We teamed up with Nike SB to celebrate International Womxn’s by throwing an event with local skateshop, KCDC.
The turnout was incredible with folx from age 4–50! We huddled before the session to learn each other’s names and goals for the day. We were so inspired by how many people came to step on a board for the very first time!
Check out the photos from the event below
Front Row (l to r): Wettstein, Zeuner, Baker, Sablone, Soto, Duran, Barratt, Hause
Second Row (l to r): Joslin, Lopez, Huston, Eaton, Wright, Sorgente, Schaar, Rennie
Sixteen Skateboarders Named to First-Ever USA Skateboarding National Olympic Team. Men’s and Women’s Skateboard Park and Street events will make their Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The 16 skaters named to the national team qualified based on performance in international level events during the year before their selection.
“We couldn’t be more excited to finally take the wraps off the first-ever USA Skateboarding National Team,” said Josh Friedberg, CEO of USA Skateboarding. “We’re honored to have partners like Toyota and Nike that understand the intrinsic value of the sport we love and appreciate all they’ve done to get USA Skateboarding up and running. It’s a historic moment in the history of skateboarding, and we’re looking forward to doing all we can to support these amazing skateboarders on their Road to Tokyo.”
These Olympic hopefuls will have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics based on their three best results in World Skate sanctioned events during the 2019 qualifying season. The 2020 World Championships will also be a direct qualifier for the games for the top 3 podium spots at each event.
“Toyota is proud to be involved with this historic moment as a proud sponsor of USA Skateboarding and the first-ever National Team announcement,” said Dedra DeLilli, group manager, Olympic and Paralympic Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “This event marks the official start of a great journey for these incredible skateboarders. We are dedicated to helping the inaugural USA Skateboarding National Team, and look forward to the road ahead with them.”
The skaters named to the 2019 USA Skateboarding National Team include:
Women’s Park: Brighton Zeuner (Encinitas, CA), Bryce Wettstein (Encinitas, CA), Jordyn Barratt (Haleiwa, HI), Nicole Hause (Stillwater, MN)
Women’s Street: Leo Baker (Covina, CA), Mariah Duran (Albuquerque, NM), Jenn Soto (Jersey City, NJ), Alexis Sablone (Old Saybrook, CT)
Men’s Street: Nyjah Huston (Laguna Beach, CA), Chris Joslin (Hawaiian Gardens, CA), Jagger Eaton (Mesa, AZ), Louie Lopez (Hawthorne, CA)
Men’s Park: Alex Sorgente (Lake Worth, FL), Tom Schaar (Malibu, CA), Tristan Rennie (Rialto, CA), Zion Wright (Jupiter, FL)
For more information on events, qualifying and athletes log on to www.usaskateboarding.net or follow on social media to stay in the loop for all announcements.
On this week's episode of Quell Party, we talk to the lovely ladies of @sk8babes, Liv + Ang, about Hall of Meat, girls skating in Connecticut and much more.
On this episode, Liv shares with us two amazing moments of skate fame.
Her features on Thrasher’s Hall of Meat. First Hall of Meat + Second Hall of Meat . Listen to Liv’s special Quell Party playlist on Spotify.
If you love us, please rate us 5 stars and write a review! DM us @quellskate on Instagram or email info@quellskate.com with any questions, comments or concerns. Thanks for joining the party.
Photo by Boyz Bieber
We've always been huge fans of Lowcard for their underdog content and support of the womxn's skate community. We teamed up with them, and artist Sydney Tomer, for a tarot inspired skate t-shirt. With near perfect timing, KCDC and RVCA had an empty warehouse and skate ramp ready to be shredded. With a little help from our friends at Budweiser, BABE and Healthade Kombucha we had enough bevs to go around.
Photo by Jacob Pritchard
Photo by Nate Hutsenpiller
Photo by Nate Hutsenpiller
Photo by Jacob Pritchard
On this week's episode of Quell Party, we talk to Kristin Ebeling, Executive Director of Skate Like a Girl, founder of the Wheels of Fortune Weekend, and co-founder of The Skate Witches Zine on why it’s fun to have lots of hobbies, how to maintain a positive attitude, and so much more.
Listen to her special Quell Party playlist on Spotify. Thanks to our sponsor Queen of Swords. If you love us, please rate us 5 stars and write a review! DM us @quellskate on Instagram or email info@quellskate.com with any questions, comments or concerns. Thanks for joining the party.
