Lady Meek Olga Aguilar at the 2022 competiton

Gabriela Levy, Public Relations Associate, Exposure Skate

Exposure Skate is holding its annual all-women and nonbinary skateboarding competiton, "Exposure Skate 2023," at the Encinitas Community Park from Nov. 4 to 5.

Over 200 women, girls, and nonbinary individuals from all over the globe are expected to compete in the nonprofit organization's 12th flagship event. In addition to female empowerment, the nonprofit also brings awareness around domestic abuse prevention and has raised over $80,000 for domestic violence survivors since its first showcase.

There will be a learn-to-skate clinic, family friendly vendor village and local food trucks, all while live competitions go on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Competition registrants will vie for medals and awards in Intermediate, Advanced and Open/Pro divisions in the Street, Bowl, and Vert events. Open/Pro competitors will have an opportunity to win cash or checks from a $60,000 prize purse.

Longtime support and professional adaptive skateboarder Tracie Garacochea sees "Exposure" as an opportunity to connect with and empower the women's skateboarding community.

"My favorite part about this weekend is the way Exposure just hangs on to these girls and supports them and makes sure that they know that it's about community," Garacochea said at Exposure Skate 2022. We're here to support each other and we're here to help each other grow. That is the best part about Exposure."

Exposure Skate co-founders Lesli Cohen and Olympic skateboarder Amelia Brodka created the group in 2012 when they noticed a lack of women in skateboarding events, media coverage, and the skateboarding industry overall. Brodka's award-winning documentary film "Underexposed" brought to light the struggles women's skateboarding faced at the time.

For more information on Exposure Skate's programs and upcoming events, go to exposureskate.org or follow @exposureskate on Instagram. Exposure Skate's programs are partially funded by Hydro Flask's Parks for All grant program, which supports nonprofits in creating equal access to public parks.