Judi Oyama

Last updated
Judi Oyama
Personal information
Birth nameJudi Oyama
Born Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
OccupationSkateboarder
Years active1973–present
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Skateboarding
Events
Turned pro1976

Judi Oyama is an American professional skateboarder who excelled in slalom and downhill skateboarding. She was the Women's Slalom World Skateboard Champion in 2003 and was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2018. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Judi Oyama was born in Santa Cruz, California. She began skateboarding at 13 years of age in her driveway. Her brother built her first skateboard in his wood shop class at Aptos Junior High. [4] [5] [6] She attended Aptos High School and was inducted into the Aptos High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. [7] One of her first jobs was assembling and silkscreening skateboards for the Santa Cruz skateboard company NHS, or NHS Skate Direct. [5]

Career

Oyama began skating professionally in the mid-1970s at age 16, competing mainly in men's skateboarding contests, as women's categories had not yet been established in the sport. [8] As the only female competitor in the 1977 Capitola Classic she placed eighth, and in 1978 became a member of the Santa Cruz Skate team. [9] She is one of few Asian-American women professional skateboarders and was a pioneer of Vert skateboarding and vert pool skateboarding for women. [3] [10] [11] Oyama was sponsored by Santa Cruz Skateboards [2] and garnered additional sponsorships by brands managed under the NHS, Inc. umbrella, including Independent Trucks, OJ Weels, Park Riders, and Cellblock. [12]

In 2003, Oyama won the Slalom World Championships at age 43, and was ranked second in the US and first in the masters division overall in 2013. [13]

In 2015, she became the first woman to win the N-Men Icon Award. In 2018, she was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [1]

She was featured in the 2023 documentary N-Men: The Untold Story, a film about the global impact of skateboarders from Northern California in the 1970s (starring Tony Hawk and produced by Josh Brolin). [13] [10] [14]

Oyama is featured in the book Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History. Her skating helmet from 1979 and first-place trophy from the 4th Berkeley Contest are held in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. [15] [12] [3]

In 2023, she qualified for the World Skate Games in Rome in 2024, where she will be a member of the U.S. slalom team. [16]

Oyama is the former vice president and one of the founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Board Rescue. [2] [17]

Graphic design and illustration

Oyama began her career in graphic design in the 1970s, silk screening skateboards at Santa Cruz Skateboards, airbrushing surfboards at Santa Cruz Surf Shop, and creating Thrasher skate ads and clothing designs for Hurley. In 2007, she designed the wave mural for the Wormhoudt Skatepark in Santa Cruz, California. [18] [19]

Oyama is the former Art Director at Giro. [20]

Competition results

YearCompetitionCategoryResult
1980Capitola Classic Professional Downhill Skateboard CompetitionWomen's Downhill [8] Won (2nd place)
2002FRC World ChampionshipOpen Women's Slalom [21] Won (2nd place)
2003Colorado High Plains Drifter RaceGiant Slalom and Tight Slalom [22] Won (1st place)
2003Bahne/Cadillac SlalomCrossWomen's Pro Slalom [23] Won (1st place)
2022Argentina World Skate GamesHybrid Slalom [24] Won (3rd place)
2023U.S. National ChampionshipU.S. Slalom [25] Won (2nd place)
2023ISSA Women's PRO Banked Slalom Skateboarding ChampionshipWomen's Pro - All Runs [26] Won (4th place)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skateboarding</span> Action sport on skateboards

Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation. Originating in the United States, skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2009 report found that the skateboarding market is worth an estimated $4.8 billion in annual revenue, with 11.08 million active skateboarders in the world. In 2016, it was announced that skateboarding would be represented at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, for both male and female teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz, California</span> City in California, United States

Santa Cruz is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aptos, California</span> Place in California, United States

Aptos is an unincorporated town in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The town is made up of several small villages, which together form Aptos: Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, Aptos Village, Cabrillo, Seacliff, Rio del Mar, and Seascape. Together, they have a combined population of 24,402.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitola, California</span> City in California, United States

Capitola is a small seaside town in Santa Cruz County, California. Capitola is located on the northern shores of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. The city had a population of 9,938 at the 2020 census. Capitola is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches and restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celia Cruz</span> Cuban singer (1925–2003)

Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music. She had sold over 10 million copies, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists.

The Zephyr Competition Team were a group of American skateboarders in the mid-1970s from Santa Monica and Venice, California. Originally consisting of 12 members, the Z-boys were originally sponsored by the Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions surf and skate shop. Their innovative surfing-based style and aerial moves formed the foundations of contemporary vert and transition skateboarding. The story of the Z-Boys and the Zephyr shop have been popularized in feature films such as Lords of Dogtown and Dogtown and Z-Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Krone</span> American jockey

Julieann Louise Krone, is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair. In 2000, she became the first woman inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and in 2003 became the first female jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race. She has also been honored by induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame, Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, and Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Gareth Roe is a professional slalom skateboarder, skateboard designer and manufacturer from Seattle, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elissa Steamer</span> American professional skateboarder

Elissa Steamer is an American professional skateboarder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz Breakers FC</span> American soccer team

Breakers FC is an American soccer club based in Santa Cruz, California, United States founded in 1992. The club is a founding member of the Elite Youth Development Platform with partner Major League Soccer in 2020. The club signed Niša Saveljić to be their director of coaching in June 2020. In 2018 the club began fielding a team in the Premier Development League, now known as USL League Two, playing its home games at Carl Conelly Stadium on the campus of Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. The team's colors are dark blue, sky blue, gold and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Selva Beach, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

La Selva Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California. La Selva Beach sits at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The 2020 United States census reported La Selva Beach's population was 2,531.

