Supergirl Jam finale hits Venice Beach

The 2009 Supergirl Jam event series wrapped up in Venice Beach over the weekend as more than 50,000 Labor Day holiday spectators caught a glimpse of action sports industry’s only large scale, all-girl’s competition and lifestyle festival. The event’s prize purse totaled $36,000, so the ladies didn’t hold back and treated beachgoers to some real action.

Venice Beach may not be known for snow, but a 35- foot snowboard rail jam course, towered over the sand showcasing the skills of 24 competitors in this category. From a field that ranged in age from 14 to 29, twelve women emerged from the preliminary rounds to battle in the finals and wowed the crowd with their creative tricks.

The girls had to battle some tough conditions, not the least of which was the slush and mud that encroached on the course as the sun beat down and melted the 80,000 pounds of snow.

After 40-minutes of snowboarding, with the Pacific Ocean providing a picturesque backdrop, Laurie Currier took the top podium spot, as both the event champion and the winner of the best trick contest with her ‘hard way front one/hard way front one out.’ It was the second year in a row that Currier won the gold.

The skateboard street competition that followed offered three obstacles for the ladies to tackle. The course, set up on one of Venice Beach famed basketball courts, wasn’t particularly challenging but in the end skill and execution won out as local Amy Caron claimed the title.

“I didn’t win the first year, I didn’t win last year, so I really wanted to get it,” said Caron. “I needed to redeem myself. I tried the feeble grind down the long rail at X Games and landed in seventh place when I missed it. So, on my last run tonight I had to try it and I made it. I’m pretty stoked. [Supergirl Jam] features all sports, not just skating, so it’s great to get together and see all the ladies. That’s what it’s all about.”

Vanessa Torres (Orange County, CA), who took second place, was happy for her fellow competitor and friend, “Amy deserved to win, she skated well. I just came out here to skate, to hold it down for the ladies, so to walk away with money…I couldn’t be happier. This [Supergirl Jam] is a huge opportunity for girls.”

Alexis Sablone (Connecticut), who stunned the crowd with a ‘kick flip over the bank down the euro to flat,’ picked up not only the bronze medal, but was also awarded the best trick title.

The day began with the inline skaters. Eight women took to the street course obstacles, hitting the rails hard from the outset. Immediately, Sanchez and Fallon Heffernan (Jacksonville, FL) became the women to watch. Their runs pushed the others to take their tricks to the next level. When Sanchez nailed a ‘disaster to sweat stance,’ it gave her the best trick title and the gold. Aarin Gates (Camarillo, CA) won the silver and Heffernan, for the second year in a row, took home the bronze.

“Even though I just can’t seem to win this event, I still feel like I won today,” said Heffernan. “I was Coco’s camp coach at [Camp] Woodward, so it’s good to see her win, knowing I had a hand in pushing her to be her best.”

The Supergirl Jam series consisted of three stops this year – the Association of Surfing Professionals Grade-4 Supergirl Pro Junior contest that took place on August 15 & 16 in Oceanside, CA; the Supergirl Pro-Am Jam Skateboard Street competition that took place at Woodward West in Tehachapi, CA, on August 19; and the finale at Venice Beach.

Event Results:
Inline Best Trick Top 5:

1) Coco Sanchez (San Francisco, CA); 2) Aarin Gates (Camarillo, CA); 3) Fallon Heffernan (Jacksonville, FL); 4) Chynna Weierstall (Roseville, MI); Katie Ketchum (Buffalo, NY)

Skateboard Street Top 5:

1) Amy Caron (Huntington Beach, CA); 2) Vanessa Torres (Orange County, CA); 3) Alexis Sablone (Connecticut); 4) Tamara Drybrough (Port Coquitlam, Canada); 5) Leticia Bufoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Snowboard Rail Jam Top 5:

1) Laurie Currier (Wrightwood, CA); 2) Nicki Slechta (Los Angeles, CA); 3) Desiree Melancon (Riverside, CA); 4) Madison Blackley (Park City, Utah); 5) Colleen Quigley (Groton, MA)

Check back for pics and video from the event. In the meantime, if you need a primer on action sports start with  snowboard lingo and  skateboard lingo.

Leticia Bufoni wins Supergirl Pro-Am Jam at Woodward

Leticia Bufoni of Sao Paulo, Brazil, bested the line-up of 20 professional and amateur skateboarders this afternoon in the Supergirl Pro-Am Jam Skateboard Street contest, taking home the overall title and the $3,000 top prize.  As the top-scoring amateur in the contest, Abby Zsarnay, qualified to compete in the Supergirl Jam Skateboard Street professional competition scheduled to be held at Venice Beach over Labor Day weekend.

