Author: Natalie Porter
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Yuka
This is Yuka [ ゆか ] skating freestyle in Japan in 1990, and I’m determined to learn more about her! Using Google translate and google.jp I stumbled upon this photo from a Japanese skater’s blog from 2006-2011. The caption under Yuka’s photo translates to: “Yuka is a genius female freestyler… She also won top prizes…
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Faye Jaime
Faye Jaime was an original member of the Villa Villa Cola (VVC) crew out of San Diego back in the 1990s and early 2000s, celebrated in their zines and videos. Faye may have been soft-spoken but she was a ripping skater and became sponsored by Vans and Consolidated. In 1997, Faye had a key role…
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Magazine Covers
When a skateboarder (and their photographer) discovers that a photo of them was chosen to grace the cover of a skateboarding magazine, it is a big deal worthy of a party and social media celebrations. Over the decades, this level of promotion has often eluded female and non-binary skaters which has meant that any cover…
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Lori Rarey
Lori Rarey (Hayden) is Wonder Woman. In the November 1978 issue of the National Skateboard Review on page 12, it was stated that “Lori Rarey did a chase scene for Warner Brothers Studios as the stunt double for Lynda Carter of Wonder Woman while Ellen O’Neal was the stunt double for the guest star, Cynthia…
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Linda Finley
In 1964, C&D Skateshop in southern California organized a team of youth who were avid surfers to provide demonstrations as part of the “Skate Board Division” of the Surf Team. There’s a vintage group photo with everyone on the team barefoot, including one Linda Finley in the middle, possibly at a contest since there’s trophies…
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Lauren Perkins
Lauren Perkins (Marvle) was a pro street skateboarder from Huntington Beach, who made an impact during the early 2000s. She locked in a variety of sponsors including Etnies, World Industries, Oakley, Nixon, Vans, Volcom, Darkstar, Tensor, Stussy, Skull Candy, Kickers, Joker Skate Rails, and Jack’s Garage over the years. At age five, Lauren “was already…
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Skate and celebrate
Happy Go Skateboarding Day and Indigenous People’s Day! Fun fact… Trevor Adolph of the Xaxli’p First Nation won the Canadian Nationals in the 12 and under amateur boys in both 1980 and 1981. He was celebrated in the September 1980 issue of Indian World where it was written that the contest was held in Burnaby…
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Stacey Roper
Stacey Roper (aka “Stace the Ace”) is a legendary pin-striper from Aotearoa (New Zealand), best known for her highly detailed work and official Rat Fink artist status. And yet, I had first heard about Stace because of the website, Frontside Betty which was hosted by a fellow Canadian, Denise Williams in the late 1990s /…
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Gale Webb
Over the years, Gale Webb has been dubbed “Mrs. Skateboard,” “The Skateboarding Mom,” “Rad Mom,” “Motocross Mom,” “Mrs. Moto,” and “America’s Sports Mom,” all of which she embraced. In Gale’s Skateboarding Hall of Fame bio, it’s explained that she was born in Brooklyn, NY and at age 12 she had dismantled her old roller skates,…
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Arisa Trew 900
As you may be aware, Arisa Trew from Australia, at age 14 became the first female skater to perform a 900 in vert last week! Moments after her feat was accomplished, I received an invitation from WithIt Girl, which is a long-standing skateboard-oriented website since the early 2000s. They had received Arisa’s photos and video…
Womxn Skateboard History 