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| PHOTO BY IAN LOGAN |
+ introduce yourself:
Cindy Whitehead, from Hermosa Beach, California and I still live in this beautiful beach town that embraces skate & surf culture.
I was one of the few pro vert female skateboarders in the 70s and now have a brand called Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word which helps shine a light on girls in action sports via our website, collaboration skateboards with Dusters California, and our newest collab with XS Helmets.
Both of these collars give back financially and/or with product to females in skateboarding.
+ give us the deets on your skateboarding career:
I got my first skateboard at age 8, but seriously stated skateboarding at age 14. I turned pro at age 16 and traveled to skateparks all over the USA to compete and do demos. At age 15 I was the first female to have a 2 page article plus centerfold in a skateboarding magazine.
I was also known in the early days for wearing big huge radio headphones when I skated. I rode pro for Sims Skateboards and was sponsored by Puma. My best friend in the pro ranks was Judi Oyama who rode for Santa Cruz, we are still great friends today and to me that is one of the best things about skateboarding - the good friends we make for life.
When they closed the 405 fwy here in Los Angeles a couple of years ago I was the only person to sneak in and skateboarded down it - that was something I will never forget, I was honored to have pieces of my 70's skate gear taken into The Smithsonian Museum of National History Sports Collection in 2013, to me that was a HUGE honor.
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| PHOTO BY BRUCE HAZELTON |
In 2014 I was asked to do a TEDx talk titled Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word where I had the opportunity to speak about growing up as a female pro skater and what I feel girls can learn from all of this. Skateboarding has always been a huge part of my life and always will be.
+ what inspired GN4LW ?
I wanted to do something positive and bring attention to female skateboarders and also give back to the sport that has given so much to me.
With the help of Concrete Wave Magazine editor, Michael Brooke I was introduced to Nano Nobrega the creative director at Dusters California and the wheels were put into motion for me to work with them to create a collab skateboard that would give a portion of its proceeds to women in action sports.
I thought up the name Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word years earlier for an art show where I designed a skateboard to raise money for a worthy cause (Board Rescue) so I thought it would be a great name for my brand as well. I still get asked "what does that mean?"
The best way I can explain it is that when you hear things like "Hey Steve, you throw like a girl" or maybe you are out there as a girl skateboarding hard and you hear "Wow she skates pretty well for a GIRL" - that becomes a put down, it's using someones gender as a slur. The word GIRL becomes comparable to other 4 letter cuss words and it should never be used in a derogatory way.
+ what's your fav topic to write about on the GN4LW site ?
I really like doing our WHO'S RAD interviews. We profile female athletes of all ages that then inspire another generation of girls to go out there and do their thing.
By seeing these girls do what they love it makes other girls aware that it is possible and there are there girls just like them out there doing it. To me that is what the GN4LW site is all about.
+ tell us about the members of the GN4LW team. what sets them apart from other athletes ?
Right now we sponsor Beverly Flood - Beverly is 17 and she just turned pro. She is the girl that can look at a skatepark or pool and pick a great line and throw down tricks just about anywhere while still looking smooth throughout it all.
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| PHOTO BY TODD FULLER |
Minna Stess is an 8 year old girl that we just started sponsoring. Minna is unique because she has no fear. She hucks herself off the top of mini vans on her skateboard and she is the youngest girl to drop into the mega ramp at Woodward West. I can't wait to see where skateboarding takes her.
Kyra Williams is a Southern California girl who surfs and is winning just about every contest she enters here on the West Coast. She loves to go to Fiji to surf a well known and gnarly surf spot called Tavarua. She's only 13 and already figuring out how to be able to manage school and surfing to get more time in the water daily.
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| PHOTO BY THE WILLIAMS FAMILY |
Last but definitely not least is little Zoe Benedetto who is 9 and lives in Florida. Zoe surfs like a maniac and is tearing up the contrest scene on the East Coast, she also skates and her style both in the water and out reminds me of my late friend & Z-Boy, Jay Adams, she's smooth and gnarly.
The common denominator of all the girls we sponsor is that they love what they do, are positive role models, and they rip. They are also the girls who encourage and support other girls, not tear them down. That's what it's all about.
+ fav go-to healthy food ?
In the morning I'm really into Greek yogurt with fresh berries, a little home made granola sprinkled on top, and a drizzle of honey.
I started eating this for breakfast and realized that it gave me awesome energy and since I must admit to having a sweet tooth it satisfied that craving as well - so for me it's a win win! I also like roasted Brussels sprouts, but I am very picky - Chef David LeFevre at Manhattan Beach Post is the only person who can make them the way I like them so I make sure to eat at MB Post a lot when I am not traveling.
+ mantra ?
Live life balls to the wall. Do epic shit. Take every dare that comes your way. You can sleep when you're dead.
+ advice for aspiring skateboarders ?
Get out there and have fun. Don't worry that you are still learning - we were all there at one point in time. Most skaters will be very helpful if you just ask for advice. And the most important thing is to wear your helmet! :-)
+ To follow Cindy Whitehead on Instagram, click here. x.
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