New to the event series this year, the Supergirl Pro-Am Jam is the second stop on the 2009 Supergirl Jam, the action sports industry’s only large-scale, all-female competition and lifestyle event designed to promote female empowerment, strength and independence.  Woodward West in Tehachapi, CA, opened its Hangar 18 Big Street course for the Supergirl Pro-Am Jam, providing a diverse and competitive layout for the skaters who ranged in age from five to 25.   Supporting the progression of females in action sports and infusing the industry with new talent is the basis for both the Supergirl Jam and Woodward West.

This is the first Supergirl Jam Skateboard Street contest win for Bufoni who has competed in the event since its inception in 2007. She took the lead from the first run of the afternoon, proving early that she was the skater to beat.
“I am so happy to win,” said Bufoni.  “I’ve been practicing every day for this contest.”

Hot on Bufoni’s heels was camp favorite and Woodward West staff member Amelia Brodka, originally of Nowa Sarzyna, Poland.  Turning 20 on Tuesday, Brodka celebrated with a 2nd place finish and thanked the camp attendees who cheered her to the end.

“I was so tired going into the finals,” said Brodka. “The cheers pushed me so much and helped me keep going.”

Amy Caron of Huntington Beach, CA, rounded out the top three finishers.
The Supergirl Jam opened an entry for the top-scoring amateur in today’s contest to compete in the series’ finale on September 6 at Venice Beach.  Zsarney was moved to tears when learning that she had qualified for this honor.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” said Zsarney. “I just went out there and did my best no matter what anyone else said.  That’s what being a Supergirl is all about.”

On September 6 the Supergirl Jam will host the Skateboard Street, Snowboard Rail Jam and Inline Best Trick contests at Venice Beach. Starting at 11:30 a.m.

Official Results:

Leticia Bufoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 88.17;
Amelia Brodka (Nowa Sarzyna, Poland) 82.50;
Amy Caron (Huntington Beach, CA) 81.33;
Lyn-z Adams Hawkins (San Diego, CA) 77.42;
Elizabeth Nitu (Los Gatos, CA) 73.33;
Abby Zsarnay (Santa Paula, CA) 73.25;
Vanessa Torres (Orange County, CA) 70.83;
Abisha Alshebaiki (San Francisco, CA) 70.83;
KerriAnn Reichard (Portland, OR) 66.67;
Alex White (Los Angeles, CA) 60.33;
Brooke Whipp (Murray, UT) 56.33;
Chelsea Castro (Long Beach, CA) 55.67.

(via press release)

California High schools embrace skateboarding as a competitive sport

Skateboarding is as diverse a sport as the athletes it attracts.  From doing tricks, riding in a skate-park, sliding, racing, or freestyle, there are lots of ways to ride and more and more girls are taking up the challenge.

While most schools don’t allow skateboarding on campus (big surprise),  there are some high schools in California that are embracing skateboarding as a competitive sport.

The idea of high school teams competing in skateboarding came from the 1970’s era of team skateboarding.  Like the surf culture had seen for many years, in the 70’s and early 80’s, skateboarders affiliated themselves with their local surf/skate shop.  Shop teams would travel up and down California and compete for bragging rights.  In the early days, the competitions were held for different types of skateboarding.  Freestyle, slalom, and downhill were among the most popular.  In the new millennium, skateboarding has seen the emergence of street style skateboarding.

Now, the National High School Skateboard Association,  respecting the history of skateboarding, is trying to build on those traditions.

The mission of the National High School Skateboard Association (NHSSA) is to provide a positive environment for the best high school skateboarders to showcase their talents.  The NHSSA allows skateboarders to realize their potential both personally and professionally.

The goal of the NHSSA is to assist the skateboarder throughout the high school years.  The skateboarder will be able to either take their abilities to the next level professionally or realize the potential to have a career inside the skateboard industry. Started three years ago with only seven member schools, the NHSSA now has 40. Skateboarding might not be sanctioned by state athletic associations, but it’s on its way.

Some girls are competing at the high school level – but there’s room for a lot more.

If you’re interested in pursing skateboarding, here are some tips:

Style: Figure out what style of riding you want to try. Just as mountain biking, trail riding, and road riding are different, with bikes specifically designed for each, there are different kinds of skateboards for different kinds of boarding.

Gear: Get your first board from a store where the sales staff are experts. Your best bet is a local independent skate shop, not a big-box sporting supply store. Talk to kids at the local skate park to find out where they buy their gear. Note: New boards can run you anywhere from $90.00 for a deck and another $100+ for trucks and wheels.

Safety:  Used equipment is okay but don’t buy a second-hand helmet if you can help it. Be prepared to replace the helmet when it no longer fits, or after about two years.

