Eli” Meyers
Elisabeth “Eli” Meyers (RIP) was from Schoten, a town in Antwerp, Belgium and is considered the country’s first ripping female skater. Meyers was introduced to skateboarding by her brother and friends, and she consistently skateboarded into her fifties. “In those days, there were no videos – we had to wait for Skateboarder Magazine to come…
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Minh Duc (Jasmin) Tran
In the very first issue of Skateboard! (Britain’s first skateboard magazine), which came out in August 1977, there’s a photo and short blurb on a skater named Minh Duc Tran in the “Who’s Hot” section. The feature shared that Minh was 17, had been skating less than a year and was from the Kensington neighbourhood…
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Kathy Bomeisler
Kathy Bomeisler from Torrance, California “was one of the first girls to compete in contests with a women’s category” according to Di Dootson. In 1975, at the 1st Annual Southern California Skateboard Championships on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Kathy appears in the results representing Makaha and Logan Earth Ski at age 14. In the Women’s…
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Lauri Kuulei Wong
Ladies Skateworld was a ‘zine that launched on April 15, 1986 highlighting the scene at Del Mar Skate Ranch, and was possibly the first skateboarding ‘zine written by and for female skaters. The DIY publication was signed by an elusive skater named “Lauri” or simply “L.K.W.” Some clues to her identity included reference to Hawaiian…
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Rhonda Doyle
In the early 1990s, when asked about other female skaters in the scene, Rhonda Doyle was given props by Cara-beth Burnside in her October 1991 interview for Thrasher. Burnside stated that, “My friend Rhonda Doyle skates vert and pools really well. She’s an aggro grinder girl” (47). Photos: Ethan Fox Rhonda was part of the…
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Marina Gera
In the 1960s, skateboarding was taking off as not only an alternative activity for surfers but an accessible and social activity for all youth that wasn’t dependent on access to waves. In the same issue of Skateboarder magazine that features the legendary Pat McGee on the cover (October 1965), there’s a small photo of Marina…
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Michelle Pezel (and Antisocial)
For skateboarders living in Vancouver, Canada, and the countless skaters who have visited the city and made their way to Antisocial skateshop (or even found refuge on her couch), Michelle Pezel is a legend. She is the co-owner of Antisocial with Rick McCrank, and has relentlessly offered community-building, launch parties, creative outlets, and even activist-activity…
Womxn Skateboard History 