High school senior Evelien Bouilliart is one of the globe’s finest lady skaters. Cooler mag catches up with the Belgian boarder to chat about skating, sponsors, favorite spots and her favorite girly things.

Name: Evelien ‘Evie Cakes’ Bouilliart

Age: 18

From: Aalter, Belgium

How did you get into skating?
When I was around the age of 10 they were building a skatepark close to my house and close to my school. So I saw all the guys that used to rollerblade getting into skateboarding. As I was young and looking for something to do in my life, I decided I really wanted to skateboard. I asked my mom for a skateboard and she was like, ‘Ooohh it’s dangerous’. But she said if I counted out all the little 1-cent coins from our change jar and I had enough, I could buy one of those shitty skateboards from the toystore. So I counted out all of the coins and I was so happy that I had enough. So I went to the store and walked proudly back to my house with the board in my hand.

Read the full interview.

Filed under: Skateboard by jane
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August 3, 2008 - The biggest thing Karen Jones had done this year before the X Games was interview rock band Linkin Park for a television show in her native Brazil.

That interview moved down the list Saturday as Jones edged defending champion Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins to take the gold medal in the women’s skateboarding vert contest at the Home Depot Center.

“This is the thing I wanted the most,” Jones said. “It’s so stupid and I’m not supposed to like contests and care about it. I just sucked last year and the year before so I got obsessive about doing good on it.”

Given the jam session format of the event, Jones credited her victory to a combination of smaller tricks including varials and kick flips rather than to a signature move.

Another result of the format was conflict over whose turn it was to skate with two girls often going at the same time.

“It’s just different,” bronze medalist Mimi Knoop said. “It’s something you have to learn. It’s an etiquette and I don’t think the younger girls have really learned it. It’s a respect.”

LA Times

Filed under: Action, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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August 2, 2008 - Elissa Steamer’s gold medal at the 2008 X Games cements her position at the top of her sport. But recognition still lags behind her male counterparts. The girls know how to rip and this year’s Women’s Street final proved it.  Marisa Dal Santo, Brazilian Leticia Bufoni and Steamer all threw down some great tricks including boardslides and 5-0s on the rail. During the second heat Steamer stuck a lofty, kick flip over the China gap with less than three seconds on the clock.

Last year, skating on her 21st birthday, Marisa Dal Santo came out of nowhere to edge into first place, unseating Steamer from the top spot for the first time in three years. This year, Steamer stepped up and took her title right back - winning her fourth overall gold medal at the X Games. (Second, third and fourth places went to Marisa, Amy Caron, and Leticia Bufoni.)

When Steamer began skateboarding 23 years ago, she had few women to skate with and learned how to ride with the guys. She didn’t really set out to be a trailblazer, but that’s the role she’s assumed and her most recent gold medal proves she’s still the one to watch.

Check out this Elissa Steamer Profile.

Skateboard Street Women’s Final Results Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calf. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (Final Standings)

Name / Hometown / Score

1. Elissa Steamer / San Francisco, Calif. / 87.83
2. Marisa Dal Santo / LaGrange, IL / 81.50
3. Amy Caron / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 80.00
4. Rachel Reinhard / Colorado Springs, Colo. / 78.00
5. Leticia Bufoni / Sao Paulo, Brazil / 77.00
6. Vanessa Torres / Silver Lake, Calif. / 65.08
7. Evie Bouilliart / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 60.33
8. Lorena Lima / Sayreville, N.J. / 46.83
9. Lauren Perkins / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 42.83
10. Sophie Poppe / Destelbergen, Belgium / 23.25

Filed under: Skateboard, X Games by jane
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July 30, 2008 - X Games 14 begins it’s annual four-day run today in Los Angeles. The Olympics of extreme sports returns with a number of new events,  including skateboard superpark,  a moto X “best whip” competition, and rally car racing.

Skateboarding is still the heart and soul of the event but sadly, surfing, perhaps the perfect action sport, is not part of the competition this year. As always, the X Games is primarily targeted to young, male viewers but there are a couple of events for those without a Y chromosome.

On the girl’s side, women’s motocross has been added to the sports line up and world-renowned competitors, such Jessica Patterson and 17-year-old WMA Pro National phenom Ashley Fiolek, will be on the course.

Women’s sketboarding will also be featured and confirmed street skaters include: Lacey Baker, Evie Bouilliart, Leticia Bufoni, Amy Caron, Marisa Del Santo, Lorena Lima, Lauren Perkins, Rachel Reinhard, Elissa Steamer and Vanessa Torres.

In the vert event, look for Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, Allysha Bergado, Cara-Beth Burnside, Karen Jones, Julie Kindstrand, Mimi Knoop, Gaby Ponce, and Annie Sullivan.

Coverage of X Games 14 will include 20 hours of live programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, July 31-August 3. But if you live in the area, slip into a pair of Vans, and head down to the Staples Center or Home Depot Center for all the action.

Check out the EXPN website for a full schedule and list competitors.

Filed under: Action, Motocross, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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July 19, 2008 - You may know that the Palms Casino and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings are owned by the Maloof brothers. But did you know the Maloofs are also into skateboarding?

Well, the Maloof Money Cup Skateboarding Competition took place last weekend at the OC Fairgrounds and skaters showed up for the biggest cash prize ever offered in professional skateboarding.

