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Caption: Making History For Women's Skateboarding The Women's Division at Street League
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Caption: For the first time in history women were invited to compete at Street League. Something that Mimi Knoop and The Alliance have been fighting for years to make happen. So we headed to Chicago to check it out...and help spread the word.
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Caption: Street League is the international competitive series in professional skateboarding, in which skaters compete for the largest monetary prizes in the history of skate...
The event puts skateboarding on a much bigger platform than ever before and pushes to a wider audience.
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Caption: This is Mimi Knoop. One of the most respected female skaters in the world. As well as being a competitively successful skater over the years (and a legend of the sport) she founded The Alliance, to unite and encourage women's participation in action sports...
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Caption: The Alliance worked for years to get women at Street League, and in Chicago on October 4th they made their debut. Happy faces.
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Caption: The chosen 8! These women were selected by a panel based on skills on the street course and results at comps.
Vanessa Torres, Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Marissa Dal Santo, Alexis Sablone, Alana Smith, Pamela Rosa and Samarria Brevard. From the U.S. and Brazil. (Euro names will follow as the competitions and platforms grow!)
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Caption: Practice day on course: Mimi and Kim Woozy of Mahfia TV.
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Caption: Lacey Baker eyeing up the course.
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Caption: On Saturday we headed to the arena to watch the practice session and interview the skaters ahead of game day. It was an amazing atmosphere with all the ladies nervous but ready to showcase what women's skateboarding has got to offer.. History in the skating.
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Caption: The course was technical and big, with the women hitting the same features as the men. Really noticeable when watching 15 year old Pamela Rosa hit the 6ft rail drop...
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Caption: As Vanessa Torres put it: 'it's not about me, it's about women's skateboarding as a whole'
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Caption: Our view of the practice.
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Caption: After 3 practice sessions and a couple of days in Chicago, everyone was ready to get the competition started. Sunday 1.45pm (before the guys). The comp was broadcast live on Fox and online Worldwide.. Female skateboarding on the TV!
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Caption: Kim introducing the women's contest to spectators.
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Caption: When the lights go down and the spotlight is on, the pressure hits. Women have less experience competing on this highly pressurised platform, in which the skaters have 2 runs and 5 best trick attempt.
Each skater is there not only to prove their skating ability but the skating ability of the pro women's scene worldwide.
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Caption: 'The first ever Street League Skateboarding Women’s SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship took place in Chicago, IL this afternoon at the UIC Pavilion and a winner wasn’t decided until the last second, when the ladies took their final attempts...'
Street League
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Caption: After a heated contest lasting over an hour, Brazilian Leticia Bufoni (and crowd favourite) came out top and walked off with $30k. In second was the legendary 29 year old Vanessa Torres and 15 year old Alana Smith took third. A real diverse podium and great showcase of the variety in women's skate. These are the faces that will inspire the younger generation..
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Caption: It was a monumental event that proved that female skating can make it on these bigger platforms. Each skater was enjoyable to watch- the rails and the bails! Men have had more time to get to the Street League level of competitive skating, so the fact women turn up and hit the same course in a highly pressurised situation is impressive. What does the future hold?
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Caption: Skateboarding is in safe hands thanks to Mimi Knoop of The Alliance and Kim Woozy of Mahfia TV. Right now it's a hard battle to get contests, brand support and platforms for women, but things will change thanks to opportunities like Street League and the (potential) Olympics. And of course thanks to the skaters out there pushing it!
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Caption: See more:
http://actionsportsalliance.com
http://streetleague.com
http://www.mahfia.tv
