Monthly Archives: November 2015

Arbor Girls Gather

With an instagram bio line of for girls who choose adventure, ride fast & take chances with timeless style & grace – I love Arbor Girls.

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On Sunday November 15th I headed north to the Arbor Venice showroom & headquarters where I met up for an Arbor Girls Ride Day.

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Similar to the San Diego Arbor Girls Ride there was time for boardwalk/skatepark riding and then downhill.  I appreciate these gatherings because it forces me to meet new skater girls.

As the skatingfashionista on a mission to get more girls skateboarding for fun – you wouldn’t think I’d ever be shy about talking to another skater girl.  You’d be wrong.  I can write non stop my verbal skills – not so much.

It’s scary to talk to a stranger – you could be alone, they could be alone, there’s so many reasons it could be awkward.  So a lot of times I smile at other skater girls and definitely answer back but don’t quite have it to start the conversation.  An Arbor Ride Day takes the scary out because you know all the other girls are there to make friends too.

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I’m not all about separation – girls skate here & boys over there.  I believe we can thrive together – just for me it’s easier to thrive after I’ve met someone in a smaller setting.

Especially when I go to a big park or contest it’s easy to feel left out if I’m the “new” girl – everybody already knows everybody and I’m not talking first so it can be a stalemate.   Thanks to Arbor taking the time to have events like this I can meet people gradually and then have friends when I go to bigger events.

Yes – I can skate alone and be happy – it’s just fun to #ridewithyourfriends so thanks to Arbor and all the other organizations that make friend finding way easier and low stress.  Oh and Arbor had prizes – this lucky girl won an Arbor Pocket Rocket.

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Santa bring me an Arbor Pocket Rocket or maybe an Axis – I’ve been good and will use them for adventure (on a small hill)!

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XOXO

skatingfashionista

My Favorite Little Girl is a Skater Girl

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Annatheaquarius shares this picture of her favorite little girl.  I’m so glad she did and I’m pretty sure she’s the type of girl that inspires other girls to give skateboarding a try!

Love the pants with matching laces – who’s your favorite skater girl?  We are all stronger when we encourage each other – thanks for taking the time to share!

Nose Grab in Canada

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Queenmeag lives in Canada where she loves to Eat, Sleep, Skate, Repeat.

I’m so happy she shared & love the colors of the park & the tress in the background.  Where are you skateboarding and keeping it stylish – will you take time to share?

Poseiden Foundation 7th Annual Ladies Day at the Berrics

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I started this blog because I believe more girls skate when they see girls skateboarding.  I also believe you can skate for fun even if you’re not a great skater and yes even if you remain true to your style.

This year I volunteered to help both EXPOSURE Skate and Poseiden Foundation – I also volunteered my mom.  My mom does not skate, she is not a fashion designer – but she is a believer in creating what you want.

My mom spent hours talking to anyone who would listen why they should have a booth or donate some product because she believes skateboarding empowers girls to chase their dreams.  Plus my mom encouraged me to go out and find other girls who skate because they love it.

One of the girls I met was Meagan Guy – I first blogged about her in May.

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We stayed friends on IG so when my mom landed EXPOSURE some tickets from Luxe Travel.  Thank you Luxe.  I tagged Meagan on the contest rules.  contest

I was psyched because she won and she was coming from Florida to California for EXPOSURE 2015.  I want to stress Meagan won because of her video – my mom had nothing to do with who won – she just got the tickets donated.

After Meagan was confirmed to come – I made sure she knew the week after was the Poseiden Foundation7th Annual Ladies Day at the Berrics.  If you’re all the way from Florida stay a week to skate both events.  Her mom must be okay too – because she let her!

The crazy part is I never met Meagan – I missed her and another girl, Kori, who I was trying to meet both at EXPOSURE & the Berrics – so I guess I’m not too good with my cell phone.  What I am good at is helping other girls encourage each other and know that there is love and support for girls skateboarding.

Meagan’s story didn’t end with her trip – she really rips and made podium at both events.

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My blog doesn’t end here either.  I am inspired more than ever to keep on my mission to get more girls skateboarding for fun and keeping it fashionable.  Not everyone can be a super shredder like Meagan – I believe she’s got some God given talent plus a dedication to practice – but any girl can gain balance & self confidence from skateboarding.  And all girls are stronger when we work together and support each other.

I snagged this picture from johnnyschillereff’s IG – it’s the group shot from Poseiden Foundation7th Annual Ladies Day at the Berrics.  And yes – I’m proud to be the one dressed a little differently – NuxUSA blue tie dye leggings – skateboarding should never be about fitting in it’s all about the balance.

XOXO

skatingfashionista

group at berrics

photo credit & thanks also to girlisnota4letterword, Amy Treadway, Poseiden Foundation & EXPOSURE Skate.  Check them and Mahfia-TV to see more photos from the day!

Love to Micaela Ramirez who started Poseiden & made Ladies Day happen, Maya Eve who set up the entire day & all the many others who keep skateboarding fun!

Mondays are Better When You Skateboard

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Olyjoplin says Mondays are better when you dance on a longboard!

Everyday is definitely better when you have something that sets you free – is good for you physically, mentally, & spiritually – maybe that’s why you hear #thankyouskateboarding.

Olyjoplin is a sponsored skater in Venezuela – love her grace & style – so thankful she took the time to share.

