Sisterhood of Shred.
Women and Skateboarding: Breaking Boundaries and Transforming the Industry
Introduction
From the underground to the big stage, the sport of skateboarding has been on a gnarly ride over the past 60 years or so. The misunderstood counterculture back in the day, where skateboarding was like the punk rock of sports. It wasn’t just about tricks; it was a middle finger to the establishment and parents side-eyeing it, thinking, “Why can’t Timmy play a nice game of cricket like a proper lad?” But Timmy was busy kickflipping over societal norms.
Timmy wasn’t the only one dropping off park benches; little Patti graced the scene, effortlessly weaving through downhill obstacles, spinning more tricks than a magician's hat. Since the psychedelic 60’s, the skateboarding scene used to be a total sausage fest—like a testosterone-fuelled mosh pit on wheels.
But even from the early days, badass women skaters have made significant strides by fearlessly taking to the skateparks and streets, showing the world that skateboarding is not just a sport for boys but a platform for self-expression and empowerment for all genders.
Now, female skaters aren’t just riding; they’re shaking things up across the board, body-slamming it with passion and accomplishing feats that others merely dream of.
A Little History
The early days (1960’s)
In the early days female skaters rode through life like undercover agents. They’d drop into a halfpipe, pull off a sick trick, and vanish—poof! Society blinked, shrugged, and went back to its avocado toast. Even when the likes of Patti McGee (the first professional female skateboarder) dropped onto the scene, the skateboarding industry continued to treat women like the secret menu at a hipster coffee shop—cool but overlooked.
Although once a male dominated sport, where dudes with beards were busy high-fiving over their sick tricks, women were silently carving their own ramps, turning empty swimming pools into skateparks and putting the finger up to anyone who said, “Girls can’t skate.” And when the world finally noticed, it was like, “Whoa, these chicks shred harder than a cheese grater.”
The 80’s
It was in the early 1980s, (an era of neon, big hair, tube socks and questionable fashion choices), when the skateboarding industry started to feature images of female skateboarders. American skateboard manufacturer Powell Peralta produced a series of advertisements that announced “Some Girls Play With Dolls. Real Women Skate.” The advertisement featured a black and white photograph of skateboarders Anita Tessensohn and Leaf Trienen posed with their boards, standing against a brick wall with a pink filter. The ad was included in the December 1987 issue of Thrasher and the February 1988 issue of Transworld Magazine. The ad was cut out of the magazines by isolated women skaters and pasted to their bedroom walls like a rock band poster.
Despite some progress, during the 80’s. female skateboarders in the mainstream still remained a rarity.
The 90’s
In the 1990s, female skateboarders started to form networks, print magazines, and run skateboard companies (Rookie Skateboards being the first female-owned skateboard company). It would take a while before women would find opportunities to participate in sponsorships and shoe deals or equality in pay. By the mid-90s however, the tides of change started to turn. Elissa Steamer, known as the “godmother of street skating” became the first official female professional skater and the first woman in the sport to have a starring role in a major video. Cara-Beth Burnside was the first woman to ever receive a pro model skateboard shoe, the CB Line, from Vans in 1997.
After almost 30 years, the skateboard industry finally stood up, looked at female skateboarders and said, ‘Hey, you’re not just here for the scenery; you’re here to shred’. Women skaters were now taken seriously, and the sport was all the better for it.
The 2000’s
The early 2000s saw major strides for female skateboarders. After being shut out of the first seven editions of the X Games, skaters Jen O’Brien and Cara-Beth Burnside were like two punk rockers crashing a fancy ball. They pushed and pleaded and in 2002, ESPN finally cracked and threw open the gates for a women’s demo. And by 2003, it was a full-blown women’s event. You go girls!
In 2015, Leticia Bufoni kicked open the door of skateboarding history by becoming the first badass lady to shred her way onto Nike SB’s roster. And she didn’t stop there—she shredded her way straight into ESPN magazine’s annual Body issue, flipping the script on the whole scene, proving women skaters aren’t just about nailing those fancy tricks; they’re about smashing through walls, dropping in on stereotypes, and going head-to-head with the gnarliest competition out there.
In 2016, skateboarding threw down a kickflip-to-fakie right into the Olympic spotlight. The International Olympic Committee for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, approved skateboarding as an event and not only did they invite the dudes—they rolled out the red carpet for women’s street and park skating too. While the world was busy adjusting its helmet straps, Lizzie Armanto—our queen of concrete waves—popped an ollie straight onto the cover of TransWorld Skateboarding magazine. In the same year Nora Vasconcellos cruised her way into the Adidas skateboarding team, leaving a trail of stardust and deck splinters behind her.
Nike released the first all-female skate video in 2019. It was a tribute to the OG skate sorceress, Elissa Steamer. This video was a warp-zone, opening up the world of female skating, enabling the little skater girls of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, gender identities, and orientations to watch in awe. But those kids weren’t just spectators; they were initiates. As female skaters carved lines on the screen, they etched acceptance into the very pavement. Suddenly, it wasn’t about tricks; it was about claiming space, one ollie at a time. And in that flicker of pixels, they saw themselves—accepted, celebrated, and ready to drop in.
The Present Day
Today, female skateboarders are not only inspiring athletes but also influential role models for aspiring skateboarders of all genders. Their dedication, skill, and perseverance have shattered barriers and paved the way for a more inclusive and diverse skateboarding culture. With each kickflip, ollie, and grind, these remarkable women continue to redefine what it means to be a skateboarder, inspiring generations to come.
With the influence of social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have provided a whole new platform for female skateboarders to showcase their skills and inspire others. Through these channels, female skateboarders reach a worldwide audience, gaining recognition and building a strong online community.
More and more of the bigwig companies have woken up from their slumber, rubbed the sleep out of their eyes, and caught a whiff of the revolution. It’s not all about spreadsheets and profit margins anymore. They’re throwing cash at female skateboarders like it’s confetti at a wedding. Why? Because they’ve finally realized that the market potential of these asphalt goddesses is hotter than a kickflip over a bonfire.
Conclusion
The rise of female skateboarding isn’t some fluffy fairy tale—it’s a full-throttle revolution thanks to increased participation, the influence of social media, and the support from brands and the skateboarding industry. As more women continue to embrace skateboarding and showcase their skills, they are not only inspiring others but also challenging the traditional gender norms associated with the sport. Female skateboarders are proving that skateboarding is for everyone and anyone who dreams of breaking down walls and overcoming the boundaries and stereotypes set by society. Because of this, the sport now reflects a culture of inclusivity, and regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, women skaters from all backgrounds are becoming powerful role models for aspiring athletes worldwide.
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