ACTION SPORTS COMMENTARY: Reluctant cover girl: Hawkins doesn't seek publicity, but her feats makes it impossible to avoid

By SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:25 AM PDT ∞

Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins is a marketer's dream. The 19-year-old Cardiff resident is quick with a quote, comfortable in front of a camera and has a face made for a magazine cover.

She's smart, articulate and stays out of trouble. She skateboards professionally and spends her free time riding surf and snow, giving her tremendous appeal throughout the action sports community.

Hawkins is not a pioneer in that regard. There are several female action sports athletes with such qualities, most of whom are all flash. They occasionally get on a board or enter a contest to legitimize their endorsements and further a modeling career.

But Hawkins has more respect for her sport than that.

She rides for progress, not self-promotion. She's far more interested in landing a 540-degree spin at this week's X Games than being on TV when she nails it.

Hawkins is the world's finest female skater, hell-bent on doing what others haven't. She's a stout competitor, one who understands that victory sometimes comes with sacrifice and a scar.

And Hawkins has her fair share of both. She turned pro at age 12, trading teenage normalcy for a life on the road. She became an industry darling early on, when contest medals came at a rapid rate against both boys and girls.

That sparked at 12-month span during 2002-03 when Hawkins entered nearly 40 contests, from North County to the Southern Hemisphere. It was Hawkins' world tour, and the pressure to perform was at its peak.

She weathered good sessions and bad, but a disappointing finish at the 2002 Van Triple Crown in Oceanside resulted in a full-scale breakdown.

"I kind of lost it there," Hawkins said. "I just wanted to stay home, go to school and play soccer. I was upset, but it was only temporary. I got over it and kept on going."

There was another setback on Dec. 26, 2003, one that hit much closer to home. Lyn-Z's father, Ronald, died of a heart attack at age 66.

It was a moment that Hawkins used as motivation. She carved "R.I.P Dad" into her grip tape to remember her father while she pressed on.

"It came during the busiest year of my career," said Hawkins, who graduated from Carlsbad's Seaside Academy in 2007. "We clearly weren't expecting it and it was difficult to deal with, but it didn't slow me down. My parents and my brother have always been supportive of my career, and I know my dad would've wanted me to carry on.

"That kept me going, and I started skating for my family and skating for him."

That big push thrust Hawkins farther into the limelight than any female skateboarder before her. Endorsement deals flooded in from Volcom and DC Shoes, companies hoping to profit from her combination of charisma and toughness.

Hawkins is the type to crash, burn and laugh about it later. She once won a silver medal at the X Games sporting a cast on her left arm and 12 staples in her head. And she will defend her gold medal in the Women's Skate Vert final less than a week after a mid-air collision with inline skater Fabiola Da Silva during an exhibition at Huntington Beach Pier.

"I'm pretty sore right now, but I'll be fine," Hawkins said. "I have skated through worse."

An anterior cruciate ligament tear in 2006 was the only setback, emotional or physical, that Hawkins couldn't skate through. Her ability to compete in pain has garnered the respect of peers and fans alike.

Celebrity, which has been a byproduct of her actions, is something Hawkins welcomes on occasion.

She treats her status as the first female to tame the mega ramp as a badge of honor, but has no interest in playing her virtual self in Tony Hawk's "Project 8" video game. Hawkins embraces her role as a skateboarding ambassador, and jumps at the chance to mentor young girls looking to learn.

"I'm still pretty young, but I've been around for a while," said Hawkins, who can frequently be seen teaching youngsters at the Encinitas YMCA. "If my experience can help young skaters improve, then I'll gladly take the time to work with them. It's part of the job and something I really enjoy."

The action sports report runs every 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.