EXPOSURE Skate held the 5th annual EXPOSURE Skate event at the Encinitas Community Park on Saturday 11/5/2016 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The event was free to competitors, clinic goers, and spectators.  The competitions include Bowl, Street, and Vert.  The vert ramp is Tony Hawk’s and comes to the park just for this event.

The event truly empowers women through skateboarding by providing a stage to see #girlscanskate and then donating proceeds to Carol’s House, who provides refuge and skills to survivors of domestic violence.

Above Neal Hendrix, one of the announcers, with EXPOSURE Skate founders Amelia Brodka & Lesli Cohen presenting a $5,000 check to Carol’s House on the Zevia Sponsored Vert Ramp.

In addition to the competitions and Learn to Skate and Yoga Clinics, there was a vendor village with over 80 booths and an autograph time with some of the world’s biggest names in action sports.

Female skateboarders traveled from as far away as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Netherlands, Russia, and Sweden

to compete for the $50,000 prize purse – you can see all the confirmed skaters pictures on the EXPOSURE Skate IG and see the results on EXPOSUREskate.org website.

New this year was a pre-event

a chance to win an International Trip to EXPOSURE, and Zumiez who had a booth awarded 3 high-scored girls from selected stops a trip to EXPOSURE see Zumiez Best Foot Forward to find out more about their grass roots events with 37 stops all over North America.

Melanie Mercier from Chickflip was kind enough to share who the 3 winners were:  Una Farrar & Alexis MacRae from Canada and Ariana Spencer from USA.  She also shared this collage of all the Canadian girls who made it to EXPOSURE 2016

I’m proud to be a supporter of events that encourage girls to chase their passions plus supports people who need help.

Now for some moments I captured and that were shared with me.

My first stop and my favorite part of the day Learn to Skate.  When your clinic is run by Neal Mims, you never know who you’re instructor might be –

chance are you won’t be disappointed.

As for my group – we ended the session with sun glasses thanks to Arizona Skate Team and I’m looking forward to meeting up with my new friends soon at Carmel Valley.

After Learn to Skate, I caught up with a few friends and then I had to leave for a bit to tour a high school.   The struggle is real when you’re a teenage girl.

Above my favorite etnies skater, Courtney; my braid sister Mecu; the birthday girl Aubrey; Lisa who hosts some of the best community events for girls at the Ivivva Carlsbad Forum store.

When I came back I got to meet some friends that I had only known on Instagram – Johnny & Gabs.  Huge congrats to Gabs who came from Ohio & placed 2nd in 15 & over Bowl.  Below Gabs shares this video from her pal Jen also from Ohio.

I absolutely love the pictures & stories that girls share of how they had fun with friends.  Below Zoe, who I know & have worked with before on blogging about GRO Girls Riders Organization events in NYC.

This week has been the best week of my life!!! I came to exposure with a plan of checking it all out and maybe actually competing next year. That all changed when I met the other skaters! They talked me into competing and I can’t tell u how happy I am that I did!!

Above Quinne shares

first time ever grinding pool coping was during today’s run. ? I was inspired by over 100 female skaters today!!

Carly who always inspires me with her work to help Missing Girls shares

Today was absolutely amazing! Words cannot express how awesome today was I had so much fun. Thank you SO much everyone who came out to support me and my sister compete, We had SO much fun and are so stoked to be surrounded by such amazing, loving, people.

Kendra, who I totally believe is a mermaid on land and does so much to share the love of skateboarding – check out We Sk8 Together shares

I really can’t even process this happened today. I’m so full of love and stoke and inspirational and gratitude. This was my best birthday ever and best day. I LOVE skating. I love my friends. I love my crews. I love this community.

so there were at least 2 birthday girls because here’s Aubrey

her mom is Calli, the Program Manager of Skate Rising and someone who volunteered many hours to organize this event shared

Aubrey’s first skate competition ever! Thank you @exposureskate @ameliabrodka for making rad opportunities like this for women! Aubrey had the best birthday ever!

