If you grew up in California in the late noughties, you’re likely to be a pretty good skater with a pretty good tan. In fact, with world-class parks on your doorstep and the sun out 284 days of the year, there’s no excuse not to be. But inspired by the 90s skate high, when East coast skating was booming, Love park was the place to be. Although pros such as Koston, Reynolds, Muska and Penny were set the bar, today, it’s not just the Californian natives who are chasing the sun on their boards. It’s a new world out there for a pro-skater, with a bigger mainstream audience than ever before as a result of the competitive skateboard circuit, the assimilation of skate brands like Palace and Supreme to mainstream culture, and the unstoppable rise of social media. Things have also moved West now, with a new breed of bronzed shredders stealing the spotlight and owning the social media game; a game which their generation is the best at. Born in the mid to late 90’s, with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers to their @ names and each with a style of their own, these are the hottest young skaters who are capturing our attention right now.
Curren Caples
At only 19-years-old Curren Caples (he’s named after the infamous surfer Tom Curren), has already planted his name in the history books. Not for surfing but for skating — although, his sea bleached, tousled tresses fit in more with the waves than the concrete. Although skating for over ten years, he only turned pro two years ago, with the release of a banging video for Flip. Curren’s skills on transition have earned him multiple X Games park medals including a gold in Munich, but he is also known for his massive airs, street skating and… of course, those luscious blond locks.
Evan Smith
Born in the hot and humid state of Florida, Evan Smith had already caught the eye of big brands by the time he was 16, turning down sponsorship offers so he could concentrate on his skating. He may be on the older side of the list, but this sensible skater only turned pro in 2013, which he celebrated in a film for Element, The Evan Smith Experience. Fast-forward two years and he has become one of the crowd favourites at Street League thanks to his creative use of the course, massive aerial maneuvers and 540’s. Putting creativeness over competitiveness hasn’t won him the comps but has won him fans. You will most likely see Evan decked out in a bleached tee and ripped chinos, his first pro shoe with sponsor DC Shoes on his feet (released soon), his messy locks pushed back to see the skate ahead, and either an analogue camera or guitar in his hand.
Elijah Berle
At 16-years-old, Elijah Berle caught the attention of the skate world when, at his first appearance, he won the Tampa Am. He had just scored Chocolate and Vans as sponsors and was still only a young rookie when he appeared in Girl/Chocolate Skateboards’, Pretty Sweet, a good place to start. Also known for nosegrinding the Hollywood High infamous rail first try to win $100.
Lizzie Armanto
Lizzie is a legend already and she’s only 22. A native of Santa Monica, California, where she still resides, she took up skating back in 2007, and has since gone on to become one of the most prolific and dominant forces on the women’s scene. She is one of world’s best female bowl and vert skaters, winning her first pro comp three years after taking up skating. She took the Gold medal at the first women’s Park X Games in Barcelona back in 2013, and went on to win the Vans US Open two years in a row. This summer she was the only woman invited on Tony Hawk’s Birdhouse tour, taking her handplants all over Europe and proving, as she went, to be a crowd favorite. Always looking stylish on her board, decked up in Vans gear and rocking some perfectly dip-dyed blue locks, or whatever color they may now be…
Nassim Guammaz
The first thing you notice about Nassim Guammaz is his hair. Well, either that or his super cruisey skating, both of which combine for the ultimate skate style. The higher he pops, the more it bounces. The young Dutch skateboarder of Moroccan descent blew onto the scene in 2010 in Element Europe’s full length Euro feature Get Busy Living and has gone on to forge an enviable skate career, one that he had set his sights at aged 11. The realistic and proactive young skater joins in the competitive circuit, but at heart sees himself as a creative skater, which comes across in the way he skates both street and park.
Sage Elsesser
Born in LA, Sage Elsesser is part of the Supreme and Fucking Awesome skate crews. Back when he was a relatively young skater, he blew into the spotlight thanks to Supreme’s first video, Cherry. Some would consider him the face of the next generation of skating, one that isn’t afraid to question the stereotype of skaters’ clothing and taste in music. Supreme’s following has crossed the line to become icons of street style and culture, with a mainstream fame and following. Propelling skaters into style icon territory, his bucket hat and Chuck Taylor combo now a staple on the streets.
Riley Hawk
The 22-year-old son of, yes, you guessed it, Tony Hawk, is rolling in his dad’s footsteps by forging a career in skateboarding. Although not quite like father, like son, Riley takes his skating to the streets rather than the vert ramp, which his dad is a little bit famous for. On his 21st birthday he turned pro for Baker and won Skateboard Mag’s best am award. Also known for his long blond rocker locks, Riley has created his own style, so much that his dad says he isn’t recognized for being his son but for being one of the best skaters out there.
Allysha Bergado
Allysha is often overshadowed by her BFF and skate partner in crime, Lizzie Armanto, but there is no denying that she is as skilled on a board than her counterpart. Proving it at the most recent Vans US Open where she took out the competition, which included all the best female transitional skaters in the world, and placed number one. At 12-years-old, she was already competing at the X Games in Vert, which is an amazing feat when you look at the size of the ramp versus her. What the now 20-year-old lacks in height in every day life, she makes up for in the bowl, the pint sized skater turned pro this year with Hoopla.
Ben Nordberg
Straight off the catwalk and into the skatepark, the Brit gave up the rain when he got the call from Flip, to pack his bags and move to Cali. In the sunny state he spends time skating with fellow Flip riders Curren Caples and Louie Lopez, fitting in perfectly. He is known to wear the same plain colored tees even when ripped to shreds and most often sports a lightweight hoodie or long sleeved jumper with headphones in whilst he carves for maximum chilled skate vibes. Watching this guy skate, is like watching art. When he’s not skating for the day job, Nordberg is signed to Next model management in LA.
Leticia Bufoni
First lady of the Nike skate team, Leticia is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of the non Californians on the list, she now lives in… California and has done since her dad let her stay aged 11. Last year she was named third in ESPN’s Top 50 Women in Action Sports, the first time a skater ranked so high. She was also the first female to appear on the cover of The Skateboard Mag and has so many contest wins to her name we wouldn’t know where to start. The bandana-wearing skater may be reluctant to be a female pioneer, avoiding questions around it and skating with the boys, but she is an important figure of the scene, pushing it for all ladies out there.
Credits
Text Hannah Bailey
Photography Kazmira Krawchuk