Patti McGee is a former professional skateboarder. She was the 1964 Women's first National Skateboard Champion, Santa Monica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slalom skateboarding</span>

Slalom skateboarding is a form of downhill skateboard racing that first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s and has made a resurgence in popularity in the 2000s. Slalom racers skate down a course usually marked by plastic cones. The racer tries to get through the course with the fastest time, while knocking down the fewest cones. Each cone typically carries a penalty of a fraction of a second which is added to the skater's time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Brauch</span>

Timothy "Tim" Michael Brauch was an American professional skateboarder who grew up in San Jose, California. Brauch came up in skateboarding during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period of skateboarding when professionalism meant small paychecks and little fame outside skateboarding, but much travel and many experiences and good times with friends and like-minded skaters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion Hollins</span> American golfer and golf course architect

Marion B. Hollins was an American amateur golfer. She is known as an athlete and as a golf course developer, one of the only known female golf course developers in history. She won the 1921 U.S. Women's Amateur and was runner-up in 1913. She also had many other amateur wins. She was the captain of the first U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1932.

NHS, Inc. is a United States sports equipment distribution company based in Santa Cruz, California. It was founded by Richard Novak, Doug Haut, and Jay Shuirman, three surfer friends from Santa Cruz, California, teamed up to start NHS. The acronym NHS comes from their surname initials. The company distributes the following brands: Santa Cruz Skateboards, Santa Cruz Snowboards, Santa Cruz Surfboards, Creature Skateboards, Independent Truck Company, Bronson Speed Co., Krux Trucks, Ricta Wheels, Mob Grip, OJ Wheels, Road Rider, Slimeballs, Bullet and Nor Cal Clothing Co. NHS formerly owned shares of Santa Cruz Bicycles, also co-founded by Richard Novak, but sold to Pon Holdings in 2015.

Neil Blender is an American former professional skateboarder, skate company owner, and artist. His pro career began during his senior year of high school in 1981. He is regular-footed. By 1986, Blender invented at least two tricks, the Wooly Mammoth and the Gay Twist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Whitehead</span> American professional skateboarder, sports stylist, and activist

Cindy Whitehead is an American professional skateboarder and activist. A pioneer of vertical skateboarding, she was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2016. She is married to photographer Ian R. Logan.

Skateboarding Hall of Fame, founded in 1997, is a museum and hall of fame located in Simi Valley, California, United States. The museum documents the history of skateboarding and the skateboarders, photographers, and other notable figures, publications, and companies who have influenced its development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Brown (skateboarder)</span> American professional skateboarder

Terry Brown is an American professional skateboarder who excelled in slalom and downhill skateboarding. She held the title of, Women's Slalom World Skateboard Champion in 1977, 1978, and 2002 at the World Slalom Skateboarding Championships in Morro Bay. She was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 "Judi Oyama 2018". Skateboarding Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Photograph of pro skater Judi Oyama, 1978". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  3. 1 2 3 "Defying Expectations". National Museum of American History. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  4. ↑ "Judy Oyama". sk8 kings. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "64-year-old Santa Cruz skateboarder representing USA at World Skate Games". KQED. October 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ "64-year-old Santa Cruz skateboarder representing USA at World Skate Games". KSBW. October 31, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ "HELP OYAMA COMPETE AT WORLD SKATE GAME". Times Publishing Group. September 19, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Santa Cruz Sentinel," "She's often the only woman in the race", Page 2, August 31, 1980
  9. ↑ "Photograph of pro skater Judi Oyama, 1978 - National Museum of American History". Smithsonian. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Judi Oyama's moment: A local skateboarding legend is still competing strong … at 64 by Wallace Baine". Lookout Santa Cruz. November 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Support Judi Oyama in Going to Worlds for Slalom Racing!". Girl is not a 4 Letter World. August 11, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Porter, Natalie (April 25, 2022). "Judi Oyama". Womxn Skateboard History. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Skateboard helmet worn by Judi Oyama". National Museum of American History. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  14. ↑ "N-Men: The Untold Story". N-MEN: The Untold Story. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Game Changers: the unsung heroines of sports history". Everand. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  16. ↑ "'Surprised and excited': Santa Cruz woman, 64, to head to Rome for World Skate Games". NBC Bay Area. October 20, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  17. ↑ Holl, Gary. "New non-profit, Board Rescue, provides skateboards to children". www.paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  18. ↑ "Meet two unique skateboard parks: One is a work of art, the other is... nirvana". LA Times. August 8, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Santa Cruz Art Map Walk #46" (PDF). Santa Cruz. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Judi Oyama - Artist, Art Director, Skater". Malakye. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Reno Gazette," "Skateboarding", Page 19, May 22, 2002
  22. ↑ "Santa Cruz Sentinel," "Skateboarding", Page 30, June 11, 2003
  23. ↑ "Bahne/Cadillac SlalomCross 2003". Slalom Skateboarder. April 12, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Judi Oyama 4th Best in the World". Slalom Skateboarder. November 14, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  25. ↑ "SC skateboarder Judi Oyama, 63, takes second at US slalom ..." Santa Cruz Sentinel. August 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  26. ↑ "ISSA Women's PRO Banked Slalom Skateboarding Championship". Santa Cruz Sentinel. August 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.