Category: Media
-
Caia Koopman
Caia Koopman, who is a renowned artist living in San Diego, was born and raised in California and was skating during the late 1980s and early 1990s. A photo of Caia skateboarding Derby Park appeared in the zine Equal Time (Vol 1. No. 3) in 1989, created by Lynn Kramer. Caia also designed the cover…
-
SK8HERS
During the early 1990s in Santa Barbara, where skateboarding was thriving in backyard mini-ramps and the Powell Skate Zone indoor park, a core group of women had found a connection and were fortunate to skate together. And their efforts were noticed! In 1992, Ethan Fox directed the first female-focused skateboard video called SK8HERS and thanks…
-
AKA: Girl Skater
The skateboard video AKA: Girl Skater (dir. Mike Hill, 2003) on VHS and DVD, was highly anticipated since it showcased the Gallaz pro team including Jaime Reyes, Vanessa Torres, Amy Caron and Monica Shaw during their roadtrip through Australia, performing demos and competing at the Globe World Cup with bonus footage of New Zealand local…
-
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol was one of the biggest child stars of the 1970s performing within an ABC series called Family (1976 – 1980) in the role of Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence, winning two Emmy Awards as a result. Her skateboarding prowess on television made her an early influencer, and she also became an unknowing queer punk icon…
-
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…
-
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),…
-
Bonnie Blouin
Bonnie Blouin (RIP) and her younger brother Blaize (RIP) were powerhouse siblings in the east coast skateboarding community during the 1980s. While this entry does end tragically [*Warning*], the goal is to celebrate the life and contributions of Bonnie, whose presence in Thrasher was often the only positive portrayal of women, in contrast to ads…
-
Cindy Whitehead
Cindy Whitehead was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2016 for both her accomplishments as a professional skater and her relentless advocacy for women in skateboarding that continues today. She spearheads the skateboarding movement “Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word,” which includes a website, archive, interviews, social media, and publications It’s Not…
-
Di Dootson Rose
I recently learned about the term “archival silence” and it absolutely resonated in regard to women in skateboarding. It also reminded me that I wanted to extend gratitude to Di Dootson Rose, the legendary editor of the National Skateboard Review (1976-1979) and the efforts that went into archiving and digitizing this motherload of incredible content…
-
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…
Womxn Skateboard History 