A historical moment for women’s skate, Lizzie Armanto took Gold at the debut of skateboard park this past weekend at the X Games, Barcelona. Her first X Games medal and certainly not to be her last, this concrete competitor was the favourite to take the top spot and the pressure didn’t seem to faze her. Throwing solid runs in the bowl, she was an inspiration to watch, making it look easy. We caught up with her straight after her win to ask about her winning ways and her skating in general…

Words by Hannah Bailey, photos by Mahfia

I believe the addition of Women’s Park to the X Games will encourage more women to push the level of skating. Without a goal in mind there’s nothing to work towards!

You just won the first ever X Games gold medal for women’s park, how does that feel?
After winning women’s park, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, mixed with adrenaline, and soreness!

Were you nervous competing in Barcelona?
During the warm up and my first few runs, I was really nervous and a bit shaky.

What were the pressures?
I think the pressure started way before the contest. I really wanted to make my friends and family proud by skating to the best of my ability. The course was rather challenging and limited time we had on the course was cut short due to the weather. Along with that we had to acclimatize to the time difference.

You were a bit of a favourite coming in to the event, having won a lot of park comps last year, what progressed you in to your winning ways?
Just spending lots of time at my local park and skating, whilst having fun. When you watch someone who knows how to skate, sometimes it looks so effortless and so simple, and physically it is. Most of skating is a mental thing and having a good sense of body spatial awareness.

When you watch someone who knows how to skate, sometimes it looks so effortless and so simple, and physically it is. Most of skating is a mental thing and having a good sense of body spatial awareness.

We thought the girls killed it, really inspiring! Why do you think park is a great start to push women’s skate and women’s participation in the X Games?
With the addition of women’s park being in X Games, I believe it will encourage more women to push the level of skating, because they now have a platform to work up to. Without a goal in mind there’s nothing to work towards!

Will they have it in the games next year do you think?
I think so!

How was your trip to Europe overall? Any highlights?
It’s been good, the coffee here is unreal, like the stuff back at home is weak in comparison. I got to check out some of Gaudi’s’ work and its so crazy, he was definitely a madman. Other then that I spent most of my time at the venue at the X Games.

How and when did you start skating?
In 2007 my brother wanted to try skating so I decided to tag along to the park and try it as well. We’re really competitive with each other and once we got to the park, automatically the challenge was who’s going to go down the bank first. Needless to say he doesn’t attempt to compete with me on a skateboard anymore…!

What kept you dropping in and not dropping out?
I enjoyed pushing my limits and working toward learning new tricks and still do.

What’s your favourite spot to skate?
I mostly skate Vans skate park, but I also really like Potrero Del La Sol in San Francisco.

Don’t let your mind stop you and like anything, the more time you put in, the more you get out of it.

What country would you love to go skate in?
I would like to go to Asia and skateboarding is a nice excuse to go.

You live the Cali life, what’s so good about it?
I enjoy being busy whether it’s surfing, skating or getting tea with my friends. And the weather is almost always good!

Where do you hope to take your skate? More X Games Gold’s?
Hopefully make a career out of it while I can, until I find something else that I can find the sense of happiness in…

What have you got planned for the year?
Just a few more contests and hopefully an Asia trip.

Any advice for girls wanting to take up skateboarding?
Don’t let your mind stop you and like anything, the more time you put in, the more you get out of it.

Lizzie skates for Bones, Vans, Independent Trucks, 187 Killer Pads, Santa Monica Airlines, Bro Style, Penny Skateboards and Mahfia.tv