Category: Profile
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Kim Petersen
Kim Petersen’s name is among the legendary women who skated vert, bowl and pool competitively in the early 2000s, helping to validate women in this arena and establish a community. Kim grew up in a small town called Dewitt, Iowa, west of the Mississippi River, and had an athletic background in competitive gymnastics. In an…
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Skate Like a Girl
Skate Like a Girl has developed over the last twenty-plus years from a simple concept in 2000, providing workshops and events for girls, to an inclusive community, actively extending support to trans and gender non-conforming skaters by offering safe spaces and clinics. According to their About page, their vision is social equity, “promoting confidence, leadership,…
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Ellen Berryman
Ellen Berryman is among an elite group of competitive 1970s pro skateboarders recognized today for being pioneers. But while some individuals are still very much entrenched in this scene and identity, Ellen or El, as she prefers to be called has cultivated her own path, one that led her to become an environmental consultant thanks…
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Jessie Van Roechoudt
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jessie Van Roechoudt was someone to look up to and revere if you were Canadian, especially if you were a female skater. Beyond being talented on a skateboard, Jessie was a photographer, creative writer, well-traveled, and always articulate in her views. She emphasized the importance of inclusion and…
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Lulu Hart
Lulu Hart (Bentley) from Coconut Grove, Florida was age 17 when the iconic photos of her skating freestyle on the South Beach Pier, Miami in 1977 were taken by Jonathan Utz. The photos then appeared in the book, A Secret History of the Ollie by Craig B. Snyder, and Lulu was interviewed for BackSide Skateboard…
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Shaunda Shane
Filling a void in the representation of black female skaters in skateboarding history is critical, and it helps when you’ve got Clyde Singleton, Tony Hawk, journalists, newspapers and public librarians collaborating! The search for Shaunda Shane of Fayetteville is seriously the most heart-warming story. It all began when The Black Archives published a batch of…
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Keren Richter
Keren Richter is a big name today as an interior designer and artist, creating luxurious spaces with her company White Arrow in Brooklyn, but she also has a fascinating history that’s rooted in skateboarding and zine-making. According to her company bio, Keren “was born in Vienna and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. At…
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Monica Polistchuk
Monica Polistchuk is a legendary Brazilian skater from São Bernardo do Campo, who began skating in the early 1980s. Her website Oopskate.com is a treasure trove of skateboard history, featuring the likes of Renata Paschini, Karen Jonz, Christie Aleixo, Melissa Brogni, Déborah Badel, Yndiara Asp, and Tati Marques. Monica was motivated to create the site…
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Lisa Whitaker
Lisa Whitaker carved out space and opportunities for girls, women and non-binary skaters at a time when they were practically non-existent. She is a skater, filmer/photographer, creative producer, webmaster, mom, and as the owner of Meow skateboards, she continues to support the community today. Lisa was one of very few individuals documenting women’s skateboarding in…
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Irene Ching
In a recent visit to New York, I was encouraged by skateboarder C’naan Omer (Hamburger), who won Vancouver’s Slam City Jam women’s street in 2000, to reach out to Irene Ching. Irene is a vert roller-skater with a long legacy going back to the 1970s, and I trusted C’naan’s recommendation. In this archival project, I…
Womxn Skateboard History 