GIRLS WHO RIDE MAG #09 by GIRLS WHO RIDE MAG

GIRLS WHO RIDE #09 I JUL - SEP 16

JOANA

SCHENKER GWR MAG 1 |

THE cover

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JOANA SCHENKER On the cover, two time National and European Champion, Joana Schenker, droping into a wave at Beliche Beach in Algarve.

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THIS issue #09

06 16 32 46

Valeria Kechichian

Soul Skaters

Joana Schenker

BodyBoarding World Tour Diary

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48 56 68 74

Chicks in Bowls

WCMX

Michelle Kotlar-Scott

Venice Ladies Springtime Skate Jam

EDIT

Summer is ongoing, and the warm weather is an invitation

At the skatepark we try to understand a bit more about

to the great outdoors! We go out surfing, skating, wake-

WCMX and we review the Venice Ladies Springtime Skate

boarding, all for the fun of it!

Jam.

In an edtion that intends to bring us to the roots of sport, we

Last, but not least, we talked with Joana Schenker, two time

talked with Valeria Kechichian, founder of the Longboard

European and National Champion, to learn a bit more about

Girls Crew, who is bringing longboarding skate to girls all

the life of an athlete, the victories, the fights, and all that is

over the world! We also interviewed Michelle Kolar-Scott

behind an amazing path!

a skater from the 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that remind us of the true roots of skateboarding. Going a little bit further we also went look-

Hope you enjoy this edition, and wishing you all a great

ing for girls that still keep the soul skating alive, and just

amazing summer!!!

skate for fun - no competitions, no pressure, - pure love for skating!

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valeria kechichian

Â© Noelia Otegui GWR MAG 7|

When and why did you start Longboarding?

weeks after we shot our first video with all-female riders cruising through the city (Girls Can Ride by Juan Rayos) I started longboarding 8 years ago when I was 28 years old. and it moved past the skate audience to a mainstream one. I was quitting alcohol and other bad habits in my life, and The stoke of the girl gang touched many women around needed healthy leisure activities to replace the old ones. the world who wanted to start skating. Nothing like inspiring women through love and camaraderie! Who knew that decision would change my life forever.

How do you feel when you are skating, and What were the main difficulties you found when you started LGC? what does it mean to you? At the beginning mostly everything was stoke. The only cons actually came from the same group of boys we started skating with. I think they couldn’t stand the fact that we were having success while they skated better than us. It was a bummer at the beginning but that taught me many lessons. With time, and after LGC developed, more difficulties would How did the idea for LGC came up? come, but from the big boys from the Industry. These men In 2010 we were very few women skating in Madrid. Some- that have been ruling the Action Sports Industry for years, times when we were more than one or two at the same and portraying women as objects, were not happy with the spot, we would get together and get stoked. Those were the fact that a group of girls were getting together and giving first times we felt what it was like to skate with other girls, power to women through genuine stoke. We created someand we loved it. Jacky created the Facebook page and thing empowering for women in the sports field that was not we both started promoting it and moving it around. Some based in competition or looks but in camaraderie, love and support. We’re doing our own thing; and it’s working. It sounds weird but I kinda feel complete while I’m skating or after a good session. It empowers me as a person, gives me balance and stoke, all at the same time. Of course sometimes I feel frustrated but that’s part of the game.

©©Noelia Cole Barash Otegui GWR MAG 9 |

Â© Noelia Otegui

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Do you think the industry is more supportive much lower than it is now. I’m so stoked there are so many lady shredders ripping so hard all over the world, the levtowards girls in sport today? A little bit, yes. Still a long way to go. I think many companies are realizing the potential of female athletes and the female market, but I think that the focus is still not the best. In most cases the athletes getting support from the companies are the “pretty” ones (according to mainstream, occidental beauty standards). There are incredible talented action riders who don’t fit into those beauty standards, and are barely known, and rarely get support.

How has LGC evolved over the years? What are the main differences between then and now? In the beginning we were a group of girls who wanted to get more girls into the sport. Now it’s shifted a bit to a worldwide movement that seeks gender equality and provides real, healthy models to society. Supporting and promoting women, giving talks at conferences, educating and continuing to do larger projects like OPEN, our latest movie featuring 14 female riders from around the world skating in Israel. Also in the beginning, the level of skating portrayed was

el has been increasing non-stop. I still want to keep longboarding accessible through LGC but also portray the highest level of performance of female athletes. I wouldn’t say the values have changed but I would say it has become a more active platform for gender equality.

How many Country crews does LGC have already in the world? Almost 80… it’s crazy. All these female shredders from around the world united by the same values and passion for longboarding… it’s beautiful.

How can girls join the movement and become part of LGC? Any girl that skates is part of LGC. We work on keeping longboarding as inclusive as possible. If a girl wants to be more involved in the scene they can contact their country crew and start spreading some stoke.

You shook up the skate world, and I think everything started to grow, when you launched your first video. What gave you the idea to start producing such amazing all girl productions? To be honest it came as a natural, obvious idea. I saw some videos of 2 or 3 boys together skating and thought we should too. Back then I thought it was normal but apparently it was never done before like that. So many girls from different places, gathered in one, sharing so much stoke for longboarding and love for each other. After the first video, the next ones just followed. We did put more thought into our two movies: Endless Roads and OPEN. We went a bit further for Endless Roads and thought “why not bring international riders as well and shoot a road trip?” And for OPEN it was outta control - ha ha! 14 riders from 11 different countries skating Israel.

whom you share such strong passions. For me it’s really magical, and even though I’ve lived those experiences through the production crew perspective as well, I got to enjoy every moment, especially during the shooting of OPEN.

What do you hope to transmit with these videos? Mostly our values because that’s who we are, and what we represent: Empowerment for women, portraying the camaraderie between each other, inspiration through exposure and authenticity: We’re real women, all shapes and colors, doing something we love.

What is LGC overall message to the girls out there?

That we’re stronger than what they taught us, or say we What is the best part of being on the road with are. As women we’re taught from the youngest age that we have to be delicate, don’t risk too much, be likable, and the girls for the shoots? above all, be pretty. We’re not raised to lead, to be bold, to We love each other very much. Imagine traveling to amaz- try new things or to feel empowered. By inspiring girls to ing places with some of your best friends in the world with start skating or push their limits they are challenging their comfort zone and despite your level or skill, that affects to your self-confidence and self-value. Skateboarding is our tool to empower women while we work to give female athletes more exposure and achieve fair treatment from the industry. Providing real role models to society is also a strong motivation and message we want to send to the world: real women, all shapes, ages, and colors doing something rad. Breaking the stereotype.

Longboarders have been very accepting of girls in the sport. Do you think there is still a long way to go for gender equality in skateboarding? There’s a long way to go for gender equality in society! When that happens, it will happen in every field. It will be gradual.

On top of running LGC you also do conferences, write articles, make movies, and you are always looking for new ways to promote women in longboarding. Any new projects coming up that you could give us a sneak peek on? I have many ideas but there’s nothing definite yet. Besides the usual, at the moment I’m working on promoting the LGC Board we launched last year, a board designed for girls (but also great for guys). We saw it was necessary to develop GWR MAG 12 |

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our own line of products addressed to us, from us. As said, if the industry doesn’t create products that cover some specific needs, then we’ll do it.

You mentioned on that speech that society “puts us in a box” to conform with gender roles. What would be your advice for girls to step out of this box?

