Female skateboarders find voice in Alliance

By: SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer | Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:37 AM PDT ∞

Finding their voices

Often slighted, female skateboarders unite in Alliance

An opened Internet browser and a few quick keystrokes can get you to actionsportsalliance.com. A number of rotating photos featuring female skateboarders may greet you upon arrival, but there is one that stands out from the rest. It's a large, detailed black-and-white photo featuring five legendary female skateboarders of varying generations locked arm in arm.

Underneath, there is a simple headline: "Our Voice."

Female skateboarders have been around for a while, but they have always been dwarfed by the men in terms of both popularity and clout in the now-booming action sports market. The women have only had a whisper's worth of influence in the industry and, consequently, received a small ration of prize money and media coverage for their efforts.

Now, at long last, they have a megaphone.

The Alliance, a nonprofit association of female skateboarders, is leading the call to promote and develop the sport. It was founded last summer by Encinitas' Cara-Beth Burnside, Vista's Jen O'Brien and Mimi Knoop, all skateboarding pioneers in their own right.

"Female skateboarders now have one united voice," O'Brien said. "It was important for us to join together and work toward a common goal. It's a more powerful, professional way of going about things and getting recognized. That's the main reason why the Alliance was formed."

The Alliance, however, does not want to be known primarily as an advocacy group. The organization's mission is to attract sponsors from both inside and outside the action sports industry to support female skateboarding and events that showcase it.

Action sports in general are driven by sponsorships, which makes a businesslike approach more sensible than outright protest.

"We had a mission to improve the financial, exposure and business landscape of women's skateboarding and action sports," said Drew Mearns, who handles many of the Alliance's day-to-day operations. "Our mission was not to cause trouble or be a thorn in anyone's side."

There was a time when the Alliance ---- which is also supported by the Women's Sports Foundation advocacy group ---- did have to stand up for what it thought was right.

It came during last year's X Games, when none of the competitors showed up for the women's skate vert practice session. The move came in response to a perceived slight by ESPN, which did not send invitations to the female skateboarders despite giving them to every other X Games competitors.

In addition, the prize pool was small and television coverage was literally nonexistent for what is largely a made-for-TV event.

"It was a move of frustration," Mearns said. "The girls were not even invited. They were sort of expected to show. (Burnside), Jen and Mimi were ultimately planning to go, but there was feeling that it really didn't matter if they did or not. It was like, at the corporate level, no one really cared.

"They assumed they would come, but they weren't treated as if they really mattered. It was almost like an afterthought, and that was a little insulting. The girls got together and said, 'If this is all it's going to be and there's no way we can even get any attention, why even bother to come?'"

Said O'Brien: "We didn't want to make a bunch of trouble, but we felt like we were being overlooked. The money wasn't even enough for many of the girls to cover their costs, and without TV coverage, there wasn't a lot to be gained."

After agreeing to show for the competition in exchange for a meeting after the X Games, the girls ended up competing. They will be back again this year, and now that wakeboarding has been eliminated as an X Games event, they will be the only female competitors at the X Games.

According to Mearns, ESPN has significantly increased the purse for both the street and vert events.

"That's really exciting, but we'll see what happens with the TV coverage," O'Brien said. "Don't get me wrong ---- we're not asking or even hoping for coverage equal to what the men get. We know that they are extremely popular and are a major X Games attraction. But even if we could get something small, like a five-minute mix or feature, that would be a step in the right direction."

The Alliance is slowly helping the sport move forward.

A sports drink sponsor has increased prize pools on two occasions and subsidized travel costs. The X Games will likely improve its coverage, and Mearns hopes to soon announce a series of new women's skateboarding events, including a championship contest.

That's all proof that progress is indeed being made.

"There is progress, but it's coming slowly," Mearns said. "We're a long way from where we want to be, but we're getting there."

The Action Sports column runs every other Tuesday. To suggest story ideas, report local events or offer general comments, contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com.

Off the Lip:

McFerran wins world title

Encinitas resident Schuyler McFerran won the first-ever Women's World Longboarding Championships, which concluded Saturday in Biarritz, France.

The 19-year old McFerran defeated Jennifer Smith in the final with 15.50 points ---- including a 9.25 individual wave score ---- to secure the $4,500 championship prize. McFerran topped a 67-woman field and won the lion's share of the largest purse in the history of women's longboarding.

"I'm so thankful and stoked, happy and relieved ---- there's just so many emotions," McFerran said in a press release. "I've surfed so many heats that it's just overwhelming, then to have all of my friends out here screaming and cheering for me, I just broke down. I knew that I could win this event if I really put my heart into it and I gave my very best effort every heat."

North County had three representatives in the quarterfinals. In addition to McFerran, Del Mar's Kaitlin Maguire and Oceanside's Kassia Meador made it to the quarters, but both were eliminated ---- Maguire by France's Claire Karabatsos and Meador by McFerran in a high-scoring heat.

Hawaiians take top NSSA crowns

Kekoa Cazimero of Hawaii won the men's division at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Open Championships, which concluded July 1 at Lower Trestles in San Onofre. The results were only recently made available after an NSSA banquet last week.

Fellow Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the women's division and two other lower-division crowns. Moore now has nine NSSA titles, a new career record.

Several local surfers also fared well in the competition. MiraCosta College's Lauren Sweeney won the college women's division, while teammate Billy Harris won the college longboard crown. Encinitas' Thomas Clark placed third in open juniors, Taylor Clark was third in open mini-groms and Christian Clark finished fourth in the open longboard.

Basnett earns historic win

Ricky Basnett became the first South African to win the Mr. Price Pro surfing event on Sunday in his native land. Basnett entered the event as a wild card, but still managed to defeat a talented field.

Stephanie Gilmore won the women's competition of the Mr. Price Pro, moving her into the No. 1 spot on the World Qualifying Series standings.

Pro Contests

> Thursday-July 22: Billabong Pro, Men's World Championship Tour, Jeffery's Bay, South Africa

> Thursday-Sunday: Right Guard Open, Dew Action Sports Tour, Denver

> Thursday-Sunday: Super Bock Pro, Men's World Qualifying Series, Portugal

Local Contests

> Today-July 19: USA Championships, surfing, North Jetty, Oceanside

> Saturday: Freeflow Tour, amateur skateboarding, Magdalena Ecke YMCA, Encinitas

Saturday-Sunday: California State Games, amateur skateboarding finals, Mission Valley YMCA and Chula Vista Skatepark

On the Tube

> Saturday: Right Guard Open, Dew Action Sports Tour, 11 a.m., Ch. 7/39 (4 L.A.)

> Sunday: Right Guard Open, Dew Action Sports Tour, 10 a.m., Ch. 7/39 (4 L.A.)