10 Things You Didn’t Know About Women in Skateboarding
Women have deeply influenced skateboarding culture. Here are ten facts, surprises, and crews that made history! I bet You Didn’t Know this About Women in Skateboarding
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1. The First Girl Skate Gang Was ‘La Femme’ (1963)
Colleen Boyd Turner, Donna Cash Harris, and Suzie Rowland Levin created “La Femme”—skateboarding’s first organized girl crew—complete with matching plaid jackets and custom patches.
2. Skateboarding’s First Female Photographer: Laurie Turner
Laurie Turner DeMott’s photos at Whittier school in 1964 helped put women in the first-ever issue of Quarterly Skateboarder mag.
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3. Brazil Has a Rich Female Skate Scene
From Maria Elaigne Ferriera’s bowl skating in the 70s to Liza Araujo’s ‘Check It Out’ skate zine in the 90s, Brazil produced world-class women pros and DIY culture.
4. Women-Owned Teams Like Rookie & Cherry Led the Way
1990s–2000s brands Rookie Skateboards and Cherry placed women front and center, challenging stereotypes and creating space for diverse teams and graphics.
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5. VANS Sponsored Girl Skaters Since the Start
Paul Van Doren’s 70s sponsorship policies ensured girls got shoes and support—the start for legends like Cara-Beth Burnside.
6. The Hags – LA’s Infamous Girl Skate Gang
The Hags took over LA skateparks in the 80s even inspiring the cult film “Thrashin’.” Their wild style became legendary.
7. Stephanie Person – First Black Female Pro Skater
In the late 80s, Stephanie Person competed worldwide and inspired the first zine for women’s skate activism, “Equal Time.”
8. All-Girls Skate Videos Pushed the Scene
“SK8HERS” (1992) and “Getting Nowhere Faster” (2004) proved women could headline and produce skate films—before YouTube was a thing!
9. Bonnie Blouin Was Thrasher’s First Girl Columnist
From 1986–1989, Bonnie Blouin wrote “Skater’s Edge” in Thrasher—profiling girls, sharing tips, and advocating for inclusion.
10. Unity Teams Sponsored Women Way Back When
The Unity Skateboard Team in the 1970s—decades before today’s collectives—sponsored women like Debi Eldredge and Andra Malczewski as equals.
Sources & full history: Womxn Skateboard History, Jenkem Magazine.
