ENCINITAS — Top female skateboarders will put their skills on display as EXPOSURE: A women’s benefit event, returns for a third year to the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, 200 Saxony Road.
The Nov. 8 event has the mission of promoting and progressing women’s skating as well as raising awareness for domestic violence. The event runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and admission is free for spectators. To register for the free clinics, skate competitions, visit exposureskate.org.
The day is highlighted by professional and amateur competitions such as the Urban Remedy Bowl Bash and the PTA Vert Competition. In addition, attendees can participate in free, all-ages/abilities Learn-to-Skate with XS and Sambazon Yoga clinics. EXPOSURE also features a vendor village, an autograph-signing session, opportunity drawings and a silent auction.
Past skaters have included Lizzie Armanto, Allysha Bergado, Amelia Brodka, Karen Jonz, Mimi Knoop, Julz Lynn, Gaby Ponce, Alana Smith and Nora Vasconcellos.
Recently renovated, the 37,000-square-foot skate park is home to the 2003 X Games vert ramp and has seen its fair share of pros come through, including locals Tony Hawk and Shaun White. History was made at EXPOSURE 2012 as Alana Smith, the youngest-ever X Games medalist, became the first female to land a McTwist (inverted 540 spin) in competition. Lizzie Armanto is a two-time Pro Vert winner and will be gunning for a three-peat this year. On the amateur side, Arianna Carmona has been topping the vert and bowl fields in 2012 and 2013. She’ll be moving up to the Pro division this year.
EXPOSURE will once again partner with and donate a portion of its proceeds to Carol’s House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence run by Community Resource Center in Encinitas.
“With a large gap in government funding for domestic violence programs in San Diego this year, we couldn’t be more appreciative and thankful for the event,” said Paul B. Thompson, chief executive officer of Community Resource Center.
Pro skater Mike McGill, inventor of the McTwist, has committed to judging this year, along with Aaron Astorga, Adrian Demain and Jean Rusen. As always, Dave Duncan will be calling all of the action.
New this year, EXPOSURE will collaborate with Tony Hawk’s RIDE Channel to produce a video recap of the event.