Arbor Girls – Push 2 Progress – August 28

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Another fun #Push2Progress with the Arbor Girls at Venice Beach thanks to the hardest working Arbor Girl in the world Tara Tate.  Above she’s representing with her legs.  Whiskey Legs that is by Malika Favre.

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I’ve always loved the art on Arbor Boards and am especially excited about the Legs series because Malika is a French illustrator & art director based in East London and I love her work.  If you haven’t checked her collaboration out on Arbor – go right after finishing this post.

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Where am I in the picture – late as usually.  Probably stuck on the 405 when they took the shot.  No worries Arbor Girls are there for each other – so those who could stayed & skated with me.

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If you haven’t been to Venice Beach it’s worth the trip – yes even if it becomes a 3+ hour adventure from Cardiff where I live.  Very skateboard friendly all over the boardwalk & city plus there’s an Arbor Store.

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The day of Push to Progress – there was a backyard sale – so of course worth the trip.  They sell Arbor and they also sell other brands too – all very stylish for on & off the board.

Below some pictures of shenanigans with my Arbor Girls and some shots of Venice – because you really don’t know what you’ll see.

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Above “sword fighting” & interpretive dance with Tara – it’s a video so click on it if you dare.  Below which one of these is Jim’s beautiful home?

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You might see a wedding – beach volley ball – playgrounds – ???

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till next time keep it stylish on & off the board while staying ready for adventure & taking chances – it is after all the Arbor Girl motto

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When You’re the Only Girl

When you’re the only girl – it shouldn’t matter we’re all people.

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It’s still nice to get a shout out in the paper – congrats Ashley Rose!

When I asked Ashley why she entered the contest:

I did the competition because I went to it last year and it was run very well. The talent was incredible and motivated me to come back this year as a stronger skater! Competition is also good exposure and I’d like to inspire other girl skaters to go out there and have fun! 🙂 

Thanks Ashley for inspiring me & others – more girls skate when they see girls skate & get encouragement.

By the way if Ashley looks familiar it’s because of the 9/5/2015 post.  Love her style & that she keeps on skating!

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California Girls

You don’t have to be from California to be a skater girl.  But if you are

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know that you can take your skateboard and go anywhere.  Ilyizzyily shares this picture from Oxford Skatepark.

She’s originally from Berkeley California – now she’s skating in Mississippi while she goes to school.

Where are you going with your skateboard?

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AZZA – skateboarding & design company for girls by girls

Recently I got asked to check out AZZA skateboards.

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I read all my e-mail, comments & direct messages so I was like sure.  And this one is legit it’s a company started by a girl for girls.  The mission build a bridge between art and athleticism.

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As someone who 100% sees skateboarding as sport & art – I was interested to learn more.  Here’s my interview with the founder/creator Tessa Slisz.

SF:  When did AZZA start and by who?  Is AZZA in the US or ???

TS:  AZZA was started by me in June of 2016. I am a Minnesota girl that resides in Arizona, where we are currently based. I create all of our designs and artwork in addition to running the company.  Our boards are available on our website, but I hope to get them into some local shops in the near future.

SF:  How long a process was it from we’re going to do this to we have a board to sell?

TS:  The original idea came to me a few years ago. I am a graphic designer, and I’ve always been an athletic person, so I wanted to do something that bridged athleticism and art. In 2014, I heard about Skateistan, which is a non-profit that empowers girls through skating, and that inspired me to start AZZA. I like the idea of representing and empowering women through my work, and I realized that I could do that through skateboarding. Skateboarding in general has such an awesome, free spirit to it, and as a designer, it’s such a unique, creative outlet. 
I got really serious about making AZZA a reality in 2015, and it took about a year and a half to figure out the business side of things, design the first set of decks, and finally get it up and running.

SF:  What was your first board or boards?  And you’re about skateboards and longboards?

TS:  Yes, I’m making both skateboards and longboards. The very first design I made was the “SIREN” skateboard, but all the decks we currently have came shortly after that one. It kind of opened the floodgates in helping me realize what I wanted AZZA to be.

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SF:  Where are they available?

TS:  Currently, the boards are only available at www.azzaskateboards.com. We hope to get them into some local shops soon too!

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SF:  What’s next?  What’s the best way to stay informed on more designs follow your IG or ???

TS:  The best way to stay informed on new products and other news is to follow us on Instagram (@azzaskateboards) and Facebook (facebook.com/azzaskateboards).

 We’ll be releasing a new longboard design in the next couple of weeks, and then a few more designs in the months after that. I’m also working on some enamel pin and t-shirt designs as well that I hope to have available before winter comes around.
Overall, I hope that AZZA can become a positive, empowering influence for girls and help them feel more at home in the skateboarding world. I would also love to be able to work with a non-profit like Skateistan in the future.
Thank you so much Tessa.  As Girlboss says – We’re better together! So happy to share what you’re creating.  And excited to announce
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if you’re a girl that NEEDS a deck – not just wants – from AZZA let me know.