Speaking of conferences, how did you feel when you received the invitation for TEDx? As said, as women we’re taught from the youngest age to How did the subject “we ride the shift” came act, think or be in a certain way and “pushed” to like certain things, and I think most will agree that our worth has up? At first I thought it was a mistake and when I got the confirmation I started screaming, jumping and crying… haha it was beautiful. We thought up the name with my good friend Coco Tache, the creator of 7sky.life She’s a huge inspiration for me and neither LGC nor me would be how we are now if it wasn’t for her. “We Ride The Shift” made, and still makes perfect sense because that’s what we do. I believe we work towards positive change in every society on the planet, and we do it while riding.

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nothing to do with how our hair or body look, how we dress, or if we have a partner/are married or not. Try to think outside those “rules” they created for us and train your brain to think bigger and different. Every small step counts towards achieving real freedom.

Any motivation words you would like to say to our readers? Achieving real freedom is work we all have to do every day, and it’s not only about thinking differently and challenging the established, but also about challenging your own weaknesses or demons. We can’t be free if we’re still driven by a massive ego or don’t care about the others as much as we care about ourselves. Everything is connected and we’re all in this together. Let’s ride the shift!

longboardgirlscrew.com

Rider: Itziar Jimenez

Photo: Noelia Otegui

Layout: spin-skate.com / Maria Arndt

We longboard. Some of us go fast. Some of us go sideways. Some of us compete. We all skate for fun. No matter what. Not giving in.

symmetric 38.9˝ long board 9.4˝ wide, 0.3˝concave 26.7˝ or 25.5˝ wheelbase.

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SOUL SK8rs Sierra Prescott & Elise Crigar

Skateboarding wasn’t born in skateparks or even in backyard pools, it came from California surf culture. When the waves were down, kids grabbed a skateboard and mimicked surf style on land. The free flowing skate style we saw in the late 1960’s and into the mid 1970’s had soul. It was low and fast, you pumped banks that you and your friends found in schools and alleys, you stayed low and threw your hand down to do a “Bertlemann slide”, you sped down hills, and felt the wind in your hair. It was pure freedom, and an art form.

that have little interest in competing, and skate solely for the love of riding a board anywhere they choose to. They are taking us back to the days of skating backyard alleys, jumping chain link fences, skating bowls at night in closed skateparks, and finding their love of pure skateboarding. These are the Soul Skaters.

Sierra Prescott (age 27) from Silverlake, CA and Elise Crigar (age 24) from St. Augustine, Florida are living on opposite coasts, but both have the same goal, to skate everyday, anywhere and everywhere, purely for the fun As the years went by, skateboarding moved into skateparks, of it. They also just happen to post their adventures and bowls, and pools, and we saw less and less of the free form soul skating lifestyle on their respective instagram pages “soul skating” that was happening everywhere in the 70’s. @sierra_prescott and @elise_crigar , and find that their It became more about contests, tricks, aerials, and grinds. images resonate and inspire many others to grab a board Kids who skated parks rarely skated on the street just for and “just skate”. transportation, or for the fun of it, after a surf session. We sat down to talk to both of them about why soul skatThere seems to be a whole new breed of girls out there ing is so important to them GWR MAG 16 |

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do it! One of the biggest challenges with skateboarding is commitmentâ&#x20AC;? Sierra Prescott

@ Brian Lowe | Rider: Sierra Prescott GWR MAG 17 |

Can you tell us how you got into skateboarding? Sierra Prescott [SP] I have always been a major tomboy and as a kid, my friends were pretty much all boys. I wasn’t “the” girl in the group, I was one of them, and we were into the same things; sports, being out and about, and healthy competition. Once I got my first skateboard on my 8th birthday, we used them to get to each others houses, and I quickly became enamored. Although I loved it so much then, I could have never had imagined it would still be such an integral part of my life.

Elise Crigar [EC] In 2012 my friends (all of them boys) skated, I guess I just got sick of sitting there watching. Once I figured out how to pump a half pipe it was all over. I was climbing into bowls, starting from the bottom and skating all things transition. A few months later I moved away for college. I took skating with me and went on to earn my first sponsor.

@ Cameron Nunez | Rider: Elise Crigar GWR MAG 18 |

@ Katrina Dickson | Rider: Sierra Prescott

[EC] About a year after earning a shop and board sponsor, I fell into a skate depression. I got caught up in comparing myself to others around me, mainly my only other female skater friend. I went through a difficult couple of months where I couldn’t even skate with my friends and enjoy myself. A month or so later I took myself back to one of the first parks I learned to skate, before I could even drop in. Skating that bowl again after two years left me speechless; I didn’t realize the amount of development I had accumulated and now it was apparent that I had made significant progress. After this, I made it a point to go out and skate new things just by myself. In doing this I took myself back to why I started skating in the first place, what I believe are the roots of it all: that feeling of freedom and just having fun, not getting caught up in comparing yourself to others or getting stuck on progression. I made the decision that I always wanted skateboarding to be a part of my life. I am blessed to have other outlets that allow me to contribute to the sport: art, photography, etc. Skateboarding will always be a way of life for me.

What made you decide to take it to the streets in pure 70’s style rather than the traditional bowl/street competitive route?

[SP] When I was getting into skateboarding, using my board for transportation was crucial. But skating somewhere, that was half the fun. Some of my favorite memories involve skating with the crew down the main strip of my home town. Getting from point A to point B could be totally epic. We searched for skate spots, skate-explored, hopped up and down curbs. Since I didn’t live close to a park, skating the streets was way more accessible and I definitely took a liking to it. Now the parks tend to feel unfamiliarly smooth and clean. GWR MAG 19 |

What are you favorite places to skate and why? [SP] Anywhere and everywhere but if I´m looking for a spot to post up, I tend to flock to the beaches - Venice Beach, Long Beach, wherever. Something about the cool wind from the ocean, the gritty boardwalks, diverse foot traffic, sidewalks and alleys that parallel the beach really keep me coming back.

[EC] I have a few favorite places to skate: My home park, reason being is its size. It is really large and is so fun to just carve and flow around. It is relaxing and feels like surfing. My street. At the end of my street is a parking lot with two little banks. They are perfectly paved and super fun for sliding around. I often have some of the best sessions just carving around the beach streets.

Do you like a mixture of skate parks from time to time or do you prefer streets? [EC] I do prefer a mixture. I probably skate them both at a pretty even amount. On the days I don’t make it to a park I often find myself riding around somewhere on some type of board for a period of time. I really do love a good session at a park though.

[SP] I do prefer streets but I also love a good day at the park. Most of the parks I like are way too far for a quick skate so I tend to have to plan skatepark days. Off times are the best, like weekday mornings where the crowd is smaller and I can zone in for a few hours without too much “stop and go” from waiting.

@ Erik_Melvin | Rider: Sierra Prescott GWR MAG 20 |

@ Cameron Nunez | Rider: Elise Crigar

@ Chuck_Lang | Rider: Elise Crigar GWR MAG 21 |

@ Jake Austin | Rider: Sierra Prescott

@ Sebastien Kim | Rider: Sierra Prescott GWR MAG 22 |

Any favorite skaters or images from the 70’s who inspired you to be a Soul Skater? [SP] Yes, Jay Adams. His style started the fire within me. As far as a single photo, I’d had to say the shot of Stacey Peralta spinning overhead has always been a favorite. There’s also a photo of an unidentified skater by Hugh Hollan

[EC] After watching Documentaries on the Bones Brigade and other 70’s skaters, I was fascinated with the lifestyle and freedom they had. I was really drawn in by the art and style of that time. The ones that created the image for it all, like Craig Stecyk.

What is your favorite 70’s inspired trick to do on a board? [EC] I enjoy doing classic power slides.

[SP] The bertslide on flat or on a bank.

