Submitted by Gabriela Levy, AmeriCorps VISTA Public Relations Associate for Exposure Skate

Exposure is the largest, longest-running women's skateboarding competition in the world.   The 13th annual event was held at the Encinitas Community Park on November 2 and 3 and featured Pro, Intermediate and Advanced divisions in Street, Bowl and Vert disciplines. Added events included Vans Highest Air, Vans Best Trick Vert, Etnies Best Trick Street, Woodward Longest Grind , Woodward Learn-to-Skate and West Coast Coffee Bros Skate Rising. 

Exposure Skate is the nonprofit behind the event, driving the rise of women’s skateboarding for 13 years. Their mission is to empower women, girls and nonbinary individuals through skateboarding and to teach compassion through service. Their programs create an environment for women and girls to break barriers in the sport. 

This year, event attendees bore witness to skateboarding tricks that have never been done before, not only in the women’s field, but in skateboarding as a whole. The “Arizzla,” named after Arisa Trew, the 14-year-old Olympic Gold Medalist from Australia who invented the trick, performed this never-been-done maneuver for the first time at Exposure’s recent event.

Trew was among 164 competitors from 14 different countries who traveled to Encinitas, CA to compete in the competition.

“Exposure is really inclusive for women's skateboarding because it just shows all the girls that everyone can skate and everyone can do the skateboarding tricks and just have fun with each other and compete,” Trew told reporters at Exposure.

13 years ago, Exposure was founded by Olympian Amelia Brodka and Philanthropist Lesli Cohen to nurture the growth of women’s skateboarding. They saw the need for an outlet for female skateboarders and wanted to fuel the progression of the sport as there were virtually no other opportunities for women in skateboarding.

"Women's skateboarding, particularly in the past five years, has seen its skill level increase exponentially compared to men's,” said Encinitas resident and Olympian Andy Macdonald. “It's been amazing to watch.”

The 501(c)(3) organization’s annual event also serves as a benefit for survivors of domestic violence and works closely with the Community Resource Center’s emergency shelter for individuals who experienced or are undergoing this form of trauma. The nonprofit has helped raise over $200,000 for services that support victims of abuse since the inaugural showcase in 2012.

For more information on Exposure Skate’s impact and mission to empower through skateboarding, go to www.exposureskate.org or visit @ExposureSkate on Instagram.

CHECK OUT EXPOSURE'S 2024 Official Recap Video