Lessons: Some skate shops offer lessons or clinics for beginners. Sometimes the lessons are free, just to help out new skaters; others are offered for a fee. The best way to become a good rider, of course, is to skate.

Carlee Butler – Snowboard

Sport: Snowboarding/Skateboarding
Home: Michigan
Age: 21

Competitive Highlights: 2008 USASA Slopestyle Jams, 1st Place; 2008 USASA Tuckfest @ Crystal Mountain, 1st slopestyle; 2008 USASA Boarding for Breast Cancer, 1st Slopestyle; 2008 USASA Rare Air Fest, 1st Slopestyle

Girl Riders Unite

September 29, 2008 – You may have noticed banners and flyers promoting a GvR Skateboard comp scheduled to take place this weekend.  Sponsored by etnies, GvR is one-of-a-kind skateboarding event that pits goofy footed skateboarders against their regular footed counterparts.

The world’s top pro skateboarders will be in attendance, throwing down all weekend at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest in California. And there’s one special organization that is committed to getting girls to represent at the event.

We recently spoke with Courtney Payne Taylor, head of GRO – Girls Riders Organization, about her group and their efforts to change beliefs about girls and skateboarding.

PT: Tell us about your organization…

CPT: GRO, Girls Riders Organization, is a non profit group on a mission to inspire, educate and support girls in action sports. Currently focused on skateboarding we hold events across the country educating ladies about skating and building over all community awareness. It is a group run entirely by girl skaters for all girl skaters. Find out more and get involved at girlsriders.org

PT: What’s GROs relationship with Etnies?

CPT: Etnies is GRO’s largest supporter and has been for the last two years. Etnies is also one company that has been supporting girls through sponsorships and girls contests when many other companies have not.

PT:  What’s the history of GvR? Who are some of the women skating this year?

CPT: This will be the fifth year for GvR. The main part of the contest, GvR is for guys street only. For this the stands are full. The contest also hosts a girls street, girls and guys bowl contest, and the Hometown Heros finals.

Girls have had their events since the first GvR event. For the girls, there is no division between goofy and regular, they skate like any other contest, against everyone. That really comes down to numbers. The more girls who skate and compete, the better chance there is of building two equally matched teams to battle for the GvR Girls title.

Some girls that skated last year and should be back again this year include:

Street – Elissa Steamer, Amy Caron, Vanessa Torres, Leticia Bufoni, Rachel Reinhard, Lauren Perkins, Lacey Baker and many more.

Bowl – Julie Kindstrand, Amelia Brodka, Alize Montes, Cressey Rice, Allysha Bergado and more

PT: Tell us about your “Call To Action” and why it’s so important.

CPT: The call to action is our chance to show that we care about girls skateboarding and want to see it continue and progress. If we don’t show we care when we, the kids and new riders look for it in the future it will not be there. This is a call to be on time for the girls and somehow represent your support. Not only that, for those of you ladies who ride and rip, the contest is open, so enter. No matter what, come and have a blast.

PT: What’s next for GRO?

CPT: 2008 has some more workshops and sessions coming to Southern California and Arizona, then ending at the Tampa Am in Florida. 2009 marks some big changes and new events. All the info will be on girlsriders.org as the dates are confirmed. If you want to stay in the loop, please send us your information (Full Name, email, City, State and Zip code) to be added to the mailing list. Remember, GRO is what you want to make it so send us your ideas, get involved, lets make a change.

So, if you live in SoCal, and you’re looking for something to do this weekend, GRO has some very specific suggestions for showing your support:

Step 1 – Plan to be at Lake Forest Skatepark Friday by 1:30pm and Saturday by 11:00am.
Step 2 – Tell ten of your friends to check out this page and begin from Step 1.
Step 3 – Gather clothes and supplies; pink or purple clothes, markers, poster board.
Step 4 – Be creative. Decorate clothes and signs showing your love for the girl skaters.
Step 5 – On that weekend, gather your friends and show up on time for the girls.
Step 6 – Cheer loud and fill the stands.
Step 7 – Go to the Freshpark Ramps and skate the GRO GGOB (Girls Get on Board) Workshop with the Pros.
Step 8 – Start planning the date for the first weekend in October 2009!

For the complete event and band schedule, visit GRO.

Karen Jones edges Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins for women’s skateboard vert title

August 3, 2008 – The biggest thing Karen Jones had done this year before the X Games was interview rock band Linkin Park for a television show in her native Brazil.

That interview moved down the list Saturday as Jones edged defending champion Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins to take the gold medal in the women’s skateboarding vert contest at the Home Depot Center.