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What is your favorite trick in general any era? [SP] All the variations of a boneless. I love the reach down and grab it feel, then adding a 180, or 360, finger flip, clearing a gap, and always filled with style.

[EC] Front side slashes always feel really good especially on pool coping. Or a long 50 50 grind on pool coping would be a second favorite.

What is the feeling you get when you learn a new trick or pull off something rad while skating? [EC] Accomplished, I can check it off my list and move on to the next thing.

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[SP] On top of the world, supreme STOKE. I tend to want to do it over and over until Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m tired, also to try and get a video clip of it so I can see the form/shapes Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m making and figure out how to make it stylistically mine..

@ Mark Nisbet | Rider: Sierra Prescott

What is the most badass thing you’ve done while skateboarding? [EC] I have definitely challenged myself and pushed myself to places I did not think I could go. Even if I feel like I am going to throw up and am weak in the knees!

[SP] This question is tough; I don’t consider myself badass, but if I were to pick a time I outdid myself, it would be skating for Men’s File (styled by Cindy Whitehead) with a bleeding bruise the size of my face. It happened while I was warming up, I shook it off, and proceeded to skate the rest of the day in short shorts. Loved every moment of it! But looking down at my leg and seeing that it hasn’t fully healed 3+ months later.. that was a badass day.

Any place you have been kicked out off while skating? [SP] Yeah.. and in my adult life too! Couple years back my friend and I hopped an elementary school fence, in a residential area of LA. Within 10 mins we heard a cop say “Stop skating and take a seat - now!”. He went on to explain they were called about some teen hoodlums on campus by some neighbor. Long story short, we got kicked out with a warning, and I was ridiculousl

[EC] We used to use google maps to find yards with pools in backyards. We would run into back yards to see if they were skate-able. One time we broke into an empty hotel pool. We even had a water pump with us. We got in big trouble with the owners. I don’t even know how good it would to be to skate but we just wanted to try.

Any memorable wipe-outs? [EC] I went to the Bowl Riders Comp at Kona Skatepark one spring. All the riders and friends were allowed to camp out (aka “sleep in your car”) at the park. Some of the pro girls were going down the snake run (its huge) in the middle of the night with all the park lights off - pitch black. I made it down the first two times fine, the third time I wiped out. It was so fast and so hard I barely felt it. I just remember walking out of the snake with blood running down my leg. I wiped it off with a t-shirt, camped out and skated the rest of the weekend. I went home with the largest road rash I have ever seen. Everyone thought I was in a motorcycle accident. I avoided seeing my parents for a few months and went on to get MRSA not once, but two times from the wound. It ende

[SP] One of my first experiences skating for a client was for Rayban a couple years back. It was shooting at the Culver City skatepark, which happens to have a pretty gnarly hill next to it. After getting wardrobe set at the top of the hill, I grabbed my board and decided to skate down to set (the skatepark). It felt awesome, swerving down the hill to be welcomed with a day of skating. Then, the speed wobbles hit. I recovered in a couple seconds, finding myself bombing the hill straight on. At that point there was no recovery, just a large intersection, so I had one thing to do; bail. I jumped into a running sprint, tumbled a little bit, then got right up, grabbed my board and ran to the sidewalk trying to remember how on earth I thought that was a good idea. There were holes in my shirt and blood on my back as I walked to wardrobe and said, hey is this ok? They go “WE LOVE IT” and the day went on accordingly. The shoot was with Mark Seliger, a highly esteemed photographer, I was so stoked to be there. GWR MAG 25 |

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“Just start. Don’t be afraid of not knowing how, failing, or what people will think or say about you. If you have any passion inside you for skating at all, go with your gut and it will take you the rest of the way” Elise Crigar

@ Cameron Nunez | Rider: Elise Crigar

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Anything you want to learn next? [SP] Some more flatland tricks. I love the way a long ground tail-slide looks, the charging into it and sliding, doing a hop or two and popping up to level out and land. I first saw these when shooting Mike Valley in Long Beach. I love the sound of slides, the tail, wheels - I just love it. I also want to play around in concrete bowls more, definitely a goal to get over to the parks!

[EC] Working on a few new tricks, nailing down front side 50 50s and getting comfortable on bigger transition. I honestly just do what feels good.

[EC] It is usually positive more times than negative. Although people seem to find it okay to say things, ask questions or point things out that they would not do to a boy my age.

When you are out skating, what is the feedback like from people?

[SP] For the most part, positive. One to three girls skating down the street tends to get some looks and lots of smiles and attentiveness. That’s not to say I haven’t been yelled at for being a girl on a board, or told I’m not smart for skating. One of the most hideous moments I had was skating a red curb, I fell awkwardly and my head ended up perpendicular to the curb and in the street. I was on the ground about 5 seconds, holding my head when a small truck with a man in it drove up to me very quickly and close, honking and yelling at me for being in the street. I instantly got up to chase him down the street (I don’t recommend this to anyone) on my board, and I had every intention of doing something stupid. BUT I didn’t, I just got really frustrated by the skater-Haters out there. Haters gonna hate, skaters gonna skate.

@ Jon Melson | Rider: Sierra Prescott GWR MAG 28 |

@ Jordan Voth | Rider: Elise Crigar

Your Instagram following is huge, has that created opportunities for you that involve skateboarding?

[EC] I sometimes feel undeserving. Once again, comparing myself to other female skaters. I have to go back to my roots. I know who I am and why I skate. I admire the females that are more talented than me, but in the end it is all about having fun. Yes, I have had several opportunities as far as working with photographers and reaching out to brands through my social media. I try to use it as a tool to brand myself and grow my future in art and skating.

[SP] Absolutely. I have a strong love/hate relationship with Instagram; I love who AND what it has brought into my life. I love the jobs and creative outlets I´ve found within skateboarding and how I can spread stoke. I love my fans and my longtime followers; it feels good to have a connection with a group of people who enjoy what I do. It’s also opened the door to trying different products that I would never have had access to prior to Instagram. But with all that being said I hate the self-pressure it puts on my life. Posts aren’t a measure of success (although they feel that way) and it’s easy to get sucked in. All in all, when it starts to bug me, I back up and remember why I started, because I LOVE skateboarding. So I’ll keep doing it for me.

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Do you feel that certain images/ tricks you post resonate more than others? [SP] Yes, images that show my face and that are typically closer shots, tend to get better engagement. I love wide shots, but they can be hard to quickly see, and really soak in while scrolling through a feed. It seems like zooming in on a shot can help connect it w

[EC] I love to see a girl actually riding a board in any way rather than just posing with it. I think other people feel the same way.

What is your favorite part of being a “Soul Skater”? [EC] The fact that there is zero pressure. You do it for you. You do it because it makes you feel good. Not having to answer to anyone or anything.

[SP] The initial hop on my board, of each and every skate. It’s passion, it’s so fun. My favorite part is every part. When I’m on my board, life seems to blur. Skating is my free from stress, my excited, truly happy state

@ Brian Lowe | Rider: Sierra Prescott GWR MAG 30 |

Photo: Sarah Huston

POPPY starr olsen shopgirlisnota4letterword.com

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JOANA SCHENKER

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When did you start bodyboarding? I started in 2001. I was 13 and I was influenced by friends from school who were already doing it and who convinced me to try. I caught the bodyboarding bug and I ended up enrolling in the “Clube do Mar”, which was the bodyboard school available at the time. I met other girls that were also learning how to bodyboard, and we ended up becoming very good friends, especially Neuza Machado and Janaina Sousa. They were my partners, we were always surfing together and daring each other, and that was very good for our progression. I have the fondest memories of those times, we had lots of fun and all we wanted was to ride the waves every day.

me, and since I had good grades the teachers never gave me too much flak for it. It came to a point where mom wrote on my excuse letters that I had been surfing. The truth is that I never felt any obligation to practice, I always went surfing for fun. How was your childhood and adolescence?

