Betty S k a t e b o a r d
m a g a z i n e
Halifax Sk8ing Matinhos Beach Surfing Winnipeg Longboarding
3rd Issue 7 dollars
Betty S k a t e b o a r d
m a g a z i n e
Erin Ch창telain Editor-in-chief
Ellen Smirl Copy-editor
Catherine Duguay Art(ist) & design(er)
Niki Trosky
Photographer/stylist
Nathalie Coulson Writer
Glenn Owens Loose ends
Special thanks
Canadian Youth Business Foundation Ragpickers anti-fashion emporium
Cover photo Alan Gerlach Skater Kaitlin Moen
This photo: Vincent Keller Printing Avenue 4 Communications 2
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
3 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Contributors Catherine Duguay Art & Design
Always flying back and forth between Canada and Brazil, Cat manages to keep herself grounded and focused on the folks that she loves. Ellen Smirl Copy-editor
Ellen Smirl is a writer, student and researcher. Primarily interested in issues of political economy and social justice, she also likes driving big trucks that make lots of noise.
Niki Trosky Photograper & Stylist
Niki dreams of one day having her own cotton candy dress making machine. In the mean time, she will love life and all of it’s deliciousness. lovelifeproducitons.ca
“...the answer was a longboard” p. 14
Nathalie Coulson Writer
When Nath isn’t on the train traveling across Canada, she’s riding one of her many bicycles, playing in the garden and doing handstands while playing with fire. She loves skateboarding and heads out to the mountains at least once a winter to shred powder.
Glenn & Tyler Owens Support Team
This power team has been working together for eight years.They strive to always be a helping hand to the pretty ladies.
Special thanks to our beautiful ladies: Sarah Masse, Mantin Diabate, Jackie Graham & Nathalie Coulson
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Contents Page 6
Editor’s note
Page 8
Prairie girls Once againprairie sk8er girls are owning it! We’ve showcased 2 of them who just keep throwing it down.
Page 10
Prairie Girls p. 9
East coastin’ The scene in Nova Scotia will make you want to move there. Written by Erin Châtelain
Page 14
Long story short It had been a long time coming, but the Winnipeg skate-betty finally added some length to her stride. Written by Nathalie Coulson
Skatistas in Brazil p. 16 page 15
Random sk8 facts By Glenn Owens
Page 16
Skatistas from Brazil One lucky Canadian rolled into a wicked girl sk8 posse in Brazil. Her moment in pictures.
Page 20
Runaway circus Fashion for the circus freak in you. Clothes by Ragpickers Accessories by Urban bakery Styled by Niki Trosky
Page 30
East coastin’ p. 10
Runaway circus p. 20
In the waves with Thiara Mandelli A surfer mom represesents in the South and is winning gold. Written by Catherine Duguay
Page 32
A magazine launch party You probably won’t want to miss the next one.
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Interview with Pro surfer Thiara Mandelli p. 30
Editor’s note
Attention bold-living girls; we are not alone! In fact, we are numerous. The more I find you girls who enjoys the wilder side of life, it reaffirms that we are, in fact a large universal community, with only language that differentiates us. What a beautiful world we live in. We are the cyclists in the rain, the bmx-ers in the mud and the boarders in the streets. We are the women who are not afraid to ride a dirt bike, climb a building, start a hardcore band, buy a motorcycle, walk in stilts! We represent like the rest and this issue we focused on ladies who are indeed, representing. And we hope you enjoy the fashion spread where we had fun with dangerous circus stunts. Opportunities are endless when you’re fearless…and what a way to live. Hope you enjoy the mag,
Erin Chatelain Editor-in-chief 6
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
EMPTY Shout out! Next issue September 2011
We want your submissions... bettyskateboardmagazine.com
just submit something already 7 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Saskatoon Amanda Marie Butt
Prairie Girls Winnipeg Darcy Harrison Photo Cred - Jared Hum
Winnipeg Darcy Harrison
Saskatoon
Eas “
W
we drive up
the hills just to
skate down them
The girl Anne Gilbert
”
Age 24
Stance Goofy
Experience 10 years on a deck
Favorite trick Heel flips
Street or ramp More street than ramps, but more pools than street!
