10 year old Minna Stess has been skateboarding since she was 2 years old. She is from Petaluma, California and even though she in only 10, Minna is already sponsored by some of the biggest names in Skating. Minna is a competition skater, and one of her recent competitions, the Exposure Skate Event, Minna competed in the Street, Vert, and Bowl competitions. She placed in the top 4 of all events, with a 4th place in Street, 3rd place in Vert, and 1st place in Bowl. Minna was also recently featured in two photograph books, which is an especially cool because of Minna’s love of photography.
Name: Minna Stess
Age: 10
Home Town: Petaluma, California
Sport: Skateboarding
Sponsors: Independent Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards, Girl Is Not A 4 Letter Word, Sonoma Old School Skateshop, Vans and 187 Killer Pads
IG: @minnask8
Hobbies: learning photography and magic
Interview with Minna
Georgia: What age where you when you first started Skateboarding?
Minna: I was almost 2 years old and in diapers.
Georgia: What was it like when you did your first competition?
Minna: I did my first contest in Hawaii and I was 4. I wanted to do my first contest when I was almost 3 but my parents wouldn’t let me. I was so mad! They were right though, I was too tiny in a skatepark full of much bigger teens and all.
Georgia: How did you get interested in skateboarding?
Minna: My big brother Finnley is obsessed with skating so I pretty much just grew up with it. Going to skateparks or just watching it on TV. He started skating at 4 and I just followed him around at all the skateparks. He’s awesome.
Georgia: How often do you practice?
Minna: I don’t know really, I try to skate every day after school but sometimes it doesn’t fit in the day or the weather is rainy and wet. I can skate home from school when the weather gets nicer so that will be almost every day. For now though, I guess at least 4 days a week. I also train in the gym twice a week.
Georgia: Have you ever thought about doing any other sports?
Minna: Sure, I play basketball and soccer at school with my friends and I used to play in a soccer league for a few years and I did Little League too.
Georgia: Do you have a type of favorite skateboard?
Minna: I do! I am totally thankful that I have the support from all my sponsors. I ride for Independent Trucks & Santa Cruz Skateboards, Girl is Not a 4 Letter Word, Vans and 187 Killer Pads keep me protected and stylish. My skate shop Sonoma Old School has been behind me and my brother for years now. They are all family and they keep me well stocked! I am really grateful for all of them believing in me, they make me feel like I can do anything.
Georgia: What was the first trick you learned? How old were you?
Minna: I guess my first trick I learned was a rock to fakie and I was 4.
Georgia: What is your favorite trick?
Minna: I have new favorites all the time because the more you learn the more fun you have but my longtime favorite has been the Switch Blunt, I learned them when I was 7 and I just love them.
Georgia: What do you like to do when you’re not skateboarding?
Minna: I love to hang out with my friends, jumping on trampolines, learn magic tricks, play with my dog and I love going to the movies.
Check out these Great books that Minna has recently been featured in.
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