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Mikayla Sheppard – Juice Magazine State of Skate Interview

Name: Mikayla Sheppard
Hometown: Anaheim, California
Age: 17
Sponsors: Anaheim Skateboards, Active Orange, Kogi Bbq.

What set-up are you riding right now? Board, trucks, wheels, grip, hardware…
I’m riding an Anaheim deck with Independent Trucks, OJ Wheels, Bones Super Swiss Bearings, Mob Grip and just plain hardware.

What’s the most fun skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
I’d have to say Salamander Ranch. It’s a super sick big DIY.

Have you ever built something to skate?
I’ve helped make a quarter pipe, but it didn’t come out well. Haha.

Who do you like to skate with the most these days?
I like skating with my boyfriend, Tristan, and my brother, Erik. They’re really fun to skate with because they both have a good energy to get you hyped.

Best skate graphic you’ve seen lately?
Scum has really funny skate graphics. Their graphics are for sure the coolest I’ve seen.

Best thing you’ve skated in a skatepark?
I really haven’t skated many skateparks lately, but I’d have to say Cardiff bowl in Encinitas. The tranny is great and the pool coping is really smooth.

Favorite skateboarders of all time?
My favorite skateboarders would be Chris Russell and Chris Miller.

Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
There’s a new skatepark idea that’s supposed to be in Anaheim and it has a pork chop pool designed to be in it that I’m looking forward to. It’s a replica of a backyard pool in Anaheim.

Best road trip you ever took?
I went on a road trip with some friends up to San Francisco to go to Chili Bowl. It was a sick contest seeing all the gnarliest skaters skate one bowl.

Are there any skate-related charities that you support?
Right now I’ve been doing photos for Active Ride Shop because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month so, if you purchase their pink shop board, they give back 2$ to BBC (Boarding For Breast Cancer) to help those in need.

What music have you been listening to lately?
The Smiths!

What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
I’d think sending in clips and photos are really important if you’re pro because whoever has you pro wants to know if you’re out there representing them.

Which skate shops do you support and go to the most?
I was supporting my dad’s skate shop called Vicinity, but some lame ass broke in and took all our stuff and we couldn’t come back from it. Lately, I’ve been supporting Active because they’ve been doing a lot for me.

Favorite skate photo of all time?
I have so many, but my back disaster photos always turn out the best.

What is your take on girls skateboarding?
I’m a girl, but girl skating feels like some competitive soccer team. They’re all really competitive and only care about contests and being better than you instead of just being hyped for one another. I got really tired of the girls and their parents talking shit, so I went out of the contest scene and have just been doing my own thing skating backyard pools and having a lot of fun.

What skateboarding memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
My Girls Combi Pool first place trophy means a lot to me because I worked my butt off to get that.

Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
Anaheim Mark Z.!

Top three favorite skate tricks?
BS ollies are really fun, back disasters and front smiths.

Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
No. I do not think skating should be in the Olympics! That woud mean skating is a sport, which it’s not!

What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
I’m proudest of just sticking up for myself when other skaters tried putting me down over something they’re jealous of and shouldn’t care about.

mikalya_sheppard-Ken_Hada
MIKAYLA IS JUST BADASS. SHE SKATES FAST AND BETTER THAN MOST. PHOTO BY KEN HADA

 

ABOUT THE JUICE MAGAZINE STATE OF SKATE:

When we started Juice Magazine 22 years ago, you could count the number of skateparks on one hand and grindable pool coping was mostly a distant memory. Now there are thousands of skateparks all over the world, along with a vast quantity of DIY spots built to skate. In 1993, the majority of skateboarders listened to punk rock or hip hop exclusively. Now skateboarders listen to almost every kind of sound created. Two decades ago, skateboarding related charities were non-existent. Today, there are numerous non-profits giving back to skateboarding in many ways. One of the most important differences between now and then is that, 22 years ago, there was a clear division between old school and new school skateboarding. Now that wall of separation has followed the same path as the Berlin Wall, allowing for an unprecedented unification of skateboarders all over the globe. Great strides have been made for girls that skate as well as the acceptance of skate history and long overdue recognition for skateboarding’s pioneers and its artifacts. At the same time, the current generation of skateboarders is taking skateboarding to new heights, previously unimaginable. As the landscape of the skateboarding industry changes on a daily basis, and the topic of skateboarding in the Olympics rears its head once again, along with the disturbing subject of who controls skateboarding being tossed about by corporate entities, we decided it was time to take a good look at the State of Skate. We asked 20 questions to 100 skateboarders, ages 8 to 58, and found that skateboarding is as diverse as the skateboarders that are addicted to it, no one controls skateboarding except skateboarders, and the State of Skate is savage and strong. Now get out there and skate tough!

JUICE MAGAZINE STATE OF SKATE features interviews with 100 skateboarders including: Tony Alva, Dave Hackett, Chris Strople, Duane Peters, Steve Olson, Dave Duncan, Steve Alba, Tony Magnusson, Pat Black, Jesse Martinez, Bill Danforth, Jim Murphy, Ric Widenor, Lester Kasai, Glen Charnoski, Bryan Pennington, Peter Furnee, Jeremiah Risk, Ryan Smith, Jason Jessee, Omar Hassan, Cam Dowse, Jen O’Brien, Depth Leviathan Dweller, Brett Roper, Travis Beattie, Chris Gentry, CW Dunn, Chris Albright, Charlie Wilkins, Cairo Foster, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, BJ Morrill, Dr. Lenore L.A. Sparks, Sid Melvin, Jesse Irish, Packy Fancher, Greg Lutzka, Jimmy Larsen, Adam Dyet, Luis Tolentino, Greg Harbour, Frank Faria, Ryan DeCenzo, Dave Bachinsky, Johnny Turgesen, Casey Meyer, Edward Sanchez, David Gravette, Ben Hatchell, Brian Geib, Felipe Gouveia, Eric Santos, Kyle Smith, Cameron Revier, Josh Stafford, Justin Grubbs, Etienne Eden Archila, Sanzio Piacentini, Josh Elder, Eddie “Mighty” Moreno, Kevin Kowalski, Otto Pflanz, Jeremy Smith, Adam Wiggins, Jimmy Wilkins, Danny Gordon, Jake Hilbish, Corey Blanchette, Adam Legassie, Nick Santos, Trey Rounds, Curren Caples, Justyce Tabor, Andy Anderson, Sarah Thompson, Coral Guerrero, Collin Graham, Derek Scott, Ace Pelka, Sonny Rodriguez, Jarren Duke, Mikayla Sheppard, CJ Titus, Noah Schott, Emily Earring, Julian Torres, Wyatt Wisenbaker, Josh Forsberg, Nathan Midgette, Roman Pabich, Yago Dominguez, Jack Winburn, Jonas Carlsson, Kiko Francisco, Bryce Ava Wettstein, Desmond Shepherd, Matty Jessee and Luke Kahler.

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, ORDER ISSUE #74 BY CLICKING HERE…

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