Mode of Transportation Black Kawasaki Ninja
e are many; radical girls, addicted to adrenaline and we are sprawled across the Globe. I spoke with one of these girls, this one, representing on the Canadian east coast. Here in Winnipeg, girls love to stand out, act loud and get noticed. After talking with Anne Gilbert, a cool skater/ snowboarder/motorcycle cat from Halifax, Nova Scotia, I started to think that maybe it’s just girls in general who are naturally intriguing. In Anne’s quaint maritime city girls pepper the downtown skate park on a daily basis, while bawlsy long-boarders conquer the roller coaster roads of what’s becoming the new Canadian capital of cool. “I could go to the park and not know any of the girls skating… that’s how many girl skaters there are here,” says an excited Anne. For the last few years the sweet, picturesque city of Halifax became Anne’s adoptive hometown while she studies. Not only is Halifax beautiful but it also also happens to be a wellknown hub for hard-partying college kids. “There are a lot of students, here,
10
ast Coastin’ Written by Erin CHÅTELAIN
most bars per capita in Canada, lots of drinking,” says Anne, over a phone conversation. But instead of nursing Halifax hangovers, Anne counts the tips she makes slinging beer to the many students that populate the seaboard city. Every weekend this university graduate works at the Ale House, bartending till 3 am. Having already completed a Bachelor of Arts the motivated Ottawa-native is continuing her studies by nose planting right back into the books, this time with another goal: nursing. In addition to being a college town, Halifax boasts snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, an ocean and a seaside town feel. “I live in a reasonable nice townhouse in Dartmouth,” says Anne, noting that since she has to go over a bridge to get to work she opts to take her Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle instead of her skateboard. Yes, I just said a Kawasaki. On her days off, Anne, happily enjoys her days watching her puppy play in the grass from her back-yard porch, snowboarding or building mini quarter pipes with a Pro Girl shop worker. The Pro Girl Shop in Halifax is the only dedicated girl surfer/skater shop in Canada. How awesome is that? Anne continues to explain that so many girls skate in Halifax, and I would absolutely love it if I came. Naturally, I started planning my trip to Happyflax as if the plane was
already booked.
Any skateboarder knows that hills and cops are tough to get around yet the hardcores in the east do ride the daring streets, avoiding cops like grip-tape to rain. “The cops are strict on the helmet law and they won’t let you skate downtown, I usually get away with it though,” says the confident betty, “and, the downtown has lots of steep hills that I do skate, but only when long-boarding with guys who could, like, wave me through the intersections.” Anne who prefers to skate near her campus where steep is kept to a minimum, still enjoys the velocity attached to street surfing. “The streets around my place are awesome for skating, new pavement, lots of hills, and we drive up the hills just to skate down them,” Anne explains. From my flat prairie view I can’t quite understand the attraction of riding hilly streets, for me it seems like an invitation to road rash, but for the Halifax dwellers, steep, speed and skateboards go hand in hand. “I think I will stay here for a while, I did move back out west but I missed it here. The people are great and the lifestyle is good too, it’s nice to be close to the water and bike insurance is really cheap,” she says after I ask if she’ll ever leave Halifax. With awesome ladies like Anne representing in Halifax it’s a sure bet that the tiny eastern city will continue to get us all antsy to go and see it for ourselves. Props to Halifax!
YUMMY THE NOOK
2
O N E G R E AT R ES TAU R A N T.
VIP
N OW T WO G R E AT LO C ATI O NS.
3106 PORTAGE
3106 PORTAGE AVE. WINNIPEG, MB
Nook diner
the
43 SHERBROOK STREET WINNIPEG, MB
Longstoryshort Story by Nathalie COULSON
Photo by Jacquelyn Hébert
The girl finally bought herself a longboard
Last summer while in Vancouver I got the chance to ride a longboard for the first time along the sea wall and that’s when I knew it would be the next board I would buy. The feeling of effortlessly gliding on concrete resonated a similar feeling to being strapped in a snowboard but instead of boots and a tuque, I had kicks and shades. I don’t use my regular skateboard for transportation, simply for the fact that it takes too much effort. Plus, the sidewalks are filled with cracks and rocks that will catapult me off my board and ruin my flow, not to mention my self-esteem.