I’m the oldest of four girls, my childhood was very laid-back and lively. As a little girl I’ve spent some time between Portugal and Germany while my parents were building their house in Algarve. We always had a great bond with nature; our house was in a hill near Pedralva, which is a small hamlet in the middle of nowhere. There was no television or PlayStation, and Internet reached us very late. I must How were those first times? Tell us how your mom confess that at the time I thought it was all a drag, but now would take you, and would excuse your absences from I can see that I had a very healthy and pure childhood that gave me important values. school. My mom soon realized how much I liked to bodyboard and always gave me her full support. We lived about 15 km from the seashore, but she never got tired of driving me to the beach and waiting for me for several hours... sometimes she would just drop me off and then pick me up at the end of the day. I had a huge will to evolve and began to surf as much as possible, which led me to skip some classes almost daily. My mom always excused those absences for

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Does that have a lot to do with German culture? Do you feel you were raised very differently from the other school girls, with more freedom and close ties to nature? When my parents chose Algarve to settle down and raise a family they came looking for a more laid-back and nature connected lifestyle. I had lots of freedom, always do-

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ing what I wanted, and my parents only forbade me to do something a handful of times. That obviously had a direct influence in the way I see the world. My mom gave me the ideas of respecting animals and food, how to live with less baggage, etc., in a very subtle way, and ended up educating me without ever imposing anything. But already at that time, I felt that my education was very different from my friends and schoolmates. Is your family the source of your animal protection ideals, and being a vegetarian from a tender age? When and why did you become a vegetarian? Do you feel you have already influenced many people, with your blog and your Joschfood Facebook page? Ever thought about having a restaurant when you retire? My family certainly made it easier, since we never ate a lot of meat at home, just some chicken and fish on occasion. I remember I always wanted to be a vegetarian and always felt that eating animals was wrong. However, I enjoyed how it tasted and only when I was 10, coming back from a trip to India that I’d done with my mom, did I become a vegetarian. That’s almost 19 years already. It was and still is purely an ethical choice. But I do feel the benefits and it’s more than very well documented that a cruelty-free diet is healthier

and better for the planet. We have to place ourselves in the victim’s shoes, and that’s the animal, exploited and killed just because we didn’t choose a different diet. Over the years I came to learn that the best way to open people’s minds for this issue was really to show that there are a multitude of options to eat, with very tasty dishes in an easy and inexpensive way… in other words, to facilitate and to whet their curiosity instead of choosing the radical way by screaming “meat is murder” every time someone eats a steak. That’s how Joschfood, the Facebook page where I share entirely vegan tips, recipes and inspirations is. And who knows, maybe a Josch restaurant in a few years ☺ When did you start to compete? A year after I began bodyboarding I immediately started to compete in the “CIRCUITO DE ESPERANÇAS”. My drive at the time wasn’t competition, it was to leave the house and go to the events with my friends. It ended up also being important to my progression, because nobody likes to lose and I began learning a lot on the circuit. When did you realize you were going to dedicate your professional life to bodyboarding? There wasn’t any defining moment. As things were evolving, I had to make choices and give priority to bodyboarding. I

ended up not going to the university because I couldn’t finance both things. I don’t regret it for a moment, I believe I made the right choice. Every year things have been going better and better, and now this year I can see myself making a living from bodyboarding.

dream, with two coastlines, good weather and beaches with waves that are just perfect for the sport. It’s only natural that Sagres has such a solid bodyboarding community. What are your favorite waves there?

With all the difficulties you went through, how did you Zavial and Beliche manage to travel? Did you notice extra difficulties for being in Algarve, far from the capital? Southern coast or Vicentine coast? It’s very hard to be an athlete in Portugal, even more from a sport with little money as is the case with bodyboarding. I had the help of many people in order to be able to prioritize bodyboarding. I’ve always done odd jobs so I could afford the events, and later I began giving bodyboarding lessons. Living far from the capital is also a drawback, we end up being a little forgotten. But all the obstacles make us stronger and makes every success twice as nice. Bodyboard athletes do it for enjoyment, not for money. How’s the bodyboard scene in Algarve? Sagres is a place that has breathed bodyboarding for many years now, and almost all locals are bodyboarders. Regular surfing appeared much later and it’s almost always practiced by tourists passing by. This place is a bodyboarder’s

Depends on the swell and the wind! Privileged for living in Algarve? I feel ultra privileged for living here, I think that if I hadn’t been born here I wouldn’t even bodyboard. What’s the role of your coach/photographer/boyfriend? How long are you two together? How did it start? Was he your first boyfriend or coach? Chico and I have been together for 13 years now, we’re a couple and we share the same passion for bodyboarding. We’re a good team, always keeping each other company in competitions, which makes it all much easier and nicer. Chico is one of the best bodyboarders I know, and he knows GWR MAG 39 |

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how to pass on his knowledge, so he naturally came to be the person to help me as far as bodyboarding is concerned. He’s very demanding and critical, but also the person who supports me the most on every level. He’s tireless when it comes to recording and photographing, pushes me to surf bigger waves and to practice a little bit when I don’t feel like it. I owe much of my success to his work, and I admit I’m not an easy person to coach! What about accolades? What is the most important award for you, emotionally? It’s hard to choose one, because they all are in different ways… The first national championship, in 2013 in Azores (which wasn’t official due to nationality issues) was a turning point in my career; from that point on everything began coming together and the good results began to flow. The 2014 title that I conquered in Morocco was emotionally special because it was hard-fought until the last minute, and I felt such a huge relief when it all turned out well! 2015’s Miss Sumol Cup, when I won both the national and European championships in a row with great waves… Look back at your life’s and tell us what where the most important moments as a bodyboarder

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The most important moments are those that give me the zest to keep on bodyboarding, it has nothing to do with championships. It’s those classic surf sessions with friends, that early morning sight when you get to the beach and there’s no one in the water yet, to achieve a move or to be able to drop a wave on those long days… those are the moments that make me go back to the beach every day. Awesome trips, beautiful places that you enjoyed seeing the most. I loved Puerto Rico! It’s a small paradise, literally. Palm trees, white sand, warm water, music on every corner and good vibrations! How’s the life of an athlete? Long journeys, airports, defeats... Tiresome? Athletes have to be psychologically strong, the defeats are many but to dismay is not an option. Lots of hours spent in the car across the country, putting on a wet wetsuit when

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ingly trying progressive moves, they surf heavier and more dangerous waves. For instance, in the ISA teams world championship, where I competed for Portugal in December of 2015, I’ve seen a very high level with athletes doing ARS and barrels in all the heats. The waves were good and sometimes that’s enough for us to really show all the This year you’re going to do the complete world circuit. potential that the female scene already has. How did that become possible? Favorite or reference athlete? The world circuit is an old goal that had never been possible before, but for 2016 my main sponsor, which is the Council There are several, I try to draw an inspiration from each of of Vila do Bispo has increased my yearly budget and so I’m their strong suits. Isabela Sousa for her technical quality finally going to achieve this goal of competing in the neces- and progressive moves, Lilly Pollard for her surf line in rocky bottoms… sary stages to have a full ranking. there’s an unbearable cold out there, getting to an event and seeing the horrible sea conditions, all that is hard, but honestly the journeys, experiences, friendships and happy moments that the life of an athlete give you in return, are worth every effort.

