Following on from last weeks introductions, here’s the low-down on the other six riders involved:
HILARY PEARCE (AUSTRALIA) Hilary was one of the founders of the original Skullz Girls Crew – one of the first dedicated skateboarding websites for women set up in the late 90’s. The focus was to showcase female riders through online videos and introduce women from around the world to each other on skate chat forums. Her early days as a renowned street skater saw Hilary organize one of the first ever skate tours to Shanghai, a city described as a ‘marble heaven’. These days her skating veers more towards bowls and transition.
SARAH MEURLE (SWEDEN) – As well as being a gifted photographer and illustrator Sarah literally eats and breathes skateboarding and is commonly referred to as the Swedish girl who rips. She attended a special high school in Malmo where she could study media and skateboarding. In 2008 Sarah was awarded the Svenska Skateboarding Female of the Year and took first place in the Millencolin Open. She has appeared in TV commercials and was featured in an article by European skate magazine Kingpin, entitled ‘Female Roll Model.’
CANDY JACOBS (NEDERLANDS) – This Dutch rider is known for her strong determined style and the fact she’ll hit up everything and anything. Candy has been aptly described as turning into the skateboard-monster as soon as she sets foot on her board. She climbed the international ladder quite rapidly after placing consistently in various International competitions. When not riding Candy spends her time studying to be a social pedagogic worker – a discipline concerned with theory and practice of holistic education and care.
GEORGINA MATTHEWS (NEW ZEALAND) – Also known as “Little Hori” – Maori for Georgina. For almost a decade she represented the NZ Globe team and associated labels. She works closely with the South Pacific skateboarding industry as brands manager and sales rep for Globe footwear and many of the major hardware labels. Until 2010, Georgina was also team manager for the NZ Globe skate team.
ELIANA SOSCO (BRAZIL) – Although based in Saõ Paulo, Eliana spends several months a year travelling to compete in all the major competitions (Maloof, X Games). She has appeared on the front cover of the main Brazilian Skate Magazine – Tribo and is an ambassador for the Poseiden Foundation for whom she helps teach under privileged and orphaned children how to skateboard. Her aim is to help the progression of the Brazilian skateboarding movement and further promote the sport to women.
KIM WIBBELT (GERMANY) – Berlin based rider Kim Wibbelt is a skateboarder, actor and model also known as Kim Possibles. It was at the age of 14 when she first picked up a board and within 6 months was riding for her first sponsor – Titus Muenster Team. She has since competed all over the world. In 2010 Kim traveled to New York to film for a section for Rockstar Bearings’ – ‘America Eats it Young’ a skate film made to promote some of skate boarding’s fiercest upstarts.