Typically, you’d think the length is the major difference, but some longboards do size down as a regular skateboard, so probably the most telling components are the wheels. Longboard wheels are softer and bigger making riding faster and smoother and easier. The trucks tend to be wider which allows for big turns or quick short carves. They can either be mounted on the bottom of the deck or in the drop, giving the board a lower stance. The distance between the front trucks and the back trucks is called the wheelbase, which determines how stable you are at high speeds.
I usually ride a bike anyways but like to switch it up sometimes and a longboard seemed like the answer. It wasn’t until I started researching longboards online that I realized how many factors come into play when deciding what board to buy. Buying your first board is a huge step and there are a few decisions to make and details to consider.
The weight of a longboard makes it less suitable for regular skateboards tricks but contribute to a fluid motion. You can also find specific longboards for cruising, downhill, racing or freestyle.
But first let’s start with a little history lesson... As with skateboarding, longboards have their gnarly roots in surfing. Surfers used to put wheels on their surfboards when the waves we’re flat and would mock surfing moves by skimming their hands on the ground, carving fast, walking up and down the board and try to get as much flow as possible. Today’s skateboard evolved from the longboard yet the longboard survived evolution and has become more varied than ever before, not to mention quite trendy. So back to details... First it’s good to know what is a longboard and what makes it so different from its sibling the skateboard. 14
With all this information it can feel like you are going around in circles, so you really have to decide what you’ll be using this board for and what kind of terrain you live in. Or you could do what a friend of mine has done, save yourself 300 bones and build your own. Tasha Vinci is one talented lady; when she sees something, she’ll figure out how to built it. She’s built 6 longboards so far using different kinds of wood and pressing them together using various tools from her dad’s garage thus creating any desirable shape and flex. “Once you make one, you will probably want to make another!” says Vinci, “it’s a trial and error thing, you might want to make the next shorter board, or longer or with less flex…but you will want to make more. And it is a really great feeling riding the board you’ve made.” Also Tasha has learned to make sliding gloves, using garden gloves, a cutting board, a saw, and a blowtorch (youtube!).
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
“ ... as I took her for
my first cruise it was effortless...
She tempted me to build my own, and I did add it to my lingering list of neglected DIY’s projects, but I wanted to buy my first longboard and decided to venture into carving my own different shapes eventually. Back to finding my ride....
”
The use of rubberized RISER PADS reduces surface cracks on your deck
After reading the how-to manual and elaborate history of longboards, I realized I had to make a decision. I surfed the net and wasn’t going to quit ‘till I found her. Once I saw the freestyle board, short enough to strap onto my backpack and equipped with huge lime green wheels, I knew she was the one. Weeks later, on a home-renovation project frustrated and defeated, covered in drywall mud, the doorbell rang. There I saw a large box, I signed and quickly closed the door and plopped myself in the living room. I opened the box and there was my new longboard with lime green wheels. My new skating experience was about to begin. My renovations instantly lost their urgency. As I took her her for my first cruise, it was effortless. I started thinking of tricks I could do with this thing, but understood that it could take some time to get creative with this new toy.
STORING your board in the shed over the winter will warp it
Proper AXLE BOLT tightness will extend bearing life
I do love my regular skateboard but as my bones aren’t getting younger and my bruises take longer to heal, the ease of huge wheels and a longer board are very appealing. Giving up on landing ollies, I simply let the wind blow in my hair, my shoulders loosened up, and I gave one big push and smiled...
ROTATING wheels every couple of months will guartantee an even contact surface
Tricks may get applause... but style gets respect!
15 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
s a t s i t Ska
Photos by Catherine Duguay
I ran into some girls skaters in Florian贸polis and their crew took me in instantly. We went around to many skate parks on the beautiful island.The girls were small in numbers but it felt like a big family. Eu encontrei algumas skatistas em Floripa e a banda delas me aceitou imediatamente. Juntos, n贸s fomos para as pistas de skate dessa ilha maravilhosa. Nao tinha muitas meninas mas sentiu mesmo como uma grande fam铆lia.
