We recently connected with Elizabeth Vega and have shared our conversation below.

Elizabeth , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope when I’m gone, people remember me as a positive light in their life. Someone who would go out of their way to make the new kid feel welcomed. Someone who was not afraid to be raw and vulnerable with her emotions even in the face of rejection. I hope people remember me for my loud laugh and crazy dance moves. I hope I can influence people to move with love and gratuity, and understanding. To remember that it’s always better to give than to receive. I hope I can inspire people to not be ashamed of their failures but to know that it’s all a part of the journey. I learned that last one through skateboarding & I think skateboarding in general teaches far beyond what you see in the bowl. I hope I can inspire little girls everywhere to pick up a skateboard, to be fearless amidst judgment, and to try new things outside their comfort zone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Ever since I was a teenager I remember having an affinity for skateboarding but never truly believing I could be one of those people I see on instagram landing sick tricks and pumping through big pools. That dream seemed far fetched, especially since I wasn’t allowed to skateboard regularly. My grandpa gave me my first skateboard after finding a broken down board in his yard and asking him to play with it. My dad and I spray painted my name and a girl neff logo to the back of the deck. Skateparks were still off limit though. There were too many men and not enough women there unfortunately. I remember My parents didn’t want me to get hurt or ran over by a car. All very valid reasons lol. I got to an age ( 17/18) where I would beg to go to the skatepark just so I could show up and be super nervous to even get out the car. Thoughts like “you’re not good enough” “ you don’t belong here” “you don’t even know what you’re doing” “ people are going to think ur a poser” the list goes on honestly….self limiting beliefs that I had to deconstruct purposefully and with intention. I kept showing up though, even if I didn’t make it out the car, I would watch those skaters for hours wondering “how they just did that with their board” studying their movements and thinking how cool they looked and how good it must’ve felt to land those tricks. I practiced positive self talk, telling myself “you got this Liz” & “everyone started somewhere”. Something about being the only girl at the skatepark just makes you feel like all eyes are on you when you pull up by yourself. To my surprise, people were nice to me, helpful even. The skate community taught me how to be a better skater and assured me that with practice I could one day pump in a pool. I really never thought that in the future I would be able to skate everyday and overcome those self limiting beliefs that hindered me from entering the park. I never thought that one day I would be good enough to train other girls who maybe had similar experiences to me. Today I am able to give beginner skate lessons to friends and family and the joy I get from seeing these little girls faces’ light up when they land something they’ve been working so hard on, is just immeasurable! I created a brand called skate like a lady, crash like a boss, to remind all the girls and guys out there, that in skateboarding, wipeouts and crashes are inevitable, but through persistence and belief in yourself, us ladies are capable of anything we put our mind to.

My products are available in the link in my bio. I have stickers, shirts, phone cases, tapestries, tote bags, and a lot more sick skater chick goodies!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I decided to grow my social media presence on instagram as a skater because I needed to be fully engulfed with the skate community in order to grow as a skater. I wanted to make friends who also enjoyed skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. I wanted to inspire beginner skateboarders and show them that it’s possible. I incorporate my entire skateboarding journey on my instagram and show the wins and fails. I try to show the whole process of learning and let people know that it’s not always a straight line. That the skater you see today in front of you didn’t just come out the womb s great skater, that hard work and determination, & a passion for skating led to this. I think this is inspiring because it gives people hope that if they put the work in, progress is inevitable. I would advice people who want to build their ig, to know your why, your reason and not forgot it through the journey. Also don’t listen to the haters! lol

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I hope one day I can create designs for skateboard decks and give them out to kids at the skatepark!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/59697289-skate-like-a-lady-crash-like-a-boss-skateboarding-
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizsaskatergirl/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Other: Link tree:

  https://linktr.ee/lizzsaskatergirl?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=f9d37c1f-a509-4321-90c8-ccbf0998800c

Image Credits

Couldn’t add pictures in here for some reason?