Category: 1970s
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Canada’s Champion
I first wrote about PJ McKenzie (Pam Judge) back in May 2022 after sourcing just a few photos of her online, and then stumbling upon a few more through newspaper databases. Once I realized that she was Canada’s first female skateboarding champion (back in 1977 / 1978), I knew that I had to meet her!…
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National Skateboard Review Mysteries
The skateboarding publication, The National Skateboard Review (1976-1979) by Di Dootson has provided a wealth of information for sourcing names of female skaters, their contest results, and photos. The challenge with following-up on a lead from the 1970s online and via social media is that it’s highly likely that names and pronouns have changed over…
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Barb Odanaka
Barbara Ludovise Odanaka’s return to skateboarding as an adult was the ultimate power-move and it was such a privilege to interview her (June 22, 2023) and be the recipient of her story that is so inspiring even with its moments of heartbreak. Please note that Barb has given me permission to share details of her…
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Aina Maria Oliver
Mallorca (Majorca), Spain is a stunning island in the Mediterranean, and turns out there was a female skateboarder named Aina Maria Oliver (Campins) who would skate the local park called Tramuntana hosted by the town Santa Ponça in the municipality of Calvià, built in 1970. I’ve got a Facebook match, so hoping for some updates…
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Michelle Matta
Michelle Matta (Overin) of Canoga Park near Los Angeles had a flurry of activity in November 1977 when she appeared in both Skateboard World as well as a 6-page feature in Wild World of Skateboarding magazine at age 14. Michelle was a graceful Californian freestyle skater, riding for Maxwell and Pepsi, and while there’s emphasis…
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Laura Thornhill-Caswell
An archive on the history of women skaters wouldn’t be complete without Laura Thornhill (Caswell) with her massive list of contest wins. Her legacy is very much tied to the 1970s, and the photos of her taken by the legendary photographer Warren Bolster are iconic, among many others. When I tell people I’m writing about…
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Bristol Girls Team
When the first UK National Championships was hosted at Crystal Palace in London (originally planned for July but delayed until August 10th, 1977 due to rain) there was no category for women and the female skaters from Bristol were not impressed. In the Evening News special report that was printed in September 1977 it was…
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Colorado 1970s Slalom
From 1975-1978, there was a thriving skateboarding scene in Colorado primarily focused on slalom racing in the Rocky Mountains, and it included a crew of women. These skateboarders were celebrated in the August 1978 issue of The National Skateboard Review, with a photo of Barb Hellberg, Janice “Berger” Rumberger, Kathy Ruh, Lisa Wilson, Cindy Langhill…
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Jana Payne
Jana Payne (Booker) has been repeatedly recognized as a major influence on skaters like Vicki Vickers, Kym Milburn, and Terry Lawrence and has now been inducted into the Skateboard Hall of Fame (2022). Jana is also a survivor of childhood sexual assault which she experienced at the hands of a predatory skateboarding coach in the…
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Debbie Bragg
Auckland, New Zealand in 1978 opened up a kickass skatepark called Skatopia in the Manukau suburb, which was sponsored by Coca Cola. It emulated the park plans from Skatopia in the U.S. Sadly, it was demolished in 1982 but it was a training grounds for many Kiwi skaters while it lasted. Here’s a promo for…
Womxn Skateboard History 