Goals for 2016? How do you see the national and international female To repeat the national and European titles, to be placed in bodyboarding scene? the top 10 worldwide, and above all to continue on evolving I see them both very favorably, there’s a noticeable evolu- and surfing better each day. tion on the general level in the water, women are increas-

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World Tour diary By Joana Schenker

Â© Tony Dandrea GWR MAG 46 |

This is the stage of one of the best events on the world circuit and this was the second year in which there was a female category to compete in, because it’s not an easy wave for women. I confess I was quite eager to surf there. It’s a challenge, any failure can mean hitting the reef, and it is almost impossible to train before the competition due I have just returned from the South American leg of the to the crowd. world tour. For a month I competed in the two inaugural But I eventually managed to adapt, and the championship events that passed through Brazil and Chile. went well. I made it through quite a few rounds and ended It was an amazing experience, both places are overwhelm- up in a good 5th place. ing, in a different way. I bring many experiences and things I have learned with me. I saw a very high level of bodyboard- I loved the experience in Chile, it has a very strong energy ing with the women. It was very nice to see that our sport and the typical South American charm. is evolving and that everyone is super motivated to train I took the opportunity to learn as much as I could about this place, it is completely different from everything I know. It is and evolve. dry, arid, dust, sand and sea. The Atacama Desert and the The Itacotiara Pro in Brazil did not go as well as I wished, I natural park Parinacota were the most stunning sceneries ended up in 13th place, but I know I failed competing, and I have ever seen. not surfing. The place is heavenly, green, with soft moun- I can say that this month was very enriching, both for the tains, and the wave is considered one of the heaviest beach places I experienced and for the will it gave me to train and overcome myself as bodyboard athlete. I am now 7th in the breaks in the world. women’s world ranking.. Two more events left, both in my I then traveled to Arica in Chile, to surf the famous and dan- country: September in Sintra Pro and October in Nazareth gerous wave “el gringo”. One of my big goals this year is to run the world circuit in full, and thanks to the support of my sponsors, the municipality of Vila do Bispo, Sagres beer without alcohol and Fundação do Desporto, I will finally be able to do it for the first time in my career.

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"Get out there and give it a try!" GWR MAG 48 |

* Samara Pepperell “aka” Lady Trample GWR MAG 49 |

How did the project begin?

by a group of skaters in Argentina who wanted to start their own Chicks in Bowls page. After a lot of thought and discussion we developed a Code of Conduct aka our Chapter Ethos and sent it to the Argentina crew, they formed the first Chapter that month, a craze which spread like wildfire.

Chicks in Bowls was started in November 2012 shortly after I was introduced to ramp skating by a friend named Michelle Hayes. We formed a small local crew of rollers which we dubbed ‘Chicks in Bowls’, I created a logo for fun and started a Facebook page for us to post up videos We now have over 200 Chapters located around the globe and photos from when we hit the local parks. It wasn’t long that each work to spread the word and create safe and fun before the page started to gain international attention and learning environments for skaters of all levels. suddenly we had skaters from all over the globe sharing posts about their own adventures into the skateparks. For How many people are involved? the first 2 years it was a fun side project that I ran for the love of it, doing small print runs and obsessing over the Our crew is a small but strong one :) fast growing instagram hashtag #chicksinbowls which had Myself, in charge of art direction, social media, team manskaters sharing to it on a daily basis. agement, admin and an array of other fun roles. My business partner, Nick. He’s the man behind the skate In September 2014 my then partner Nick, suggested that builds and the research and development of the CIB hardwe look at building something out of this movement, he had ware line. He’s also behind some of our most popular dealso taken up ramp skating shortly after I became addicted. signs including the Invert lady and the Paradise design. With the help of my mum, Nick and a friend (Sugar), we started on our business plan to grow a company that helped spread the stoke for aggressive quad skating aka roller skating in skate parks. While we were knee deep in the developments of our first apparel line we were contacted

My mum, Sandy. She’s been a part of CIB since the very start. Support the company's ventures, aiding the development of the Ethos and helping out wherever needed. You’ll often catch her manning a booth or just cheering from the sidelines And the skate team.

ÂŠ George Medina

The team - introducing the team, why the What motivated you to start? names?

When I was first introduced to ramp skating I fell in love. We have an international crew of incredible rollers spread Ramp skating ignited something within me that I only get across the globe. Each member brings something different from skating parks and I want that feeling and experience to the table. We all have unique skating styles, looks and to be shared with the world. personalities but most importantly we have a passion for skating and a natural knack for coaching and spreading the What are your goals? love. On our team we currently have four males, Nick, Disco, Fink We want to continue to see Chapters opening up around and Stevie, eight females including myself, Havoc, Gloria, the world. It's amazing to see the size that some of the Bambi, Evil, Bomba, Marina and Nikita, and three juniors, crews have grown to. Stella, Tiny and Kallie. Some of us skate under aliases, mostly as a crossover from Roller derby although only 3 of How do you present yourself? our team currently play (myself, Bambi and Tiny). I do my best to be a good roll model. I have found my voice What has been the growth of the team? in rollerskating and my self confidence has tripled through roller derby and ramp skating. I try and share my knowlOver the 2 years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been able to produce some incred- edge and experiences whenever possible. I am so lucky to ible products that enhance the skating experience. From have found rollerskating and to be able to share my passion Sliders, to truck and wheels, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed a full line of with the world. Find something you love and stick with it, hardware that open you up to new tricks and change the share it with everyone around you. Through skating I have way you approach the coping. We want to continue to ex- had some of the best adventures and met the most wonpand the hardware line and explore ways to further grow derful people. the sport. GWR MAG 53 |

How does this work, can you explain the CIB luckily this sport drags me around the globe for tournaments so I always take the opportunity to expand the trip by a few Chapters?

extra days and host some sort of gathering or meet up of The Chapters run as local hubs that are run by 1-5 skates local and travelling skaters. who have a burning passion for the sport. They reach out to We’ve got a few bigger sessions happening in Calgary, Veus and we provide them with the Chapter Ethos and some gas, Vancouver and Portland this year! Keep an eye on the basic tools to get started. Once they have a page they’re main Facebook page for more info! encouraged to set up some regular meet ups and try create a buzz in the community and draw in new members. The We’re also working on a new line of tutorials with S1 so stay tuned for some wheelie great advice on how to get into Chapters as all inclusive, no drama allowed! ramp skating! We encourage skaters of all ages, backgrounds and levels to meet up and help drive and support each other to try new things, whether it's dropping in for the first time or trying a 360 or flip. The Chapter managers have access to a forum where they can ask questions for tip tricks, how to build crews and other advice. We also provide giveaways and incentives for larger scale meet-ups.

Projects/actions for this year This year I am personally focusing on competing in roller derby however I use ramp skating as a cross training and

Message to the girls Get out there and give it a try! You might not be the best right away but keep at it, and you’ll be the best that you can be in no time. Rollerskating is a humbling experience, because you’re bound to fall at some point, but as long as you’re prepare to fail you’ll find success. Each time I lace up I challenge myself to try something new, or expand something I know by doing it faster or smoother or higher.

WCMX katherine beattie jamey perry

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Katherine Beatie and Jamey Perry are two of the most Not so with WCMX. There is no able-bodied version of WCMX, because WCMX IS ABOUT THE CHAIR ITSELF. It rad WCMX riders in the world. doesn’t exist without the chair, and you don’t have to have For those who are not familiar with WCMX, it is a mo- a special chair to get into it (I didn’t). It’s about learning the tocross Wheelchair that allows for boys and girls of chair, mastering it, and then going one step beyond: WCMX all ages with any disability to participate in the fastest is a CELEBRATION of the chair. In WCMX, the wheelchair is king. LONG LIVE THE WHEELCHAIR.” growing wheelchair sport in the world. Can you tell us a little bit more about WCMX?