16
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Florian贸polis, Brazil
17 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Runaway circus & styling by Niki Trosky Clothing from Ragpickers & stylist’s private collection Photography
20
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
22
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
MODELS:
Sarah Masse Mantin Diabate Jackie Graham & Nathalie Coulson
23 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
24
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
25 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
26
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
27 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
28
thanks
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Special to Glenn & Tyler Owens
29
29
IN THE WAVES WITH THIARA Interviewed by Catherine DUGUAY Photo by Bruno TETTO
Thiara Mandelli rides through motherhood, professional surfing and managing a business and makes it seem like a breeze
30
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
“ ...my girlfriend’s board pierced my eye, got about 10 stitches ”
How did you start to surf, and how old were you? I was 20 years old. I got bored of waiting around in the sand for my boyfriend while he carved through the ocean waves, and so one day I jumped in and joined the fun. Have you always lived by the sea? I moved to the coast in 2004. It was awkward at first, but now I wouldn’t live far from it. What type of board do you use to compete with? A 9.0 ft longboard, longboard is my passion. Describe your style of surf: I like to mix radical manobras with some classics. List the competitions in which you reached the podium: Too many competitions and too many grades! Here are my main titles: TRI-CHAMPION of Paraná State, Brazil (2008-2010), and in the runnings for 2011 CHAMPION of Santa Catarina State, Brazil (2010) Top 8 of the Brazilian Professional circuit (since 2006)
Have you ever been sponsored? Yes, thank God, today I’m sponsored by the city of Curitiba’s legislature, and also by Xtreme Sport Vision, Barth Shoes, Freesurf Wetsuits, Classic Longboards and Water Set equipments. Have you ever gone on a professional tour? I’ve been touring with a pro team since ’06. Describe the best wave: One opening from the right and breaking classically, like we get at Matinhos beach.
Has surfing become second nature or can it be emotionally challenging ? I surf everyday with a lot of pleasure. It’s logic that some days I’m not well, and on those, I prefer not to go out. Where is your favorite spot to surf? Matinhos, Paraná State, Brazil. Have you ever had bad experiences in the waves? Had a couple near drowning experiences in high seas when I didn’t have much experience. My most dramatic accident though, was in a competition. A girlfriend’s board pierced my eye, got about 10 stitches and I had to do a surgery to fix up the esthetics. Do you believe in Iemanjá (the Goddess of the sea)? I used to. Now I’ve turned an Evangelical. When do you surf the most? Generally in the winter. That’s when the currents feed better waves. Describe to us your surfer lifestyle: Well, today we have a surfing family. Busy. I can proudly say that I’m a surfer who is a mother, a wife, a business owner and a student. Damn busy! Do you ever bring your girl with you on your board? In the mousse of shallow waters, I’ve been teaching her to get up by herself. She loves it. Describe how it is to be a mother: A gift from the Divine. Last words? Surf always.... Big hug and keep droppin’ in! Make sure to check out Thiara’s blog at thiaramandelli.blogspot.com
31 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Betty Launch Fall 2010
DJ Dryhump
32
R.S. Modeling Crew
bettyskateboardmagazine.com
DJ Daz
Mike - Green Apple
Launch
[lawnch, lahnch] –verb
To catapult, or release with force, as a self-propelled weapon.
Party
[pahr-tee] –noun
A social gathering of invited guests at a private place for conversation, refreshments & entertainment.
Glenn - bartender
33 bettyskateboardmagazine.com
Leland won’t lie From auto repairs to relationships, there are no questions Leland won’t answer.
S k a t e b o a r d
m a g a z i n e
Betty
bettymagazine@gmail.com Subject : Leland
FF? U T S REE O?
F CERT INF N I W E TO ATE CON
LNIEKED UP TO D
abaret c d i m a pyr Followitter on tw GROUP D I M A E PYR JOIN THCEBOOK ON FA
176 Fort street
www.Pyramid7.com
Wire you in the dark? Electrical contractor G. Owens Electric Glenn Owens Tel. 204-290-8786 gowenselectric@gmail.com
Fifty bones for a business card ad bettymagazine@ gmail.com
36