I enjoyed listening to Andrew Cannon's YouTube video. I was sent a link by Shreddy Mercury @shreddie_mercury_ and wasn't sure if it was a slalom story or if something was on the video that he wanted me to watch. I was pleasantly surprised to see my name get mentioned and talk about the Santa Cruz Video and how well it was received. Thank you to all involved. Alex White, Joey Ruiz who made the video and all those that approved it. Thanks to Minna Stress for coming down to Santa Cruz.
Here is the section where he talks about the Santa Cruz Skateboard video at 35:59
into the video and how it took off. It's been an amazing couple years to get media after no much my whole life. I'll take it. Thank you!
The whole video is really good and he is super honest about his relationship and career at NHS or Santa Cruz Skateboards. NHS looks after it's people and it's more than just a brand.
Andrew talks about the video and how the viewing was slow for a bit and then took off. It's at over
683,960 views today August 30, 2025, it premiered Mar 8, 2023. Titled: 63-Year-Old Female Skateboarding Pioneer Breaking Barriers & Going FAST! | Judi Oyama
Live feed tomorrow night. Scheduled for Apr 12, 2025 I am doing a 3 minute speech.
Dear Ms. Oyama,
It is with great pleasure that I write to let you know that the Japanese American National Museum would like to honor you with our Award of Excellence. This award is a tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their professional fields, and your contributions to the sport of slalom and downhill skateboarding are truly exceptional. The award will be presented at our annual Benefit evening on Saturday, April 12, 2024, at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles.
You have been a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated sport, breaking down barriers with your passion and fearless dedication. Not only were you one of the first women to compete professionally, but you also remain one of the few Asian-American skaters to achieve and maintain international championship titles. Your nearly fifty-year-long career is an inspiration to us all.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
In-Person: 5 p.m.—8 p.m.
Live streamed on YouTube
JW Marriott Los Angeles
900 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA, 90015
Venu Details
Here are a few items I donated up for auction link.
Funds raised through the Benefit and the Online Auction will go directly towards supporting our mission and our education and outreach programs.
If you want to donate to help keep me racing.
USA Slalom Skateboarding is a 501c donate button select individual and then pick racer name. You can leave a note letting them know the funds are for me. Thank you!
I am in a book with items I donated to the Smithsonian. I'm honored to pass on my skate history to the new generation and to be included in American Asian History.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects invites readers to experience both well-known and untold stories through influential, controversial, and meaningful objects. Thematic chapters explore complex history and shared experiences: navigation, intersections, labor, innovation, belonging, tragedy, resistance and solidarity, community, service, memory, and joy.
Photo John Krisik took when he was the team manager for NHS. These items are in the Girlhood (It's Complicated) art exhibit.
Flyaway helmet I traded with a good friend of mine. Reb back in the late 70's. I liked the way she had pinstriped the helmet. I gave her a new one I had bought. I'm not sure how we decided to trade. I think she liked the new one I had bought and I told them I loved the one they pinlined. Long story short it's in the Smithsonian.
I just ordered a book and can't wait to see it. I have know idea which items are in the book as they also have a trophy of mine I won at the UC Berkeley contest.
What a way to start the new year! Happy New Year! I keep thinking I am going to gradually fade away into the sunset but not quite yet!
Thanks Greg for having me on your show.
I am honored to get a letter to join the USA National Slalom Skateboard Team.
This is my final year of big contests. Though I said that going to the World Skate Games in 2022 and podiumed on the first day placing 3rd in the Hybrid. I placed 4th overall against all age women. Some as young as 12 to the 9 years younger. I was the oldest competitor racing skateboards. I think I was the oldest athlete at the event. I will need to confirm that.
This year I was planning on going to 2 races before September. I got sick the night before going to the Presidents Race and had to cancel going. It was a tough decision as I had the film Clara Shuku Mokri the director of the mini documentary and Lou Nakasako the co-documentary filmer plus an extra person for the day of the race. I had Jamie Hart flying to meet me and we were going to travel to the hotel in the same rental car. Since I caught C I didn't want to be around anyone and so everyone canceled. I was bummed but it happens.
This year I am going to the Texas Sizzler March 22-24 in Hockley Texas on a soap box derby hill. and coaching Leiola a super talented and young slalom racer. It will be her first slalom race competition. They will have the largest drop in ramp measuring 12 feet high. I have only done 10 and it's scary. I try not to think about the ramp and will just see how I feel the day of the race.