Welcome back to Quell Party. On this episode, we talk sit down with the legend Jaime Reyes, and guest of a guest Alex Corporan, to talk all things about Jaime’s skate career and comeback.
If you love us, please rate us 5 stars and write a review! DM us @quellskate on Instagram or email info@quellskate.com with any questions, comments or concerns. Thanks for joining the party.
Skateboarding in NYC is always a challenge come winter months. It was the coldest day of the year so far (8 degrees) and around 7pm, girls started to file into Homage Skateboarding Academy ready to shred.
Johnna, who works at Homage, saw the need for a women’s exclusive skate night and took the initiative to open up the space! She and John welcomed skaters of all levels came to skate the three varying ramps, and a few other skate obstacles. It was refreshing to see such a strong turn out of all levels and all rad energy.
See our photos from the night below
John Reeves & Johnna Artis
Some girls even came to skate quads!
Welcome back to Quell Party. On this episode, we talk about our third issue, SLS and the Olympics. We speak to Amelia Brodka about the incredible things she's done with her documentary Underexposed and founding the non-profit Exposure.
If you love us, please rate us 5 stars and write a review! DM us @quellskate on Instagram or email info@quellskate.com with any questions, comments or concerns. Thanks for joining the party.EP 07 – Amelia BrodkaQuell Party
These words meant a lot to me as I’ve been trying to find the right way to communicate that while Quell is focused on women, run by two cis women, we intend to create a space where all non cis males can not only be welcomed, but celebrated.
When we learned that NYCSP was holding an event - we couldn’t wait to see what was in store, and our expectations were certainly exceeded.
Leo Baker, with the assistance of Kristin Ebeling of Skate Like a Girl and Skate Witches and Brian Anderson (yes, the Brian Anderson), successfully created exactly as the Instagram described. Everything was thought through and intentional.
Leo told us a bit about their reasoning for founding such a necessary platform in skating. "NYCSP was born out of my need for community and connection. I wanted to create a space in NYC intentionally for queer folks and women to feel welcomed, to be fully self expressed, and to learn how to skate. The intimidation and hyper masculinity at skateparks is generally overwhelming; it’s refreshing to be in a space where that’s a non-issue.”
"Inclusion is a paradox. This space exists not to exclude but to create equity as a response to systems of oppression."
When we arrived at Skate Brooklyn we were greeted at the door by well loved local skaters Jessyka Bailey and Marissa Rosewood who welcomed everyone and checked them in for the event. There were gender pronoun pins and a sign that stated: Inclusion is a paradox. This space exists not to exclude but to create equity as a response to systems of oppression.
Once again I was met with the perfect phrasing to an idea I’ve been trying to explain - with Quell, we aren’t looking to exclude men, we just want more space for non cis men in skateboarding media and at the skate park.
In the first room to the left was an art display by Jeffrey Cheung of Unity Press . In the next room was a row of perfectly lined up Meow Skateboards with Lacey’s signature MOB Grip and Spitfire Wheels and all the necessary safety gear from Triple 8 pads. The fun really began when the first wave of people arrived for instructor training. Here we introduced ourselves and took the time to learn how to facilitate learning. So we could offer a helping hand in the upcoming clinics.
It was time to put all of the knowledge shared in the room to the test during three, one hour clinics. We saw people of all genders and sexual orientations, all under one roof for the same goal, to have fun, learn, and probably fall a lot. People who have never stepped on a board came, others came with various levels of experience. We saw quite a few first drop ins, as well as new tricks for the more advanced skaters. Regardless of tricks, everyone left feeling accomplished, supported, and stoked. After the clinics - we wrapped up with lots of hugs and reflection.
Leo summed it up perfectly at the end of the night. "Creating this space allows the community to grow and flourish in ways that seem impossible otherwise," they said. "The love and kindness flooded the space and I’m so inspired by my community, my heart is so full!
The first event of its kind, the Skate Exchange in Tokyo, Japan is an iconic and perspective shifting moment for women’s skateboarding worldwide. Over the course of five days, skaters from across the globe congregated in Tokyo, Japan to take part in the Skate Exchange. The experience organized by the Women’s Skateboarding Alliance in partnership with B-Global Agency and powered by JTB set out to unite skaters across the globe for a cultural exchange but also to show the world the true essence of skateboarding. Skaters came from all over; Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, the U.S and Japan, to together experience the city and this unique event - from exploring the streets of Harajuku and Tsukiji Fish Market to skating the Komazawa skatepark and Shibuya crossing.
