photo: Dan Bourqui

Photo Keith Rutherford

Photo Dan Bourqui

I had the pleasure of watching Minna skate in person at the Vans Girls Combi Pool classic last month and I was blown away by how tiny she is and yet how high she is able to get out of the pool on those airs! She's skated up and down the California coast including legendary skate spots that most people never get to skate at like Tony Hawks ramp and Bob Bunquist's Dreamland - (are you jealous yet?) .  At 7 years old I think she has a big future ahead of her in skateboarding. Go Minna!


Who's Rad?  Minna Stess

Age: 7 & in 2nd grade

Home is: Petaluma, CA

How Long Have You Been Skating?   5 years

Girls Who Skate that inspire YOU:  Lizzie Armanto, Allysha Bergado, Julz Lynn, Alana Smith, Lacey Baker, Alexis Sablone, Leticia Bufoni, Amelia Brodka, Nora Vasconcellos, Mimi Knoop, Cara Beth Burnside and Arianna Carmona!!

Favorite place you've ever skated: I can only pick one? Hmmmmm, OK! It's Bob Burnquist's Dreamland -- Lasek Land -- Tony Hawks Vert Ramp!!!

Favorite Trick: Switch Blunt, Backside Air

Sponsors: Silly Girl Skateboards, Sonoma Old School SkateShop, BrokinBonz Clothing

Three Things You Don't Know About Me:

1. I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue
2. I am very very bendy and Nora is very jealous of that ;)
3. I am one quarter Portuguese and my middle name is Moniz which is my mom's first name and a Portuguese last name!


What's Next?

I love to skate everything!! street, Vert, mini ramp and bowl. I just competed in the  Girls Combi Pool Classic!! I was so excited to be skating with all the girls. I was the youngest girl in the contest and I was really excited.  I just got my video done! It's is the past year of me skating all over the place and I am really happy about it! I love the song!

In 2013 I was the first GIRL in the over 30 year history of the California Amateur Skateboard League (CASL) to win 1st overall for the year in the series ever. I won First place in the Nor Cal 8 and under street. I was so proud to do that. I got 2nd place in the CASL State Championships in street.

Last year I was the youngest GIRL in the whole 10 year history of the King Of The Groms contest series (I was 6) to make the finals in street & qualify for the King Of The Groms championships at 3rd Lair in Minnesota.

I also like to play little league baseball and soccer. My parents and my brother are the best, I love them. My big brother Finnley Stess is an awesome 10 year old skater and he teaches and helps me all the time. My mom and dad built a really cool concrete skatepark in our back yard so we can skate together every day!


Make sure you follow Minna on Instagram  & twitter @minnask8 & on Facebook

Check out Minna's Vimeo video HERE and her YouTube video HERE