WE THREW THE REINS OVER TO OUR FRIEND NATALIE THOMAS FROM LOCAL SKATE CREW, LATE SKATE, TO DOCUMENT EXPOSURE 2018.

San Diego, California- The days were hot and the nights were chilly. I was having a hard time deciding if I over packed or under packed. Under the afternoon beaming sun, I knew I would want my jeans and jacket at sundown. My first trip to California in my lifetime and my mission to skate was cut short by breaking my arm just two weeks ago. I was intent on not letting that ruin the trip. I set out to see the heights of skating at the all female skate competition called Exposure with my skate crew of amazing friends: Late Skate.

As we entered the Encinitas skate park for the first day of competition, we quickly became star stuck as we saw our whole Instagram feed standing before us. There was Nora Vasconcellos getting a line in her classic lavender attire. Breana Geering hitting a steezy grind across the park. Samarria Brevard was practicing their line not too far off. Here everyone was, all womxn skaters, gathering to push the limits under competition circumstances.

"THE GUARD OF PRESTIGE DIDN'T EXIST IN A PLACE LIKE THIS. EVERYONE SHARED THE LOVE OF SKATEBOARDING AND HERE, EVERYONE WAS WELCOME."

Some of the girls I was with attended a few years ago and were quickly greeted by the friends they made last time. It was like walking into your local bar where everyone knows your name. One of my Instagram favorites came right up to my friend and they reconnected. I was so nervous to meet her, intimidated by her talent, however my boundary of self doubt was shattered by her sincere friendliness. As I tried to remain cool I realized she’s just like me, down to skate and have fun. The guard of prestige didn't exist in a place like this. Everyone shared the love of skateboarding and here, everyone was welcome.

As we came back for the second day of the event, we prioritized seeing the Vans Pro Bowl competition. As we turned into the entrance of the bowl, it was an open seating arrangement of skating’s highest caliber. Glancing around the pool there was every pro skater you could think of: Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Bucky Lasek, Christian Hosoi, all there to support the best female skaters. Lizzie Armanto was warming up alongside Allysha Le, Nicole Hause, and Arianna Carmona amongst other notable competitors. It was an amazing moment to reflect on what my purpose was there. Though I may not be a pro skater, I had a place at the pool. The girls of Late Skate are a part of the new generation of skateboarding, female skateboarding. Writing history by participating, growing, and pushing our limits in the male dominated sport.

"I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH PROFESSIONAL SKATING AT SUCH A CLOSE VIEW. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN COMPARE TO SEEING IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES, NOT ANY INSTAGRAM POST, PHOTO, OR PROFESSIONAL VIDEO, THERE REALLY WAS ENERGY RADIATING THROUGH THE PARK."

We found space to camp out at the side of the bowl right in front of the red boundary line. I couldn’t help but wonder if the purpose of the red line was also to protect the audience from the front side airs, steep rock to fakies, and the occasional no comply where trucks raced by at speeds that could merit a painful blow to the face. It was honestly terrifying to see the skaters charging towards our direction at full speed in order to fly above the pool. I had never experienced such professional skating at such a close view. There is nothing that can compare to seeing it with your own eyes, not any instagram post, photo, or professional video, there really was energy radiating through the park.

Each of the competitors 40 second runs flew by. My favorite was when Kody Tamanaha landed several slashes, one long crisp board slide, a frontside Smith grind revert out, to a shove onto the coping. Their run expanded my knowledge of what was possible in a bowl.

It’s always an incredible moment to see someone so in the zone, it doesn't matter if you are watching or not. At one point, as one of the contenders shot right in front of me to do a hand plant, I felt like everything froze in time only to resume as I heard her exhale after letting go to drop back into the deep end.

As the final moments of the competition came to a close, I had an overwhelmed and satisfied feeling. I was not expecting to see everyone I look up to in skateboarding in two days, none the less meet them, become friends with them and be front row to watch them compete. Late Skate and I returned to the street portion of the park to skate on the same ground as everyone who had completed that weekend. We were all so abuzz of inspiration. We left the park with a fervor, a sweet disposition to skate even better after seeing everyone compete at the event, with the newfound thought- that maybe next time that could be one of us.