And I’ll add: Katherine and I say all the time, we’ll know we’ve “made it” when ALL athletes, able-bodied or not, see [Jamey Perry (JP) ]: Before there was WCMX, there was wheelchairs as just another piece of sports equipment. And BMX. But before BMX, there was motocross. Abbreviated when able-bodied athletes in particular feel just as comfort“MX,” it’s the meaning of the last two letters in both of the able hitting the skatepark on their WCMX chair as on their first two sports: Bicycle motocross (BMX) and wheelchair board or bike. motocross (WCMX). Of course, the name is a bit of a misnomer—nobody’s strapping engines to their chairs…yet! [ Katherine Beattie (KB) ] : WCMX (which some people call “Chairskating”) takes its name from BMX. Imagine doing More poetically, I like to think of WCMX as a love letter to tricks you’d do on your skateboard or BMX Bike, but on a the wheelchair. I posted this to my Instagram a few months wheelchair. (We like to say “on” rather than “in” a wheelago: “For every other adaptive sport I can think of, the chair, because we’re RIDING them, not trapped in them.) wheelchair is a stand-in for a pair of legs. Each of those It’s up to each rider to be creative and try new things, which sports, magnificent as they are, were designed first for could be anything from carving bowls at the skatepark, to able-bodied people, and adapted later. You can race, ski, grinding hand rails, jumping stair sets, and even gapping shoot hoops, hike, and play hockey & tennis & rugby with- the Mega Ramp. out a wheelchair. And most people do.

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Rider: Katherine Beattie

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How did your passion for extreme sports begin? [JP] Unlike Kath, I shocked everyone when I got into WCMX. Everyone who knew me before I was in a chair was like, “So…I didn’t know you were into extreme sports?” My answer is always, “I wasn’t!” I was always active, and played all the traditional sports growing up. But most of all I loved volleyball; I could spend entire weekends at the beach in one pick-up game after another. I’d leave scorched and sore, but supremely satisfied. So the day I realized I wasn’t going to be able to play volleyball anymore was a terrible one. Lucky for me, WCMX was just around the corner. [KB] I’ve been into extreme sports for as long as I can remember and I’ve always loved anything with wheels. The earliest introduction to extreme sports that I can recall was a black and white picture book about skim boarding from probably the 1960s that I picked up from my elementary school library. I was enthralled. My uncle is an OG surfer from Ventura, CA and I thought he was just the coolest. I wanted to be just like him, and action sports were a big part of his life.

When did you first get to know about WCMX and what motivated you to start practicing? [JP] Unlike Katherine, I haven’t been disabled all my life, so this whole adaptive sports thing was like discovering an underground city I’d been living on top of my whole life, but never seeing. However, like Katherine, I’m an aspiring television writer, and Twitter is one way that I connect with that community. One day in spring of 2015, one of the showrunners (read: big boss on a TV show) I follow posted a video called “Rail Bails.” I had no idea what it was, but I clicked it, and there was Katherine, attempting her first rail grinds in her kitted-out WCMX wheelchair. And falling hard, maybe ten times in a row, but then getting right back up and going again. I was fascinated. So when this same showrunner (whom I later realized was Katherine’s boss at the time) posted another video, this one of Kath practicing backflips into a foam pit, I couldn’t help myself: I worked up the courage to tweet to this bigwig and ask him if Katherine had any tips or resources for a newbie interested in getting into the sport. Incredibly, he generously passed my contact information on to Kath herself, and within a week we’d made a “date” to hit up Sheldon Skate Park in Sun Valley, CA. That was June 22, 2015. (NOTE: And Kath made a special point

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Rider: Katherine Beattie

of making sure we hit up a skate park on that day this year, passion caught me completely by surprise. But finding your my “WCMX-iversary,” and even gave me a gift. That’s Kath “thing” is like falling in love: When you know, you know. And in retrospect, it’s obvious to me now how important it was for you). going to be for me, moving forward with a new life, to have [KB] My first introduction to WCMX was in the early 2000s, a new passion. And, not gonna lie—it was really fun that before it was even a sport. I saw a picture on Myspace of a that new passion was kinda shocking and badass and danguy named Mike dropping into a quarter pipe on his wheel- gerous, haha. chair. I was still several years from needing or even wanting a wheelchair, but I knew if I ever got one I’d be dropping into [KB] The first time I rode WCMX was at the Santa Monica quarter pipes straight away. Skatepark Halloween Jam in 2012. I had no idea what I was doing and rolled into a pretty deep bowl for a beginner. But How were the first practice sessions? the music was pumping and I was surrounded by a bunch of BMX guys, so I just went for it! I headed straight for the [JP] My first day of WCMX was 1) thrilling, 2) exhausting, wall and, no knowing how to carve, fell flat on my face 4 3) challenging, 4) addicting. I could barely hold a manu- or 5 times. I had a buddy film me and posted it to Youtube al (“wheelie”) for more than a few seconds at that point, asking for tips. The sport was so small at the time that we let alone dream of going down steps, carving a bowl, or were all pretty much on our own. dropping in over coping. But I had the best teacher. Kath is endlessly patient; an old pro when it comes to skate park How do you feel the community acceptance is when knowledge, lingo, and etiquette; and has that rare ability to you’re practicing the sport? both see and explain how complex tricks are done, beatby-beat. She and I spent two hours together that weekday [JP] I’ve literally never had a single bad experience at a morning before she had to go to work, and it felt like 15 skate park, or with anyone in the skate community. Most minutes. I cried in my car when we were done, because the time, people ignore me, which—and wheelchair users I realized I’d found something to replace volleyball. Like I everywhere will understand this—is such a nice change of said, I was never into extreme sports before, so this new pace. When they’re not ignoring me, they’re making normal GWR MAG 61 |

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“Don’t be afraid to get out there and try new things! Fear is okay, as long as you let it motivate you instead of holding you back. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish if you’re willing to try!”

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skate park chit-chat with me and/or offering to push me out the profile of women in the sport we’ve felt a bit of pushof the snake run (THANK YOU FAM ESPECIALLY ALL THE back. HOT AUSTRALIAN GUYS) Jamey, You currently hold the title of World Champion [KB] This is what’s so great about the action sports com- how did you feel when winning? munity. As long as you have wheels or a board, you’re just one of the guys/girls. People are generally pretty stoked to [JP] How did I feel when winning? Like I needed to hit the see us out there. Of course there are a few “good for you” skatepark the next day—and every day thereafter—in order reactions, which is unfortunate and annoying, but most of to stay at the top! This sport is so front-loaded with young the time the other skaters and bikers just want to see us female talent; the stuff these girls will be able to do when they’re my age, but have been in the sport since they were push and progress. practically babies in their adorable, tiny wheelchairs—it’s Do you think that women in extreme sports are get- gonna be some epic shit. I’m thinking backflips; frontflips; ting more accepted, or is there still a long way to go to handplants; beautiful, flowing carves; mega ramps and aerials and drop-ins that will make you dizzy just to watch. reach equality? My only hope is to get some respect for being an OG when [JP] I don’t know about extreme sports in general. But for I’m a white-haired old lady creaking around the skatepark women in WCMX, this year’s World Championships (which telling the kids, “In my day, we didn’t have nitrous canisters were hosted in Dallas, TX in April) were a rude awakening. on our wheelchairs; we used our damn hands and we were Almost everyone was super-rad and supportive, but the thankful for ‘em, too.” few powerful people who weren’t…well, it’s a small enough community that I need to be careful what I say. So let’s How long have you been practicing this sport? What do leave it at, Surprise! There’s misogyny in adaptive sports, you love more about it? just like anywhere else. [JP] I just had my one-year anniversary of doing this sport, [KB] Women are gaining acceptance in the action sports and I really hope I get to do it for the rest of my life. It’s a community, no doubt, but we have a long way to go. WCMX great workout, a stress- and anxiety-killer, and impresses is just the next frontier. I think our sport is different in that, the hell out of people when deployed as an icebreaker in male or female, we all have the experience of disability to conversation. relate to, but as the sport has grown and we’ve tried to raise