28515 Old Washington Rd, Hockley, TX 77447
Yesterday I saw a post that the World Championships of Banked Slalom were going to be held in New Mexico. I immediately contacted Isa Ruiz a USA slalom team mate and awesome young racer who's dad puts on the race. I have always wanted to skate Ditch Slap because it's suppose to be epic.
In order to fund my racing I'm asking my sponsors to help fund my travel fees by putting brand logos on my board, helmet and jersey.
If you want to sponsor me directly and get a tax letter. USA Slalom Skateboarding is a 501c nonprofit and if you put my name down in the description area the funds will be set aside for my travel expenses. Same goes for LaCosta Racing another nonprofit I am a team rider. Put my name in the description so it will be saved for my racing expenses to get to Rome in September. Thank you!!!
Adding more sponsors so I can update my jersey for the World Championships of banked slalom and will update again for the World Skate Games if I get more paid sponsors.
Thank you everyone who has already sent money and helped me. If I missed anyone please hit me up.
Thanks Seal for putting the article in the magazine. Thanks Neil Pearlberg off the Lip Radio for writing the story. Available to pick up at Lenz Arts and in Aptos next to Companion Bakery.
More media projects in the works. I am super honored and stoked for the interest in my story it helps me keep skating and going for it.
Made the news last night on KNTV Bay Area NBC channel with Marianne Favro and her camera guy Jim who's from Santa Cruz. I am honored to get media attention this past year after not getting much my whole career.
We were going to skate and if they had a some breaking news story to go to we knew they might not make it.
We set up 50 cones 6 feet apart on a spot that is pretty flat and easy to get too. Thank you to walkers, joggers and bike riders for letting us use part of a lane. I usually drive to San Jose on Saturday mornings and meet up with a crew of skaters on a road that we've ridden on for over 17 years. We've seen some really crazy driving and 90 plus miles on a little remote road.
Last weekend we set up cones in this exact spot to run the Cyber Slalom 25 cones that was a world wide event. 21 spots around the world and we were one in Santa Cruz. We ran 4 runs both directions and posted a combined time. I was third overall in the women's division.
Thank you Josh Harvey and John Nakama for coming over and helping me set up and mark 25 more cones so now we have a 50 cone training spot.
I am currently ranked second in the women's world slalom skateboarding2023 season. ISSA International Slalom Skateboarding Association. I'm third overall 4 year overall Women's Ranking and second in the Women's Masters. It's a points system. It doesn't mean I'm the second or third fastest in the world but according to the averages of my racing and points. At the USA slalom races and from the World Skate Games I am the second fastest woman in the USA consistently getting second or third to Lynn Kramer the 17x World Champion. I'm happy with that just stoked to be racing and having fun.
21 spots around the world and we were one in Santa Cruz.
There was not a logo for the team so I put one together and it's going on all of the team shirts and jerseys. Being a graphic designer it's hard for me not to design everything.
I am overwhelmed with all the support from sponsors, friends, family and people I have never met.
It's getting real and I am super excited that I am on the USA Slalom Skateboard Team and have the opportunity to travel and skateboard internationally.
Fundraising for the World Skate Games in Argentina!
More than halfway there in funds.
Big thank you to my BFF Cindy Whitehead for posting the "Support Judi Oyama in Going to Worlds for Slalom Racing!" article to help my fundraising efforts. I hate asking for help and so this has been a great vehicle to let people know I need help with expenses so I can skateboard internationally. Cindy is a Sportstylist® OG vert skateboarder and best friend since the 70's. Cindy has a female empowerment movement & brand, “Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word” that gives back to girls in skateboarding via 501c3’s and micro-grants. GN4LW also creates opportunities and gives visibility to females in a male-dominated sport. Her mission has been profiled in espnW, Forbes, Teen Vogue and more.
You can pay LaCosta Racing a 501 c add my name to the notes here is a link to the donations page you can select support a team rider. Please make sure to add my name to the notes so I get the funds directly. You will get a letter for the donation for your taxes.
If you want to write a check make it out to La Costa Racing put my name in the memo. Snail Mail to 2148 Inyo St, Los Osos CA 93402
Be sure they put Argentina@ Judi Oyama on the memo line. They will send you a tax letter.
Email me if you would like to paypal or venmo me. I appreciate all the support.
