Elissa Steamer was born in Fort Myers, Florida, on July 31, 1975. As a young girl, Elissa developed a liking for skateboarding. Her appreciation soon became a passion as she began practicing the sport, learning new tricks, and developing proficiency on the board.
In the skate park where she practiced, she was often the only girl in a large group of boys. She honed her skills and got a reputation for being aggressive on the board and performing tricks bravely. She is widely regarded as one of history’s most influential and successful female skateboarders.
At the age of 18, Elissa Steamer moved to San Francisco. She continued to work on skateboarding and established a name for herself, and made her talent known. She was soon sponsored by the iconic skateboard brand Toy Machine and began competing in major skateboarding competitions worldwide.
In 1998, Elissa Steamer became the first woman to appear in a video game with the release of the popular skateboarding game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Elissa Steamer continued to push the boundaries of women’s skateboarding. She was known for her signature move, the backside 180 ollie, which involves jumping and spinning the skateboard 180 degrees in the air.
She also made history in 2001 when she became the first woman to win a major skateboarding competition, the X Games.
As a pioneer in skateboarding for women, Steamer faced significant backlash from fellow skateboarders, fans, and society. The discrimination and obstacles she faced were huge, but she overcame those successfully. Her perseverance inspired generations of women who delved into the sport of skateboarding and made a name for themselves.
In 2003, she was featured in the groundbreaking documentary “On Video Skateboarding,” showcasing her incredible talent and resilience. Moreover, she encouraged and propagated a feminist subculture called the Riot Grrl Movement in the 1990s. This movement advocated for and supported androgyny in skateboarding.
She was the first female skateboarder to have her signature shoe, the Elissa, which the skateboarding brand Emerica released in 2001. Her success has been ongoing since she launched the sport.
In 2018, she was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame, making her an even bigger flagbearer of the emergence of women in skateboarding. She continues to inspire young girls and women and has been vocal about them.
She advocated for gender equality in sports and worked with organizations such as Skate Like, a Girl to empower young girls and women through skateboarding.
Elissa Steamer has been a trailblazer in the world of skateboarding. Her incredible talent, determination, and fearless spirit have inspired countless young girls and women worldwide to pursue their dreams and break down barriers in the male-dominated world of sports.
Her legacy as one of the most influential female skateboarders is secure. Her impact on skateboarding culture and fashion will continue to be felt for generations.
I’m an aged skateboarder and I still shred responsibly. I started skateboarding 25 years ago but also love surfing, snowboarding, or anything that involves a board.