During the main public event, at Murasaki skatepark on Saturday (December 1), over 1000 skaters and spectators were in attendance, including Olympic ice skaters, Maia and Alex Shibutani, and five of the biggest Japanese TV stations. It was said to be the biggest skate event of the year at the park. The atmosphere was buzzing, with skaters as young as two rolling along to be inspired and get involved.
Before the best trick contest kicked off, 33 children and youth from local schools and charities took part in a clinic supported by Levis, with pros such as Jenn Soto, Mariah Duran and Lacey Baker getting hands on to help. Spectators enjoyed the laid-back contest which included local up and coming skaters throwing down tricks alongside seasoned pros. Japanese skater Nanaka Fujisawa took the top spot but all the skaters wowed the audience and enjoyed a relaxed, fun competition, with Alexis Sablone putting down the final crowd-pleasing trick with a kickflip down the gap. Many local skaters said it was the best week of their life and something which would change women’s skateboarding in Japan and the world forever.
The Skate Exchange has done Tokyo, but it’s only just the beginning as it looks to expand to new locations in the future bringing together more female skateboarders with the spirit of fun and friendship at the forefront of what the Skate Exchange and what skateboarding is all about.
Dec 15, 2018 we threw a party at El Cortez to celebrate the release of our third magazine!
Monte played an incredible set presented by Women That Rock. Thank you so much to our sponsors who made our raffle incredible: Trophy Griptape, Low Card Magazine, Arizone Skate, Housewife Skate, Element Womens, Loo Wax and Old Blue Last Beer for the drink specials.
Photos by Pedro Hernandez
As the weather gets colder and summer sessions, street skating and girls skate days at House of Vans seem like a distant memory– we realized that it’s time to rally the girls and host an event at one of our local indoor skate spots: 2nd Nature Skatepark
We linked up with the most badass 10 year old we know, Ruthless Ruthie (and her mom, Georgia) to rally the Majestic Skate Crew. We had the tri-state area come along, via Grit & Grace from New Jersey and Sk8 Babes crew coming from Connecticut.
We had a free skate to kick off the day, followed by two mini contests. First, Fastest time around the bowl: Won by fastest gun in the east, Jordan Pascale. We then headed downstairs for a Best Trick contest: won by Nicole Hawkins with a Nollie Back Lip and followed in second by Mathilda Kotsonis with a bil ol’ boneless over the stairs.
So many girls came up to use throughout the day letting us know that they are so used to being the only girls at the skatepark. It was a welcome change taking over 2nd Nature. We’re stoked to help bring the female skate community together to show the next generation of shredders that girls skate too and remind them how rad they are! Big BIG shout out to every girl who came out and showed up, regardless of skill level. Skateboarding is fun and skateboarding is for everyone!
Check out more photos from the day below:
We hosted an Girls Skate Jam at 2nd Nature. Trophy Griptape came through and filmed a great recap of the day.
Filmed by Anthony Prather
Additional Film by Muhammad Floyd
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.
The Late Skate Girls
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.
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.
Lizzie Armanto
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.
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.
Last month, we took advantage of the warm weather and rode over the Williamsburg Bridge to Rizzo’s for some pizza. Our incredible friends Jacob Pritchard and Shelly Simon took these kick ass photos of the occasion.
On March 3rd 2018 we threw a party for the release of our second magazine at Magick City in Brooklyn. Sponsored by Old Blue Last Beer. We premiered a film ‘A Slice of Quell’ by Mango Studios. All photos by Pedro Hernandez
On August 25th 2017 we threw a launch party for the first issue of our magazine and our official merchandise. All photos by Eric Foster.
On this week's episode we talk lots of skate events and some major milestones as we end our first podcast season. We have an open conversation with Sydney Tomer about her photography and illustration, and get into her experience with credit carding, alcohol and mental health.
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On today's episode we talk about the Skate Kitchen movie, rain rain and more rain, and some Quell surprises. We also sit down with Christine Marie and get music lesson from the skate teacher herself.
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On this episode of Quell Party, a surprise guest joins us! We interview Jessyka Bailey on her clothing line, moving to New York and the people who inspire her.
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