By now you’ve no doubt seen GIZMO, Nike’s first all female skate video, and if you haven’t then pull yourself out from that rock you’ve been under and immerse yourself right here.
After catching up with Sarah Meurle in Paris and spending time in Rio de Janiero with up and comers Lore Bruggeman, Keet Oldenbeuving & Charlotte Hym, our hopes for Nike SB’s pro female team’s first full feature were extremely high, which is why we couldn’t turn down the offer of meeting them all in London in the run-up to the global premiere of GIZMO.
photo: Yentl Touboul
Having barely set foot off the plane, we immediately headed straight to Mile End skatepark, where living legend Elissa Steamer, acting as ringleader, was ensuring the rest of her teammates were stretching accordingly before throwing themselves into banks, bowls and ledges. Once ankles were limber and legs were stretched, the girls proceeded to shred with Elissa setting the tone with a nifty tail slide on the bank, Sarah filming iPhone lines with Nicole and newcomer Hayley Wilson going in with a big front nose up the ledge. I don’t think Mile End’s skatepark has ever seen that many tricks go down before 10:30 in the morning.
Once the locals emerged and overcrowded the spot, the girls decided to switch skating for go-karting across the way, in which Leticia Bufoni’s competitive side was on full display, winning both races albeit with a warning/penalty from the staff for being a tad too aggressive on her corners.
photo: Marcel Veldman
Nevertheless watching the team hang out for the rest of the day, highlighted the camaraderie built over 18 months of embarking on trips filming for the video together. By the time the sun began to set on a rooftop bar in East London, and the team were introduced in front of the big screen, the crowd could barely contain their excitement. As the video began for its first ever screening, it was clear to see the girls emotions go from anxious to relief to pure joy, as they witnessed the finished result of a moment they perhaps never thought was possible when they first stepped foot on a skateboard all those years ago.
photo: Yentl Touboul
Amongst all of this we were fortunate enough to sit down with Elissa, Nicole & Sarah as well as the man behind the filming it all, Jason Hernandez, to discuss team dynamics, the pressure of getting clips and what this means for the future of women skateboarding.
Dive in the latest episode of Not Here by Luck, our new series produced with our friends at Nike SB, in which we celebrate the unique individuals, initiatives & events that shapes women skateboarding today.
photo: Marcel Veldman