Just to prove that the Maloof’s know cool, they designed a realistic street course that doesn’t look like some flung together ramps and platforms. It looks like a real street spot, like your skate-buddies found some abandoned industrial zone packed with fat gaps and rails to grind.

The US Women‟s Pro Street Championship included the largest first prize in women‟s skateboarding with $25,000 going to Lacey Baker (sweet). She was followed on the leaderboard by Rachel Reinhard, Vanessa Torres, Elissa Steamer and Leticia Bufoni from Brazil.

Filed under: Action, News Bytes, Skateboard by jane
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June 18, 2008 - “Go ahead, go shred”….
June 21st is right around the corner and if you don’t know by now, it’s the official Go Skateboarding Day! There are tons - and we mean tons - of events going on everywhere for this special day (which luckily falls on Saturday this year). For many, everyday is go skateboarding day but this is the “official” day.

Just about every skateboard company and skatepark is planning a Go Skateboarding Day Event. If you’re not aware of something going on near your hometown then go by your local shop and get the details. If there still truly is nothing going on in your area you have two options… One you make something happen yourself, hit up all your homies and build the biggest skateboarding session ever assembled. You could even cooperate with your local core shop on doing something. Or option number two, just skate! Yeah that’s right, even if you are alone make sure you skateboard on Go Skateboarding Day.

Just think, at that moment on that day when you are skateboarding, there will be millions of others doing the exact same thing. Imagine how many kids are doing ollies at the same exact same time. How many tricks are being done in unison with each other? And how much street shredding will be going down. So be sure to skateboard on this glorious day, and most importantly have fun. Encourage some of your non-skateboarding friends to pick up a skateboard. Improve on your skills or just cruise the streets.

Don’t miss out, it only happens once a year! Go!! Skateboarding!!!

Filed under: News Bytes, Skateboard by jane
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May 28, 2008 - X Games 14 will take place July 31 -August 3 at The Home Depot Center and STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Returning to Puerto Escondido, X Games Surfing will take the stage July 7-11 at the famous “Mexican Pipeline” at Zicatela Beach. Fourteen hours of live X Games programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC -all showcased in high definition - will be air during the event.

X Games 14 will feature athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: BMX Freestyle (men only), Moto X, Skateboard, Surfing and Rally Car Racing (men only). Tickets for X Games 14 will be available for purchase June 19 at Ticketmaster and the box offices at STAPLES and The Home Depot Center. The following is the competition schedule:

All times listed are Pacific Time (PT).

Thursday, July 31
10 a.m. -12 p.m. Skateboard Street Men’s and Women’s Practice, STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center
12 p.m. -2 p.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m. Moto X Racing Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center

Friday, August 1
1 p.m. -2 p.m. Skateboard Street Women’s Practice, STAPLES Center
2 p.m. -2:45 p.m. Skateboard Street Women’s FINAL, STAPLES Center

Saturday, August 2
10 a.m. -11 a.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
11 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Moto X Racing Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
11 a.m. -12 p.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Final, The Home Depot Center
12 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Moto X Racing Women’s and Men’s Final, The Home Depot Center

Filed under: Action, Motocross, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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May 20, 2008 - After weeks of waiting,  a double dose of “Life of Ryan” aired last night on MTV. If you’re interested in what happened to our favorite skateboard hottie (here’s a clue - Ryan grows up and moves into his own million dollar crib) you can catch replays of the two final episodes on MTV.com

Official word is still forthcoming on whether there will be a season three of the series. It may come as soon as this summer. But judging from how these two episodes were unceremoniously dropped, it’s anyone’s guess.  Maybe Kane and Shane will get their own show!

Filed under: Entertainment, General, Skateboard, TV by amo
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 by Christian Cossey
Skateboarding is a misunderstood art form/sport that is often criticized by the “mainstream” who do not grasp the concept. This is mainly due to the fact that there are no uniforms, rules, time, etc. to clearly define the activity. Most people do not even understand how skaters “ollie” their decks, and true to human nature they criticize what they cannot comprehend.

It is without a doubt far more skillful, creative and extreme than any team sport i can think of - and can only be compared to a select few of other sports/art forms such as surfing, snowboarding, even BMX.

Almost anyone can perform the most basic requirement of football - i.e. kicking a ball (or catching one).

Yet only a small minority of people will ever manage to perform the most basic requirement of skateboarding. i.e. the “ollie”. (Tip: it’s all about physics).

(more…)

Filed under: Skateboard by Christian Cossey
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Feb. 28, 2008 - How cool is this? It’s a new kind of triathlon. The Ultimate Boarder™ is  a one-week competition to find the first athlete who can conquer the art of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding.  Opening the field to both amateur and professional athletes, the Ultimate Boarder, held from April 13-19, 2008, gives unknown riders a chance to shine alongside the pros and compete for the first-ever Ultimate Boarder champion title and a first place prize of $30,000. 

The snowboard competition will be held on April 13 at Squaw Valley (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) followed by the surf competition on a date to be determined from April 16-18 at C Street (Ventura, Calif.) and will complete with the skateboard competition and awards ceremony on April 19 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (Ventura, Calif.).  

“This event is all about providing a venue were we can showcase and discover a unique and truly gifted athlete,” said Founder & CEO Tim Hoover.  “An individual who possesses balance, skill, athleticism and endurance in three of the top board sports in the world.”

Do you have what it takes? For more info: ultimateboarder.com

Filed under: Action, Events, Skateboard, Snowboard, Surfing by jane
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