Support and encouragement is for everyone but this deck is for a girl – so if you are or know a girl in NEED of a deck let me know.  Be following AZZA on instagram for more details.

 

The Next SkatingFashionista Collage

In the past I’ve done collages on #girlscanskate around the World – Canada – USA.  The blog exists because more girls skateboard when they see girls skateboarding – it wouldn’t be possible without photographs & videos.

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I love all good photographers/videographers – I’m a fashionista – I know the importance of a rad shot.  As I’ve been making the Clash/Clairemont documentary – I’ve realized I’m totally screwed without them.

So the next collage will be of girls who photograph skateboarding.  Like the collages in the past – I’ll be looking for girls to feature but if you’re a girl who wants to be featured or know someone who is just tell her to e-mail me at [email protected].   Plus this time out I have the contact button on IG.

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Reminder in LA today – Skate House session with LA Girls Skate Sesh & Poseiden Saturday 8/27 & tomorrow Arbor Girls Push 2 Progress Venice Beach Sunday 8/28/16.

And if you haven’t wished Don Brown a Happy Birthday – do it now 😉  Always grateful for all the people who support & make #girlscanskate possible.

Till next time keep it stylish on & off the board.

 

 

Chase in Rhode Island Coming to Encinitas for EXPOSURE Skate

I found out about Chase from New England Female Skateboarding – they shared her newspaper article – front page of the Narragansett Times Sports Section.

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When I asked if I could share – the answer was YES – that would be awesome. Let’s get more girls on a board!  Since then I’ve found out Chase skates with her brother & is coming to EXPOSURE Skate in November.

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And why does Chase skate and think it’s good for girls?

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Before I started blogging, I thought the world was huge.  Blogging has shown me the relationships are all out there – you just have to be a friend and you’ll meet friends which makes the world smaller & more beautiful.

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Shreducate Sharing Skateboarding

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Shreducate offers skateboarding lessons, camps, skatepark tours, and birthday parties.  And you know the photos I love the most are of the girls.

Above coach Eric showing Morgan how to drop in. And below a picture from this week’s camp at Volcom park where 6 of the 16 campers are skater girls.

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More girls skate when they see girls skateboarding and get encouragement – so hurray to Shreducate for supporting & encouraging skaters.

Actions speak louder than words below Teagan giving a helping hand to Autumn.  Kindness grows kindness.  And children model the behaviors they see so keep it stylish on & off the board.

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Skateboarding with the Boys

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Above Kalexia.Abreu with her friends.  Yes – I blog about how more girls should skate – but that doesn’t mean they should skate with just girls.   Skating has given me the self-confidence to have boy friends.  Yes – girls can have friends that are boy friends not boyfriends.

So does Ana – no wonder I love her style on & off the board.

Girls or boys we are all people – yup people not trophies, prizes, or things.  Huge shout out to all those out there who treat everyone with respect.  There’s no ownership in any type of relationship.

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Girl Boss – quoting Breakfast at Tiffany’s

adidas Skateboarding – August 21st – Transworld HQ

#AwayDaysTeamTour came to San Diego August 21st – well a little north they came to the Transworld HQ in Carlsbad.  Click all the links & pictures to see tons of rad shots & videos.

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Custom obstacles were built by Surf Ride, Sun Diego Board ShopsPacific Drive Skateboard Shop,  Active Ride Shop, & Asylum Skate Shop with the adidas skateboarding team & TransWorldSkate staff.

Huge thanks everyone that built the obstacles & to Cairo who did so much of the organizing and testing.

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my favorite obstacle – maybe the gator

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As for the team –  Tyshawn Jones,  Miles Silvas, Pete Eldridge, Daewon Song, and Dennis Busenitz were there.  They were all watching, skating & cheering stuff like Ryan from Active Redlands

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of course there were product tosses

shirts in the air

and free shoes – well you had to work for the shoes – which Isaac from Asylum Skate Shop did – he won a years free supply of adidas shoes for this 100 foot rail slide!

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Till next time – the next stop for #AwayDaysTeamTour is east coast – keep it stylish on & off the board – and if you see me land a front shov it’s all thanks to enwhytj – he has a lot of patience.

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above moments with @pete_eldridge @miles_silvas @silasbaxterneal from the final West Coast demo of the #AwayDaysTeamTour. The San Diego stop showcased #bringyourbuild features from local skate shops for everyone to skate.

UPDATE 9/8/16

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Full recap of the West Coast #AwayDaysTeamTour is live!

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Of course I loved this picture in Transworld Away Days Team Tour San Diego

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