“This is the thing I wanted the most,” Jones said. “It’s so stupid and I’m not supposed to like contests and care about it. I just sucked last year and the year before so I got obsessive about doing good on it.”

Given the jam session format of the event, Jones credited her victory to a combination of smaller tricks including varials and kick flips rather than to a signature move.

Another result of the format was conflict over whose turn it was to skate with two girls often going at the same time.

“It’s just different,” bronze medalist Mimi Knoop said. “It’s something you have to learn. It’s an etiquette and I don’t think the younger girls have really learned it. It’s a respect.”

LA Times

Elissa Steamer reclaims gold at X Games

August 2, 2008 – Elissa Steamer’s gold medal at the 2008 X Games cements her position at the top of her sport. But recognition still lags behind her male counterparts. The girls know how to rip and this year’s Women’s Street final proved it.  Marisa Dal Santo, Brazilian Leticia Bufoni and Steamer all threw down some great tricks including boardslides and 5-0s on the rail. During the second heat Steamer stuck a lofty, kick flip over the China gap with less than three seconds on the clock.

Last year, skating on her 21st birthday, Marisa Dal Santo came out of nowhere to edge into first place, unseating Steamer from the top spot for the first time in three years. This year, Steamer stepped up and took her title right back – winning her fourth overall gold medal at the X Games. (Second, third and fourth places went to Marisa, Amy Caron, and Leticia Bufoni.)

When Steamer began skateboarding 23 years ago, she had few women to skate with and learned how to ride with the guys. She didn’t really set out to be a trailblazer, but that’s the role she’s assumed and her most recent gold medal proves she’s still the one to watch.

Check out this Elissa Steamer Profile.

Skateboard Street Women’s Final Results Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calf. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (Final Standings)

Name / Hometown / Score

1. Elissa Steamer / San Francisco, Calif. / 87.83
2. Marisa Dal Santo / LaGrange, IL / 81.50
3. Amy Caron / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 80.00
4. Rachel Reinhard / Colorado Springs, Colo. / 78.00
5. Leticia Bufoni / Sao Paulo, Brazil / 77.00
6. Vanessa Torres / Silver Lake, Calif. / 65.08
7. Evie Bouilliart / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 60.33
8. Lorena Lima / Sayreville, N.J. / 46.83
9. Lauren Perkins / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 42.83
10. Sophie Poppe / Destelbergen, Belgium / 23.25

Cooler – snow, surf, life & style

Jan. 24, 2008 – To compliment the relaunched Cooler magazine (set to hit stores in the UK on January 24th 2008), the Cooler website has had a fresh lick of paint and a new injection of creativity.

According to editor Sam Haddad, the content will better reflect the lifestyle of the Cooler reader. “We promise to deliver tailored news every day, a comprehensive calendar of events and a full range of features on the sports you love, plus style, health & beauty and travel. Our articles will champion alternative icons, such as pro snowboarders and surfers, credible musicians and eco-heroes, while steering clear of celebrity obsession and the size zero debate.”

They’ll be exclusive competitions, blogs from pro riders across the globe and a wide range of video content, from rider interviews and events footage. to the latest trick tips and movie trailers.

With a sharper tone, sense of humour and commitment to eco issues, the new Cooler promises to offer something for all independent, style-conscious young women.

Check out the new and improved site at coolermag.com. 

Life of Ryan – Reality TV

Ryan Sheckler – a professional skater (and young hottie) just trying to live like a normal kid.

MTV has teamed up with pro skateboarder and teen heartthrob Ryan Sheckler in a new reality drama called “Life of Ryan”. The superstar skater defies gravity for a living but is grounded by a personal life that starts to unravel following his parent’s divorce. Viewers get an intimate look at how Ryan balances the responsibilities of being a professional skater with his desire to be a normal kid in the O.C.

Producers of “Life of Ryan” are calling the new biographic reality show a coming-of-age story. Despite his celebrity status as a 17-year-old action sports icon, Ryan looks forward to hanging out with his childhood friends Tony, Casey and Casey’s girlfriend Taylor – whether it’s going surfing, skating at his personal backyard skatepark or trying to find the perfect girl.

Read more

Emily Christopher – Skateboard

Sport: Skateboarding (Slalom, Sliding)
Nickname: Angel
Home: Colorado
Birthday: 02/13/1985
Other Sports: Snowboarding, Surfing, Snorkeling, Hiking, Camping,Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Ultimate – basically anything outdoors!
Interests & Hobbies: Travel
Competitive Highlights: U.S. Nationals for Women’s Open Giant Slalom – 2nd Place 2005; Littleton Slide Jam – 1st Place 2007
Why I’m Pretty Tough: I live and support the motto…I’ve been playing
tough my whole life…