|
Staying Power
July 10, 2003
by Sasha La Rochelle
Judi Oyama
|
Pro slalom skater Judi Oyama has just returned home from Breckenridge, Colorado, where she placed impressively in the three slalom races that were part of the FCR Slalom Series. She recently met with me to talk about her life, work, and skateboarding.
I first met Judi in October 2002 at the Vision FCR World Championship Slalom Skateboard Races in Morro Bay, California. This was my first slalom race, and I was introduced to Judi by our mutual friend Isabelle Caudle. Right from the beginning, I was told Judi was one of the world's best. Now I know why. Her aggressive skating style and lengthy career have made her one of skateboarding's elite. As I talked with Judi, I learned a lot about the roots of skateboarding and found renewed inspiration for the future. Judi started skating at age 13. Her brother was her motivation to start, as he also skateboarded. They first bought a Bahne skateboard together and shared it. The price of $24.95 seemed huge to them back then, so it was a serious investment--an investment that would change her life forever.
|
She entered her first slalom contest at age 15 in Capitola, California, and was hooked. She said even Aptos High School was supportive of skateboarding then and held slalom contests. Judi entered downhill races also--bombing hills at high speeds, wearing only a helmet and volleyball-type knee pads, as there was not too much in the way of hard-shell safety gear during that time. As her career progressed, she was asked to skate for Santa Cruz Skateboards at age 16. That was an honor only she and one other woman were offered. She also signed with Independent Trucks, and continues to be on their team today.
|
