San Leandro, CA. – Skate Industry News: Girls in Skateboarding; Best Thing To Happen To Skateboarding OR Is It The Biggest Distraction?

Girls are taking over the skate industry. 

Depending on your perspective, that could be a really negative statement, or an extremely positive statement.

First, let’s back up some. When I was a kid, in the 90’s, there was only one female who skated. Elissa Steamer. Not only was she one of the first pro female street skaters, she also obtained legendary status by gracing the line-up for the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater! LEGENDARY!!

There was only one. At your local park or spot, there was an abundance of male influence. If a girl ended up there, most likely, it was because she had been dragged by her skater boyfriend. She would spend most of the time looking annoyed and usually asking if it was time to leave. Regardless, the feminine persuasion would float an air over the session of competition and hostility. As we get older, obviously most of us can control ourselves much better than in our previously more immature states, but most of us can still see a difference in the air when a female is around. Its hormones. We can only control it so much.

So now, we introduce a whole new breed of females at the skate park or spot. Females who are shredding the spot with you.

When we were younger, we would all laugh and joke about how awesome it would be to have a girlfriend who skates. Now as grown men we laugh and joke about going skating to get away from the wife and kids…

But seriously, I think it is amazing that strong women like Elissa Steamer, Patti McGee, Leticia Bufoni, Lizzie Armanto, Nora Vasconcellos and up and coming locals like Minna Stess are around to show the youth what is possible. I am very excited to see where the future takes the generations of female shredders!!

written by Keith Halterman