She’s Ready & Has Backup

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Kelsaygroms shares this picture of She’s getting ready and if you check out the rest of their Instagram – you’ll see she’s not alone.  She’s one of three skater girl sisters who one day soon will be showing their little bro how to shred.

Who are you skateboarding with?  More girls skate when they see girls skating so please share your pictures & stories.

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And I love, love, love Juliet’s first board – it’s from SkateXS a local Southern California company that specializes in boards for kids.  Just 2.5 and she’s been to an EXPOSURE event and has a board with her name – so super stylish!

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Dropping in at 21

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Sophiavagrant shared this rad video of her first drop in.  She’s only been skating for 5-6 months – she’s great inspiration that you can start skateboarding when you feel like it.

Too many people think skateboarding is for children.  Skateboarding is for anyone who wants it and is willing to get out there with a board.

Sophia is the creator and designer of Vagrant Life Clothing – trying new things and taking charge both on & off the board is super stylish!

Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect

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This picture was captured Practice doesn’t make perfect.  Practice reduces the imperfection. lizettemv

Ok I was sold on the picture making the blog when I saw the shorts with stars plus I love leggings under shorts – so the advice just made this even better.

Skateboarding has taught me a few important life lessons like

1     Try, try again

2     Try something different each time

3     Somedays it just doesn’t work

Some how it gets in our heads that we can practice and be perfect.  If we have any interest in grades we want A’s – if we play a game we want to win – etc.  We forget that practice itself should be fun – the time I spend skateboard practicing is fun – if I go on to skate a competition or not does not change the experience of the practice.

There have been practices where everything has gone wrong and I still had fun – maybe because I was with friends or whatever reason.  I can’t imagine having to practice with the pressure to nail down a trick because I need to have it ready.

There’s nothing wrong with setting goals, holding yourself accountable, and challenging yourself – there’s also nothing wrong with having fun and just being present in the moment.  Truth is you could land it a million times at practices to bale at a contest but you could also do the opposite so just have fun every time you skate.  Be happy with your skateboarding – there’s really no such thing as perfect skateboarding or perfect anything else.

 

EXPOSURE 2015 – what I Learned

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EXPOSURE 2015 went off on Saturday, November 7th at the Encinitas Community Park at 425 Santa Fe Drive.  It was EXPOSURE’s 4th year and the park’s first major skate event.

The park is new having just opened in 2015 and has a bowl and street course.  Tony Hawk’s vert ramp was brought in so there could be three contests – actually nine because each style had three categories – two amateur and one pro.

There are tons of articles and videos out there on the amazing skating that happened during the contests.  And I’m super stoked that so many girls came from so many places to compete – but what I love about EXPOSURE is the Learn-to-Skate Clinic.

I know Learn-to-Skate Clinics aren’t glamourous – no OMG moves or flips or many tricks at all.  What makes them so special is that for many of the participants it’s their first time on a board or maybe they are coming back to give skating a second chance or just have some questions or want some tips.

Learn-to-Skate is the perfect place to get skate advice – besides being run by Neal Mims a skate pro and founder of a premier skate academy in North County San Diego – there are tons of other pros.

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All these skaters plus more came out at 8am on a Saturday to share skateboarding.  At least for me 8am on a Saturday is a huge commitment – yet each one of these rad people were there and ready to help.

And help they did these are just a few of the pictures.  Thanks to Bridge to Skate and SkateXS there was enough gear for everyone.  Plus those that needed a board to continue skateboarding got to take one home.

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I came expecting to help girls find the fun of skateboarding – which I did.  I was probably as happy & excited as she was when she dropped in.

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I was surprised to help a boy too.  I first went to EXPOSURE in 2013 where I was so excited and inspired because I got help at the Learn-to-Skate Clinic and saw girls skateboarding.  It actually helped me get over my fear of skater boys and believe #girlscanskate.  Until then I thought skater boys hated girls at the skatepark.

Maybe I thought that because there were so few girls and so many boys or because the boys were so much better than me or because of things I was told – it doesn’t really matter why I thought it – when you think something it’s true for you.  So when I went to the park I was afraid of skater boys.  It’s hard to skate when you’re scared and at least for me it’s impossible to have fun when I’m scared.  So skateboarding wasn’t even something I enjoyed – it was something I did to make my dad happy.

I got over my fear of skater boys when they helped me at EXPOSURE 2013.  When my fear was gone my skating got better.  How much better is relative  – I don’t believe you have to be a super shredder to have fun skateboarding.

So with a focus on fun – I started my blog skatingfashionista.com because more girls skate when they see girls skate – after all I was inspired by the girls I saw at EXPOSURE 2013 – seeing is believing!

I started out wanting to show girls other girls skateboarding so I wouldn’t be alone at the park.  What I found out at this years Learn-to-Skate is that skateboarding really is for everyone.

So two years into this I’m inspired again – to get more girls skateboarding for fun and help get the message out there that it doesn’t have to be about the boy skaters and the girls skaters – we are all skaters.  That was so rad of Clive to come with his dad to EXPOSURE – because skateboarding is for everyone who wants to skate.

Thank you so much to Neal Mims for being with me through both those years – Allie Wagner/KUSI for putting Learn-to-Skate on the news -because yes more girls do skate when they see girls skateboarding,  and Clive my new five year old buddy who helped me realize we are all just skaters.

XOXO

skatingfashionista

 

note:  EXPOSURE Skate is a non-profit founded by Amelia Brodka and Lesli Cohn all proceeds go to Carol’s House to help victims of domestic violence – please give generously so this event can continue.