Above Stella remembered to wish Amelia a speedy recovery.   Amelia was injured in practice Friday so wishing her a speedy recovery.

Above my favorite Little Surfer Girl kept things in perspective

Today was hands down the second best day of my life (marrying @piecesofmeat is #1)!!!!.. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the smiles, love, high fives, knuckles and cheers!! It means more then you will ever know.

Yes, when you find prince charming – that’s the best day ever.   I also love Stephanie because she proves age is just a number.  This was her first competition and she’s 40.

Now we’re off to the village – but there will be more girls showing you #girlscanskate.

I love interactive booths.  Above Camp Run-a-Mutt with their wheel to winnings; Arbor Skateboards playing miniature golf; Syck Trix letting you test their ollie boards; Team Phun with a variety of games; Tech Deck with what they are famous for and Black Bear Energy had the children energized.

Below Bakpocket brought the hammocks to relax by the Yoga Matts where Yoga for Skateboarders lead the clinic; Pro Trainer let everyone test their product, Neal Mims/Academy Skate Park had you shooting hoops; Too Pretty raffled off an Azza deck and LTC Realty offered you a chance to win a skateboard.

I also love to eat.  There was a variety of food trucks on the black top plus there were treats spread out like Maya’s Cookies and Phive Bar.

Some vendors were there supporting their girl riders like Hosoi Skateboards a Silver Sponsor

Above Kody Tamanaha and Jordan Santana from #teamhosoi and below the booth of co-bowl sponsor XS Helmets and the Zevia Zero Calorie Soda Sponsored Vert Ramp.

There were literally tons of vendors & I loved seeing that because it means that organizations believe #girlscanskate!

Above the Volcom Women’s Booth and below what was going on there.

That’s right the Volcom team of Kaelin, Nicolette, Alli & Jack helped anyone who wanted to design their own tee shirt or parka.  Someone take Arianna to the snow because she’s ready with a parka!

Before I end, I want to say thank you to my mom – who I volunteered to help with EXPOSURE Skate and for two years running she helped organize the best vendor village a fashionista could ever hope for.  If you had a booth and want to add a picture just send it to me because I really am grateful that you came to support the day.

I also want to say thank you to my mom’s friend Stefanie who for two years running ran VIP just because I asked her to

and thank you to all the girls that share their pictures and stories because without you there’s not a blog.

Above Charity (who I need to meet in person) with Patti McGee who inspires so many of us and someone I’m super happy for Minna who skated all three events – 1st in Bowl, 3rd in Vert, 4th in Street!  Plus she still had time to take my little brother trick-or-treating so I didn’t have to – I love you Minna.

Till next time keep it stylish on & off the board – like this NYC Crew who was happy to expand the crew – thanks Niki & Nicole for sharing the picture.

If you have pictures &/or stories to share from EXPOSURE just send them – time never runs out on encouraging others.

If you haven’t read why there’s an EXPOSURE Skate event – check out their story –

The desire to spread EXPOSURE’s message of empowerment moved Lesli Cohen and Amelia Brodka to co-found EXPOSURE Skate, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

UPDATES

Carly skated and volunteered in the EXPOSURE Skate Game Booth where she shared her Henna talent

Natalie Wallach shares memories of the Zevia Sponsored Vert Ramp

“What a great turn out of Canadian #ladiesofshred this year skating in the Am/Pro Street division and Am Bowl division.  For most of us it was definitely our first international skateboarding contest and are truly grateful to have been a part of it.  The vibe throughout the week-end was amazing. Everyone was smiling and happy to be there. 

There was definitely a feeling of camaraderie in the air. Contest or not, it goes to show how big and strong the skate family/community is. Skaters of all abilities are supportive of each other in the goal to push the exposure and progression of female skateboarding and that’s amazing to see! Till next year’s Exposure Skate, happy skating!!!”

Save