Janthavy is wearing a top by @whatisgabba and skirt by @arbitrage.nyc , Secret is wearing a bikini from @goldieswimwear , shorts by @colettebynicolette and a shirt from @arbitrage.nyc - and Georgia is wearing a top and skirt from @arbitrage.nyc

Skating the Soft Edge

Synonymous with Southern California, skateboarding has grown into a beloved global pastime, breaking boundaries along the way - hello, Olympics!

According to a recent survey, over half of today’s skaters identify as women or gender non conforming individuals. This undoubtedly changes the DNA of a previously male dominated sport. We spoke with three female skaters located in LA - the birthplace of the sport - about what skating means to them.

PHOTOGRAPHY SAM SPENCE @samspencework 
@societymgmt
INTERVIEW KATIE MANN @trippychickmakeup
STYLING KAT TYPALDOS @kattypaldos using only archive and vintage pieces, as well as sustainably focused designers
MAKEUP  SOPHIE HAIG @sophiehaig @homeagency
ART DIRECTION AND CASTING MOLLIE MAGUIRE @molliemaguire SUBMISSION CASTING+ MANAGEMENT @submissioncastingandmanagement 
PRODUCER HANNAH WESTBROOK @hanwestbrook
MODELS GEORGIA @georgiamartn @margauxtheagency JANTHAVY @janthavy @misfitmodelmgmt SECRET @secretlynzz @agentyulinolliver
STYLING ASSISTANT LYDIA GINGRICH @lydzgirl

  • Secret is wearing a bra from @paumelosangeles, sweater from @arbitrage.nyc and pants by @adidas , Georgia is wearing a top from @paumelosangeles and Janthavy is wearing a sweater from @paumelosangeles , bralette by @colettebynicolette and shorts by @haveyoudiedbefore

  • Secret is wearing a bra from @paumelosangeles , sweater from @arbitrage.nyc , pants and shoes by @adidas , Georgia is wearing top from @paumelosangeles , shorts by @nanushka and shoes by @nike and Janthavy is wearing a bralette and sweater from @paumelosangeles and shorts by @haveyoudiedbefore

1 2

GEORGIA:

I’m a 21 year old professional skateboarder and recently got into modeling. I started skating when I was 8 years old. My best friend at the time got into skating and I followed any and everything he did. So naturally I picked it up too. I instantly fell in love with it. 

Coming up in women’s skating, I wasn’t that supported. Sponsors weren’t paying women very well and the contest bracket was not as competitive. But over time more and more women have started skating and sponsors began supporting and highlighting us.

  • Georgia is wearing a top by @eternalreturn.designs , shorts by @chloé and shoes by @miista , Secret is wearing a top from @paumelosangeles and shorts by @janky_inc and Janthavy is wearing a top from @paumelosangeles and pants by @r13

1 2

JANTHAVY:

I am a first generation Cambodian Vietnamese American born and raised in Arizona. I am an outdoor enthusiast and I love staying active with all of my hobbies. I skateboard, bike, pole dance, and love camping. I started skating when I was 17. I really love how punk rock it is and I know that sounds stupid, but skateboarding is and always has been a wild reckless sport. The first two years I always had some scrape or bruise somewhere on my body. You really can’t avoid getting hurt. Aside from that I love that you find your own style on the board in the way you skate and move, it’s so fun.

[Skating is] very fun and expressive for me. It feels like dancing. It connects me to others because we all get the same feeling, we share that similar joy and because of that we get to spend time together and we could have fun anywhere. We can skate a sidewalk and have the best time. 

“People think skaters are troublemakers - they might be right to some degree but some of the most talented people I know are skaters. Skaters are so versatile. They do art, music, photography, videography, etc.”

  • Georgia is wearing a top from @arbitrage.nyc

"Skating has helped me connect to myself by helping me cope with my emotions, it zones me into a whole new world and it’s just me and skateboarding. Skating has connected me with others by blessing me with some of my closest friends and relationships." - Secret

  • Top by @arbitrage.nyc , vintage dress by @prada , shorts by @colettebynicolette and vintage @miumiu shoes from @therealreal

  • Janthavy is wearing a scarf and shorts from @paumelosangeles and Secret is wearing a bikini by @goldieswimwear , a shirt by @arbitrage.nyc shorts by @colettebynicolette and shoes by @ugg

1 2

“People think skaters are troublemakers - they might be right to some degree but some of the most talented people I know are skaters. Skaters are so versatile. They do art, music, photography, videography, etc.” - Janthavy

  • Georgia is wearing a top and jeans from @paumelosangeles and Secret is wearing a dress from @paumelosangeles and shorts by @R13

  • Secret is wearing bikini from @valentinev1ntage, pants by @acnestudios and shoes by @adidas , Georgia is wearing a dress from @paumelosangeles and Janthavy is wearing a jacket by @acnestudios , skirt by @gumi.us and shoes by nike

1 2

“If we were to go back even five years, the number of girl skaters has probably quadrupled and it’s so amazing to see, but honestly I hope that number just keeps growing.” - Secret

Bikini bottoms from @valentinev1ntage and pants by @acnestudios

.

“I’ve always found skating to be a mental escape for me. Skating is a universal language and I’ve been able to meet people I would have never thought to get close to. It’s taught me to stick through things even when it doesn’t seem possible. We are capable of so much more than we think. You just got to take the first step.”

- Georgia

"Skating has helped me connect to myself by helping me cope with my emotions, it zones me into a whole new world and it’s just me and skateboarding." - Secret

  • Secret is wearing a bra from @paumelosangeles, sweater from @arbitrage.nyc and pants by @adidas , Georgia is wearing a top from @paumelosangeles and Janthavy is wearing a sweater from @paumelosangeles , bralette by @colettebynicolette and shorts by @haveyoudiedbefore

  • Georgia is wearing a dress by @prada and Secret is wearing a jacket from @paumelosangeles , top by @whatisgabba and shorts by @colettebynicolette

1 2

SECRET:

I started skating December 2019, I was 11 years old. I went to a family party one time and saw my cousin skateboarding with his friends and thought they looked cool, so I started on a little penny board and ended up saving enough money to buy my own complete board. My first year I progressed pretty quick and knew I wasn’t going to get sick of it. Skating has very much taught me how to be patient, trying a new trick can either take you 5 tries or 500 and you’ll never know what you’re getting yourself into when starting. Skating has helped me connect to myself by helping me cope with my emotions, it zones me into a whole new world and it’s just me and skateboarding.

Skating has helped me connect to myself by helping me cope with my emotions, it zones me into a whole new world and it’s just me and skateboarding.

Secret is wearing a top by @janky_inc , skirt by @arbitrage.nyc and shoes by @diesel Georgia is wearing a jacket from @valentinev1ntage and shoes by @miista , and Janthavy is wearing dress by @whatisgabba and shoes by converse
.

"...skateboarding is and always has been a wild reckless sport. The first two years I always had some scrape or bruise somewhere on my body. You really can’t avoid getting hurt."

- Janthavy

@SAMSPENCE