NIKITA NATION
NIKITA CLOTHING #FORGIRLSWHORIDE WITH Marisa Garcia
Our spotlight this month is settling on Marisa Garcia; a video-game loving, sewing-machine operating, kitty cat holding, skateboarding creative who quietly slays everything she takes on. With old skool style and new skool attitude, this Texas native is an anomaly we can't get enough of.
What’s your name and where are you from? Where do you live now?
I was born in San Antonio, Texas and I now reside in Austin!
When did you start skateboarding and how did you get into it?
I started skating in 2013 around April! I got into skateboarding in college when I realized a skate park was 5 minutes away from campus. I had always wanted to skateboard growing up but never had the opportunity, support, or ideal situation for it. As hard as I tried, skateboarding was not an option for me when I was younger, so I made it my opportunity after being in college for a few years and summoning up the courage to actually go to the park with borrowed boards and friends that knew how to skate.
Why have you stuck with it? What hooked you?
I’ve wanted to skateboard my whole life and within these last couple years, I finally had the opportunity to; it brings about an unexplainable happiness and I can’t imagine a life without skating. There are a lot more reasons, some obvious and some more personal but in short, skateboarding lit a fire within me that nothing else compared to. I’ve hurt myself skating in ways that will leave me in pain for the rest of my life, but I’ve never for a moment questioned why I keep skating. I just step on my board, forget about everything, and let that inner fire and passion take me to places I never thought possible.
You’re passionate about other things too- what are they?
I love drawing and painting a lot! It’s another form of creativity and skateboarding has actually really inspired a lot of the art that I make. I’m also pretty passionate about playing video games! Whether it’s on my consoles at home or in the arcade, games are a great stress reliever and of course, super fun. Fight games are some of my favorites; if I could, I would buy the Killer Instinct II arcade game/cabinet from the main arcade I frequent!
When did you start making art?
I’ve been making art since I was little, but as far as the art that I make now, I started that when I also started skating. Growing up, I drew some skateboarding art (since that was as close to skateboarding as I could get) but I mostly drew comics and little anime characters. In 2014, I started making the art that I do now; definitely adopted a darker twist on things along with my main ghoul guy that I always draw as well.
What’s your favorite thing to draw right now?
Ghouls! I really love making little creepy monsters with tons of eyes, skeleton or muscle bodies, and goopy features. Dark style has a lot of possibilities when drawing and you can get inspiration from so many different things.
What are your favorite mediums to work with?
Ink and watercolor! I absolutely love mixing harsh, black lines with vivid watercolors.
Does your art tie into your skateboarding? Or vice-versa? Do you think they’re connected?
Oh absolutely! I tend to draw people that inspire me or skate spots that that scare me. Sometimes painting what I’m scared of actually helps my skating; it makes it less scary and more approachable like the art in front of me. Skateboarding is an art and art requires creativity; the two involve an “outside of the box” approach to get to a desired final outcome, so they are most definitely connected and go hand in hand in my opinion!
What’s something you love about the Texas skate scene that we don’t know?
The support that is given in the Texas scene is unbelievable. Everyone has so much talent and passion in how they skate and they love to share the happiness skating brings with others. There will always be people that are sticks in the mud, but I can proudly say that in Texas, all of the awesome experiences and rad people that I’ve met have helped encourage everyone and also helped get me to where I am today. We have a huge network of skaters that are also just amazing individuals; friends are everywhere and Texas skaters just want to shred and get stoked!
What’s your favorite trick right now?
Oh gosh that’s a hard one! I’d have to say on vert it’s backside airs and in bowls it’s front smiths and monty grinds/back smiths!
What’s your favorite piece from the Nikita FW1718 collection?
It’s so hard to choose, but my favorite piece is still the Starward Jacket! Texas is finally cooling off and I love the jacket because it’s warm, fashionable, and the hood reminds me of Assassins Creed. Design lines and fabric make this jacket a staple piece that will never go out of style. I feel like a badass video game character in it and just love wearing this jacket!
Who do you ride with regularly? Who’s your crew?
I skate with so many people but my main crew is my boyfriend and my vert friends! We all love skating the vert ramp together as well as some of the other gnarly parks in Texas. A lot of us share the same interests as well so after skating we go to the arcade or to shows! In Austin, we also have an all girls crew called Rip Riot and I love skating and getting inspired by those ladies!
Who do you look up to and who inspires you?
Nora Vasconcellos inspires me so much! She’s my favorite skater and absolutely shreds; not to mention seeing her go pro on Welcome was a huge deal. It’s hard not to get inspired by someone like her! In addition to that, Darren Navarette is another huge inspiration in my skating; he skates vert like a mad man and his style is something I definitely look up to. My friend Sandy Peraza is also a huge inspiration to me not only in her shredding, but in her art as well! She is a true skateboarder and an amazing artist that has her very own style. She might be a thousand miles away from me, but she keeps me stoked even from states away!
What are you working on right now (in skating, in life, in general- whatever!)?
I’m currently working on some denim apparel designs specifically made for skating and a few wedding dress designs as well for some of my friends that might potentially be tying the knot in the next few years! Besides trying to draw as often as I can and move some skate tricks up to vert, I’m pretty much enjoying life and taking each day as it comes! Oh and beating Zelda Breath of the Wild! I don’t even want to look at how many hours I’ve put into exploring every corner and mountain in that game!