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Rider: Jamey Perry

Rider: Katherine Beattie

Katherine, We know you used to practice various sports, until you had a surgery that has weakened your It was held 12 years to the day since the last time I’d been muscles. How did you feel before and after this sur- on a skateboard, and with the help of some amazing volungery? teers (including Jim “Reddog” Muir and Adam Paul) I was once again hooked on skating! [KB] I taught myself to skate and surf when I was around 12 years old. I wasn’t very good at all, but I lived and breathed You were the first women in the world to land a backflip skating. When I was 13 I had a very routine surgery to on a wheelchair, how did that make you feel? Can you lengthen my hamstring muscles, which had become pain- tell us a little bit more about your training to land it? fully contracted. I was very concerned about being able to attend surf camp later in that summer, as I had done the [KB] Doing a backflip was a secret (or perhaps not so secret) year before. My doctor assured us that wouldn’t be a prob- goal of mine from day one. Aaron Fotheringham and Darryl lem, but once the casts came off and physical therapy was Tait had landed them, and I desperately wanted to join their completed it was clear that my now straight legs were not little club. I figured it couldn’t be that hard – just go really the same. I missed surf camp that year, and try as I might to fast and pull back – but after my first attempt at Woodward get back on my skateboard, it wasn’t happening. West I knew I was wrong. Try as I might, I couldn’t rotate at all! That first day took about 7 hours and countless attempts Around that time my neighbor called and asked if I had any just to get a full rotation. skateboards he could have. I gave him mine. I’ve never felt so devastated. I decided to focus more on art and boys and This involved crawling up a flight of stairs, hucking myself whatever else high schoolers focus on, but when you’re a into a foam pit where I’d invariably land straight upside skater, it never really leaves you. For a decade after the down, waiting for someone to dig me out and then doing it surgery I’d stop in my tracks anytime I heard a set of skate all over again. wheels tearing down the pavement. I’d pull my car over if I By the end of the night I was so exhausted I was being saw some skaters hitting a street spot just to see what they pulled around like a rag doll, but getting that flip to foam were going to do. I’d see a curb cut and think, “that would was such a rush. I was able to practice once more over that be so fun to Ollie off of!” Just when I’d decided to put skat- Christmas at The Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex in ing out of my mind forever, Life Rolls On Foundation hosted Holly Springs, NC. It was a similar experience, but this time an adaptive skateboarding event. it took two days to get it to foam. GWR MAG 65 |

Rider: Katherine Beattie

tears of joy that I wouldn’t have to do it again for at least a I took a second trip to Woodward West in April 2014, a week little while. Mind you, I was hurt! before our first WCMX World Championships, and brought along my friends Blake Simpson and Rico Reyes. Blake is a Backflipping has come to be one of my favorite things about beast, and after experiencing how hard it is to crawl out of a WCMX. It’s the hardest thing to commit to, but the easiest foam pit when you’re attached to a wheelchair, he decided thing to land once you do… which I think is a good metato go straight to resi. He landed his flip first try, so I knew I phor for life in general. Commitment, commitment, commithad to do it too! It took me 4 attempts, and each time I got ment. Because of my particular disability, I have no idea further away from landing. I landed so sideways on the 3rd where I am spatially once I leave the ramp. That is such a attempt that I knew I had to go again right away, before I disorienting feeling, like blacking out for a minute, but it’s also very freeing. Because of that I just have to keep lookstarted hurting. ing where I want to go and trust that the ground will come I had everyone there hustle me back up to the top of the back into view eventually. ramp, went for it, and to my utter shock, I landed wheels down. I started crying as soon as I processed what had just Our sport is progressing so quickly that the list of people who have landed the flip has grown a lot, and we have a happened. few girls who are close to landing flips of their own. Each Partly tears of pride and accomplishment, but mostly disbe- time I see someone do it I get so stoked for them, because I lief that after 8 months of trying, I finally did it, mixed with know the literal blood, sweat and tears that goes into pulling such a gnarly trick. GWR MAG 66 |

“Allow yourself to burn a lot of time pondering your essential you-ness: The things you do that nobody else does; the stuff other people do but you do it different; the unique constellation of scars on your body and heart that taught you tough lessons but gave you a story worth telling; and, most of all, the things that make sunbeams shoot out of your face. Because the world moves for passionate people, and there’s nothing so powerful as a girl who knows what she’s about.”

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flashback

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Michelle Kolar-Scott by Lorrie Palmos

Flashback to 1961. JFK becomes the 35th President of the United States. The German Democratic Republic starts building the Berlin Wall. The U.S. sends their first man, Alan Shepard, into space aboard the Freedom 7. The Quarrymen perform under their new name, The Beatles, at the Cavern in Liverpool. The price for a gallon of gas is 27 cents.

helped change the future mindset for the next generations.

I’ve known Michelle Koler-Scott for at least twenty years as an easy going, humble, upbeat, avid surfer. What I didn’t know until recently, and was stoked to find out, is Michelle was a part of women’s’ skateboarding scene in the late ‘70’s. She skated in freestyle nationals in the late 70’s, takSo what’s your future look like as a girl born in the ear- ing home a 1st place trophy. Michelle skated street before ly ‘60’s? Pretty boring and confining. Women’s fashion is the term street skating was coined. Although on the scene still conservative and muted. Attitudes regarding women in for only a short time, Michelle was part of a group of womsports are anything but supportive. Things would stay that en who hold a place in the Skateboarding Hall of Fame, way until the mid to late 70’s when an act of congress and including Cindy Whitehead, Laura Thornhill-Caswell and some rebellious girls who ignored constraining perspectives Ellen Berryman. GWR MAG 69 |

Where were you born?

