Poppy Starr Olsen and Jordyn Barratt, both fiercely competitive, top notch vert skaters, met at a contest in Bondi two years ago and became fast friends. So much so, that they convinced their moms to let Poppy come to Southern California this summer to stay with Jordyn. The lucky teens have been hitting up parks up and down the coast, going off to Woodward together for training camp, surfing locally, and now they both will be competing in the Van Doren Invitational this Wednesday at the US Open of Surfing. Sounds like a pretty rad summer already.

All I can say is skater friends are friends for life. I met one of my best friends, Judi Oyama when I was 16 and competing at Winchester Skatepark, we kept in touch back then via "snail mail" since we lived at opposite sends of the state, and we are still close today as adults. Laura Thornhill and Robin Logan grew up skating together daily in the early 70's  and still have a tight bond. So many women in the early years of skateboarding have created lasting friendships - there is just something about this sport that brings us together and an understanding we have of each other. I am stoked to see the younger girls in our sport doing the same thing.

Make sure you catch  Jordyn & Poppy tearing it up at the Van Doren Invitational on Wednesday, July 24 from 1-3 PM at the Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

Poppy is sponsored by Perfect Moment, TSG, Vans Australia, Iskate Australia, & Decent Hardware.

Jordyn's sponsors include, Olley for her boards, Boardstix, and her local Hawaii Vans rep flows her shoes.

Many thanks to Joanne Barratt for taking these photos & thanks to Jordyn and Poppy for being part of this post - you girls RULE!