Category: 1990s
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Maggie Behle
In the mid-1990s female skateboarders were practically never included within the main contents of Thrasher magazine, but sometimes they could sneak into the pages through the “Photograffiti” section where readers submit photos, the “Cold Snap” section which was snowboarding not skateboarding (for some reason that arena was acceptable, but only tiny photos of the women…
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Zhenya Arguelles
Zhenya Arguelles [Женя Аргуэльес] is regarded by skateboard historians in Russia as the first female to land an ollie and take up skateboarding with enthusiasm back in 1991 at Moscow’s famed hang-out, Gorky Park. Zhenya learned to skate on a homemade board with roller skates on the bottom, as she was also an active rollerskater.…
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Alison Lee
Alison Lee was a skateboarder based out of San Jose in the mid-1990s, who was included in the two-page article called “Damsels” in the June 1996 issue of Thrasher alongside Jaime Reyes and Cindy Gorset. In a short interview, Alison mentions that she is 15 years-old and had been skateboarding for a year. She started…
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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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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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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…
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Lori Rigsbee
Lori Rigsbee* from Del Mar, California skated purely for the love of it and in the late 1980s and early 1990s she was one of the few female skaters in the mainstream skateboard industry limelight. Photo: Robert Beck Lori is recognized today for her iconic ads for Independent trucks (Thrasher June 1989) and Airwalk (1990),…
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Mystery Skaters – Japan
I’m fascinated by the incredible progression of women skateboarders in Japan and only have a few leads from back in the day, in the form of mystery photos. First off is this kickass 1980s photo by legendary photographer Yoshiro Higai showcasing a gang of female skaters from his book Judo Air (2015). Who were they?…
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Ramdasha Bikceem
In 1990, when Ramdasha Bikceem (they/them) from Basking Ridge, New Jersey was 15 years old they started an all-girl skater gang and band, both called Gunk. Ramdasha taught themself to play guitar without formal training, and the band’s early shows were held in the basement of a friend’s parent’s place. The following year Ramdasha launched…
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Ianire Elorriaga
Ianire Elorriaga is from the town of Bakio and is the first female skateboarder from the Basque country to gain international attention for her impressive selection of tricks, contest results as six-time European Champion, and for going pro. Photo: Roxy ad featuring Ianire in the March 2003 issue of Beach Brother magazine in France. Ianire…
Womxn Skateboard History 