ball bearings. Lol

Inglewood California, and brought home days later to Her- Tell me about your core group of friends or a favormosa Beach, CA ite friend while growing up during your skateboarding years. How was it growing up in Hermosa Beach? My skating friends in the earlier days was my bro and his Hermosa Beach was a great place to grow up in the 70’s buddies like Paul Hoffman, Chris Chaput, Shreddi Repas, because it wasn’t touched by the outside city of LA yet. I Steve & Pat Rocco, Per Wilander, Per Holknect, Fred lived 3 blocks from the ocean and could check the surf ev- Blood, Duke Renny, Mike Smith, Kevin Anderson . Then ery day from my living room, that was awesome. I grew up of course I found Cindy Whitehead thank god. I was getin a triplex that my great grandmother Clara owned on 8th ting sick of hanging with the boy’s! Lol..Then I also hung & Monterey St. The Strand was a great place to because out with Deanna Calkins, Vicky Vickers and once in while, you knew everyone in those days that you would see on Laura Thornhill.. the beach, and on the strand. The culture was a surf culture town that Dewey Weber, Dale Velzy, Greg Noll etc..came Any fun or interesting stories about you and friends, or from. So, with that said, surfing was a big part of the culture. favorite friend? Did your parents encourage you in general? Did they The best memory was definitely the San Diego Nationals. encourage you in skateboarding? That was a big deal. I went with Per Wilander and Chris Chaput and I can’t remember who else. Amazing trip. I won My parents always encouraged me and my brother in music my division and was my favorite trip ever. I beat the best and surfing and skating… freestyle amature girl at the time. I can’t remember the year My mom & dad were busy working, but always let me go I think it was 1978 or 1979. I remember Per Welinder sayto any skate or surf contests, or skate and surf in general. ing to me on the way home, “You just won the nationals”. They never discouraged us. That stuck in my head finally on the trip home. Another trip was when Cindy Whitehead and I went to the Sims factory How about brothers or sisters. Did they support you in in Santa Barbara and I got to meet Tom Sims. That was skateboarding or did they give you a bad time? My twin brother Michael Kolar also skated and surfed too and that really was what pushed me into surfing and skating. I wanted to be like my bro.. I and it worked out great as we both skated on the same team Juicy Lucy’s! We got along most of the time as my bro was totally supportive. I was lucky that he was so supportive. He never discouraged me that I remember. We had some of the same skating friends. It was like we were a family and we skated together a lot. When did you start skateboarding? I started skating I’d say in 1973. Your first board set up? My first board was a Black Knight from Arnold’s hardware store in downtown Hermosa. It had clay wheels. I thought it was cool and my bro got one too. Then my bro made me a homemade board in his woodshop class at Pier Avenue Jr. High in 1974. I remember we went to Rick surfshop up the street and bought Cadillac wheels. I bought them with my allowance; 2 yellow and 2 clear, and we had to deal with GWR MAG 70 |

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Then I was sponsored by Tai Stiks (boards) and E.T Surfboards for everything else. Cindy got me sponsored by Puma and then Shreddi Repas got me sponsored on Sunspot Wheels. It was hard as a girl to get sponsored back then. I tried for Tracker and Vans and Logan Earth Ski and Sims but no one wanted a Freestyle Skater they were into Pool skaters. What wheel brands did you like? Boards? What brand of clothing did you wear? I rode a Sims board that Steve Rocco got me, and sunspot wheels and Tracker midtracks through my sponsor E.T. Surf. My clothes consisted of OP shorts, knee high socks, and of course Vans, always. T Shirts were either Juicy Lucy or E.T Surf. Wheels, I liked Sims or Sunspots. Boards I liked were Steve Rocco models. Trucks were Tracker midtracks. What style of skateboarding was your focus? FREESTYLE and STREET SKATING!!

a great memory I will never forget. Another one is when Paul Hoffman took me to the famous Kenter school in Santa Monica. Also another cool trip was when I went the Upland Pipeline Contest with Steve Rocco and Cindy Whitehead. That was an awesome trip. Also I remember going to the Marina Skatepark with Cindy and a variety of others! Great memories at that park. Who inspired you? My inspirations were my brother Mike Kolar, Bob Stanton, Steve Rocco, Rodney Mullen, Chris Chaput, Laura Thornhill, Debbie Eldridge and Cindy Whitehead! Describe the evolution of your involvement in skateboarding. How I got into skating was when the surf was flat and I was bored. So what is close to surfing? Skating! And my bro and I just started skating, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it evolved. Who sponsored you? My first sponsor was Juicy Lucy, a store that was on the strand in Hermosa that would sell Icy slurpy type things. GWR MAG 72 |

Why did you like that style?

surf photo’s.

It was like surfing in a way. I liked the variety of maneuvers, and the challenges it brought to invent your own tricks, and mastering new ones that Steve Rocco and Rodney Mullen mastered!

Do you still follow skateboarding?

How were contests judged? What was the criteria for winning?

I love where it’s going now and seeing that it’s evolved and that it will keep evolving!! Super Stoked. It puts a big smile on my face.

I somewhat keep an eye on skating, but not too much.

What do you think of the skateboarding world these Describe your achievements in skateboarding. Any days? honors or awards you received? I really like what’s going on in skateboarding especially with I won the San Diego Nationals in 1978 or 1979, Got 2nd at women and what Cindy is doing too. I love that and wouldn’t my first Oceanside contest in 1977, and competed in a few mind helping in some way! more but can’t remember the placings. I think maybe 2nd’s and 3rds.. How has women’s skateboarding changed since you competed? Any injuries as a result of skateboarding? I see that it is doing quite well and am super stoked for the I had a lot of ankle and wrist injuries but no broken bones women and girls that are paving the way for future generWhat contest resulted in the biggest paycheck you earned ations now !! from skateboarding and how much was it for? I never got money for a contest, but I did a Pepsi Demo with What do you think of the evolution of women’s skateLaura Thornhill and Cindy Whitehead and got some $$ boarding?

I remember it was always length of nose & tail wheelies & trick variety! What were some of the challenges you faced as a female skater? The challenges I think, I was always having to prove myself to people (companies) whether it was in contest ,or just try to get a picture in a Skateboarding, and to get some kind of sponsorship too. That always bugged me. I thought for sure after winning a national contest they would approach me. I just got my name in the mag for contest placing. It just never happened. I just accepted it and moved on and just enjoyed the sport of skating that I first came to love when I first started. Remember, it was the 70’s when skateboarding was evolving. Why did you leave the skateboarding scene? I started surfing more and getting into longboarding, and just kind of slowly left the scene. What are you up to these days? I work at Hotline Wetsuits and am the Team Manager. Not surfing too much due to a back injury, but I am doing some nature photography, and would like to start taking skate &

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Venice Ladies Springtime Skate Jam GWR MAG 74 |

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Â© Ian Logan

The Venice Ladies Springtime Skate Jam was an amazing day that really highlighted girls skateboarding. The sun was shining, the weather was warm, and girls came from all over - some as far as San Diego and Colorado, to meet other girls and have a great day skating at Venice Skatepark together. There was a "pup cup" for the youngest riders, and they all received a “tie for first place” medal. Then there were three divisions for the amateur riders to compete in, each one based on age range. Throughout the day the female pro skaters took to the big bowl to put on a demo for the large crowd that gathered to watch them skate. Newly minted X-Games athletes, eleven-year-old Brighton Zeuner, seventeen-year-old Arianna Carmona, and sixteenyear-old Jordyn Barratt, took time out of their busy training schedules to come wow the crowd and inspire other girls to skate. They spent hours throwing down trick after trick, showing the girls and parents in attendance, just what it

took to earn that coveted X-Games spot. Current Women's World Champion for WCMX, Jamey Perry put on a great demo - she was dropping in (complete with a free fall!) in the deep end of the snake run, jumping off the stairs in the street course, and doing spins wherever she could. This girl is truly an inspiration. We had a special treat with DJ KRZA spinning tunes all day to keep the girls energy flowing - she never took a break from early morning until late afternoon - that's dedication, and we are so appreciative of everything she did for this event! Huge thanks to The City of Los Angeles, Venice Parks and Recreation, Heidi Lemmon, all the volunteers, companies who donated goods, photographers, parents, the girls who showed up & skated, and the skateboard legends in attendance - you all made this event happen, and it was amazing!

gwr.mag staff Oriana Brรกs Catarina Faustino Cindy Whitehead Previous Editions Facebook Instagram e-mail

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contributors Lorrie Palmos Ian Logan George Medina

big thanks Valeria Kechichian Sierra Prescott Elise Crigar Joana Schenker Katherine Beattie Jamey Perry Michelle Kolar-Scott Heidi Lemmon

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Â© Ian Logan

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