Letter from Alliance President, CB Burnside:

Today, females make up over a third of all skateboarders - and more girls are starting to skate everyday. The ability level and interest in girls skateboarding is at an all time high. So, not only are more girls skating; they’re skating well and pushing their limits.

Unfortunately, despite this, it is still difficult for most female pros to make skateboarding their sole career. The Alliance has already begun to help change that. By uniting and working together, we have been successful in increasing professional opportunities: In the two short years since the Alliance was formed, we have helped increase prize money and media exposure at the X Games and other major events around the world.

We are also actively working to increase amateur opportunities - initially through planning and producing new events, clinics, camps, and demos for girls across the country.  I believe that as we continue to work together through "one voice," we can take skateboarding to new levels and generate opportunities for future generations in a positive, respectful way.

Please check this site and our sister site: www.actionsportsalliance.com, and contact us if you have any questions or want to learn more about what we are up to and ways that you can get involved.

Sincerely,

Facts...

• More than 3 million women in America skateboard
• 25.3% of all skaters in America are women (and that number is growing!)
• Prize money for women is increasing (thanks in part to the Alliance), but we still have a long way to go (women receive far less than men in many competitions)
• Only 9% (15 athletes) of the 170 participants in Summer X Games 12 were women
• Women rarely have access to prime times or facilities.
• Women rarely (if ever) receive television exposure.

Girls Learn To Ride, "QUESTIONS FOR THE PROS: Cara Beth Burnside - An afternoon with a Living Legend" By Jenny Kim

RJK: Do you think the girls deserve equal exposure to the guys, for example, airing the women's X Games Finals live on television?

CB: Not even necessarily equal time. I mean, we don't get any time! We don't really feel like its ready to be live like the guys. The girls definitely need to have a recap of what went down, especially for the X Games and stuff. I think it could make a really good hour program and make girls in skateboarding look really good. People will be like, whoa. But its just not at that level right now where it should be live. The guys didn't go live until a couple years ago, but they worked up to that level. We cant all of a sudden be shown on TV live.

RJK: Do you mean the level of skill in women's skating is not ready to be seen live compared to the men's more powerful and entertaining skating?

CB: No. I just think if its going to be shown on TV, it needs to show the best of the best right now. Instead of showing some girl bailing or something, just show the best stuff. Exposure creates more girls who skate at a higher level. It sets the standard and progresses the sport.

RJK: What are the goals of the Alliance?

Mimi: We want to be the governing body for girls skateboarding. Just put more structure and a future for girls who are coming up. Only a handful of girls are making it and being able to travel and everything. If we get more structure behind the actual events then we'll be able to have more control to create a better future at the top level. Its a slow process though.

RJK: Its slow, but surely changes are starting to take place.

Mimi: Yeah. Its kind of good things are slowly developing with the Alliance, because I think once it really hits then everything else will hit with it. It will happen at the right time. Were not really rushing into anything. Were starting with the major things first.

CB: Were trying to do things the right way and be respected by the guys in the industry for what were doing.

RJK: What would you like to see in the future?

CB: Hopefully well be able to do one of our own events in the future. Like have a network cover it, like this is our own thing and not feel like a side show. All the prize money and media will be there to support the girls, no one else. Its not that I don't want to do stuff with the guys, I just think they're really going to respect us if we do our own thing too.