Suck My Trucks 2017 Nikita Clothing Spottour
It's all about the attitude. p. Nika Kramer
Suck My Trucks has been putting on events for girls who ride for a few years now, and only growing in popularity. When a event like this has been going on for a few years and only getting bigger, chances are someone out there created something that the people are loving.
A look back at Suck My Trucks 2015- year after year, it just gets better. p. Nika Kramer
That 100% is the case with Suck My Trucks in Germany, with their latest event, a Spottour Event- where they put on a street and bowl skateboarding contest just for girls, with prizes like a year-long product sponsorship from Nikita Clothing (that's us!), plus some cash and tons of other great prizes.
The girls showed up and made it known that they were there to ride their hearts out; landing tricks, laughing and trading new song lyrics they made up along the way.
Take a look for yourself and see just how fun the Suck My Trucks 2017 Nikita Clothing Spottour event was this year!
Nikita Clothing's GWR Playlist with Janthavy Norton
Elements of sun, sand & sun tan lotion come to mind when skipping through tracks from The Growlers, ODESZA & Mac Demarco in this latest For Girls Who Ride Spotify Playlist from @janthavy.
Enjoy!
Nikita Clothing #ForGirlsWhoRide with Janthavy Norton
Images - Nikki Hand
We just checked the weather for Phoenix, and it says 105°F all week long- how are you coping with this summer heat?!
How old were you when you started skating? What’s changed about your motivations to ride since then? And also- what was your first board?
How does your riding style affect what you wear on a board?
What’s your favorite piece from the current Nikita SS17 collection?
*EXTRA* - What’s your current fav trick to work on? Or dream spot to ride!
My favorite trick to work on right now is probably front smith grinds. They are so steezy, and it feels so good but I’m trying to a longer grind. My dream spot to ride is probably Mammoth, Burnside, or Kona.
Hot Curbs and Cool Pools Photo and Video Recap
Photos - Max Thaler
Video/Edit - Julian Pfretzschner
The day was hot, the curbs were too, and if there was a pool full of water there- it would've been cool. Suffice it to say, the event that went off on July 22nd was everything it promised to be, and more.
Girls got together and skated for fun and for prizes, with the top ladies walking away with some $$$ to support their talents!
Trend forecast: Tutus and leis?
The judges never missed a move-
And everyone left a winner!
Thanks again to all the girls that showed up for the Hot Curbs and Cool Pools Girls Jam. You all ripped, and we had such a blast hanging out with you. Big thanks to the organizers and all the other sponsors; Skateboarding München. e.V, Gorilla, who came together to make this event happen.
We can't wait to get back on our boards!
Hot Curbs and Cool Pools Girls Jam with Nikita!
Kicking off this weekend July 22nd and 23rd- the Hot Curbs and Cool Pools Girls Jam is about to go down in Munich!
With contests for all ages and abilites; prizes, food and more- this is going to be an event you won't want to miss, so be sure to RSVP on the Facebook Event now.
See below for more info from Skateboarding Munchen! See you this weekend- Saturday and Sunday 🔥🌴 #forgirlswhoride
Nikita Recommends: Five Summer Road Trip Reads
The summer sun precipitates our inner adventurer, and with it, a lightened workload. For the students out there, summer means closing the textbooks and finishing the novels we’ve picked up over and over again. For the worker bees, summer reads accompany us on the road as we take well deserved vacations and venture to the spots we’ve been meaning to explore.
Whether you’re roadtripping, traveling by plane, or just hanging around this summer, here are five books you won’t regret adding to your list of “must reads”.
1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing is by no means a “light summer read”, but one you won’t regret picking up. This novel examines 300 years of history in Ghana while still bringing the impact of that history to present day. Following the fate of two sisters, one sold into the slave trade by the British Empire, the other married into wealth and prosperity, author, Yaa Gyasi, succinctly and beautifully portrays how history is never really history.
2. I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan
I Almost Forgot About You is your classic summer read, indulgent and fun. This novel follows the story of Dr. Georgia Young as she escapes the seemingly perfect life she’s built for herself for a chance at the life and version of herself she’s always wanted. Quitting her job and moving houses has the potential to give Georgia second chance at love and the whirlwind adventure she never got to have.
3. This Too Shall Pass by Milena Busquets
Main character, Blanca, experiences the loss of her mother. In a time of immense grief and loss she is faced with the shocking reality that her future is seemingly empty. Blanca packs up, and heads to the coast with her most beloved companions to find out what it means to live life on her own terms.
4. The Girls by Emma Cline
The Girls is a coming of age story following Evie’s quest for adulthood as she is lured into the soon-to-be famous cult of Charles Manson. What Evie doesn’t realize is that as she ventures deeper into her new found community, she gets closer than she could have ever imagined to a brutal fate and unthinkable violence.
5. The Island Within by Richard K. Nelson
As cliche as it may be, Richard K. Nelson sends his main character to an island off the coast of Alaska to ‘find himself’. However, The Island Within is not your average story of self discovery. The imagery alone in this novel stands the test of time, written in the late 80’s, this might just be the perfect book to amplify your summer experience.