Here is some great news! After this last event in Sharjah, park skaters were left not knowing if/when there would be more qualifiers for them prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics. It seems that street skaters have always had an idea of when and where they woudl skate next but park was a bit up in the air…
ARGENTINA
ROME
SHARJAH
Starting in May things are going to get really busy if you are on tour!! Exciting news!!!
All info via World Skate
First off, we want to wish our bestie, Judi Oyama, a very Happy Birthday! She turns 63 years young on Saturday, and as many of you know from previous posts, Judi qualified to for Team USA to compete at the World Skate Games 2022 in Argentina in Slalom Racing.
There are no age divisions in men’s or women’s slalom racing at this level, so this is a kick-ass story that everyone should get behind!
Judi racing in her teens - photo Richard Oyama
Judi has been skateboarding since she was a pre-teen and has kept up with slalom throughout her life. She tells us she was floored when this came up and was told that she had enough points to be one of the USA Team to go to Argentina this month to compete.
Her first idea was to give her spot up to someone younger. But that’s not how this works - you earned it - you got it! So the more she thought about it and listened to friends and family, she came to the conclusion that she would go and she’d gear up and hopefully win a medal for Team USA when it’s all said and done.
But she didn’t stop there. Judi reached out to younger women in slalom and taught them skills to help them train more efficiently - even the women who lived all the way across the country. Her goal is to help the newest generation enjoy slalom the way she does and for more women to continue this rich skateboarding tradition.
Judi also single-handily designed the USA Team t-shirts for herself and her fellow racers, she designed and ordered stickers and more - all to get everyone on the same page so they’d look and feel like a co-cohesive team.
Team USA Slalom stickers Judi Designed and made for her teammates
** Slalom is not an Olympic Discipline (yet), so there is no funding - each racer must pay their own way, and there are no team uniforms provided by the country you are racing for - someone needed to do it, and Judi stepped up and did. She also showed other team members how to fundraise by reaching out to sponsors, asking for donations, and showing why telling people what you are doing and asking for what you want/need is important.
Today is Judi Oyama’s 63rd birthday, and we’d like to wish her not only a very Happy Birthday, all the best when she heads to Argentina next week to compete.
Judi is an inspiration to so many in skateboarding, and we can’t wait to see this Badass Skate Mom shred that hill!
GO JUDI!!
If you want to help support her journey or send Judi a little Happy Birthday gift - you can do so through LaCosta Racing Team, which is non-profit, and you can donate tax-free to support her via this LINK.
NHS - her original sponsor in her professional skate career starting 4 decades ago!
Santa Cruz Skateboards
Bronson Bearings
Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement
Lenz Arts
Rip Tide Sports
Catto's Graphics
Roe Racing
Aptos Sports Foundation
N-Men
Jeff Traugott Guitars
Foy Construction
Santa Cruz Paving
Diamond D Concrete
CrossFit Aptos
Product Sponsors :
Giro Helmets
187 Killer Pads
Mob Grip Tape
Old Bones Therapy
Sk8Kings - Turbo Wheels
Vans
LifeAid Beverages
Camelbak
Merge4
Kuhl
Nike
Additional Help:
Laird Superfood
45RPM Vintage
La Costa Racing
Lots of friends and family!
Judi Oyama racing slalom back in the day - Photo Richard Oyama
In case you haven’t heard, Slalom racing has been invited to World Skate Games taking place in October 2022. The women are on fire, and we’d like to introduce you to one of our favorite slalom racers Judi Oyama.
Stepping on a skateboard over 49 years ago, Judi was one of the first Japanese American vert skateboarders. She slalom raced back in the ’70s when skaters did multiple disciplines - park, downhill, and freestyle. But Judi preferred timed events over judged events after a bad vert pool contest experience. From that date forward, Judi swore she’d only compete in timed events.
Judi competing in Salem, Oregon
Judi had no intention of skateboarding for as long as she has, but now at age 62, Judi is proving that age isn’t a factor, and you can still have fun and compete at a high level - if you stay in shape. Judi just qualified to compete at the World Skate Games 2022 in Argentina (Buenos Aires and San Juan). She graciously offered to give up her well-earned spot for a younger racer, but she was told that her spot would go empty and that each racer had to earn their own spot. As of last month at The Slalom Supreme Race in Salem, Oregon the US team has six women qualified.
The USA team includes - Lynn Kramer, Judi Oyama, Madison Prez, Maggie Ramirez, Isa Ruiz, Lari Rupp and Aliera Soulsby-Monroy.
Some of the members of the USA men’s and women’s Slalom Team
This is the first time Vert, Slalom, and Downhill Skateboarding are going to debut so that one day these disciplines will hopefully be part of the Olympics.
Judi is currently raising the money to go to Worlds to cover her flights, hotels, rentals, and food expenses. The National team does not cover any of these expenses for athletes, so if you want to race, you need to fundraise on your own. She is even selling some of her vast collection of vintage skateboard items, which you can check out HERE.
Judi is also on the LaCosta Racing Team, which is non-profit, and you can donate tax-free to support her via this LINK.
Judi’s sponsors include:
NHS - her original sponsor in her professional skate career starting 4 decades ago!
Santa Cruz Skateboards
Bronson Bearings
Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement
Lenz Arts
Rip Tide Sports
Catto's Graphics
Product Sponsors Are:
Giro Helmets
187 Killer Pads
Mob Grip Tape
Old Bones Therapy
Sk8Kings - Turbo Wheels
You can read more about the event HERE