The Slalom Supreme in Salem the BAR (Bad Ass Ramp) 10'
Location: Bush’s Pasture Park, Salem, OR Dates: July 23 & 24th, 2022
After a full day of racing on Saturday it was time to commit to the BAR (Bad Ass Ramp) I had done 7ft ramps before. One in Texas and one in Nevada City. The BAR in Texas was super scary because it was 3 feet wide, wobbly and leaned forward on the hill. You had to climb a ladder to get to the top and when you stood and looked down you could only see the curve of the ramp and then the pavement. It took coaching from Jonny Miller who said you got this.
Because I ride vert and had practiced in Scotts Valley dropping into twinkie bowl as some of us call it. It goes over vert when you drop in and has the same feeling as the big ramp. It was scary but I did it.
So back to Oregon. I purposely didn't go to the top of the ramp with my skateboard in my hand the day before. I stood up there when it wasn't done and imagined myself going down the ramp.
Sunday morning I watched Paul Howard go to the top 3 times with his board and walk back down the ramp. He's ridden it twice before when they set it up. He rides this hill more often than probably anyone. I thought to myself if he doesn't go down that ramp I'll probably never do it either.
My heart pounded everytime I imagined myself up on top looking to go down. I was sitting in my chair sweating just watching everyone go down.
Giant Slalom Final Results
How we read the times at the race. They only went to 10th place and so I wasn't sure when I left where I was in placings. It was great to see the final results posted. I placed 12th against men and women racers. I don't always run the GS races because they are fast and I'm more of a technical racer than a all out hill bomber.
Saturday morning on the hill. It was cold and damp from the fog but that changed pretty quickly as it was supposed to be hot. Hybrid Slalom Final Results
Hybrid against Patrick Lehrmann
Saturday afternoon I got 4th and skated until after 7:00 pm. It was hot and I was racing really well considering how many runs I had put in and was still trying to podium. I was happy with the end results because I was close and raced well all day.
Tight Slalom Final Results
Tight Slalom race with Paul Howard. Check out the gimme got you!
I placed 4th this is when you don't give up and ride to the end.
One World Championship qualifier slot each
Judi Oyama designed the poster and medal art.
Thank you Michael Dong for the spread sheets.
Thank you everyone for putting on the event.
Thank you John Stryker for designing and making the ramp.
I am not ashamed to tell people how old I am and never have been. I have been skateboarding for over 49 years. I didn't even think I would still be slalom skateboarding again for another 21 years. My OG Santa Cruz teammate Steve Olson told me that slalom racing has started up again and I should race. I searched the internet to see where slalom was happening and what board setups everyone was using. Got a hold of Henry Hester another OG teammate and he sent me a Nina Roe Racing deck that was named after his daughter. Fast forward to today next weekend I will be at the racing at the WSG Qualifier #1 Texas Sizzler XVII Mach 2 in Houston (Hockley) Texas.
A month ago I skated in Southern California and was stoked to get a post on one of my favorite websites Judi Oyama crushes it at the President's Jam in Poway. Thanks to my BFF Cindy Whitehead who posted my slalom skateboard racing video on her IG and Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement is fiscally sponsored by Skatepark Association International a 501c3 non-profit established in 2002 who sent me funds to help me to go to Argentina to compete in the World Skate Games. I am one of 4 women that got seated to represent the USA.
All these years of skateboarding I have had long relationships with companies that have sponsored me since I was 16. NHS Fun Factory owned by Rich Novak has been there for me. Bob Denike just celebrated 35 years of being the President of the company. I am humbled and honored to have so many companies support my skateboarding for all these years.
I have been asking for product and financial support to help raise money to get to Argentina and the other races. It's not cheap and I have other responsibilities like raising a family, and caregiving for aging parents. I feel super fortunate to have several cool brands step up and help.
Yesterday, Lenz Arts gave me a check to pay for flight the WSG Qualifier #1 Texas Sizzler XVII Mach 2 in Houston (Hockley) Texas. I have been working in-house on marketing products and behind the scenes changes that the customers can't see but will benefit from for years to come. They are an amazing family and I'm working on updating the website, POS and other visual merchandising and graphic projects.
Keeping and getting sponsors takes time and years of dedication. You need to ride the equipment give feedback on what works and doesn't work so it helps the company with future upgrades or products. Never bad mouth companies because it will come back to you. I always tell people to never burn a bridge. Cindy Whitehead and I talk about what it takes to get sponsors and want to help mentor young up and coming skaters. We both worry that because skateboarding has become an Olympic Sport that parents will push kids to the point they will not love skateboarding like we have for all these years.
QR code to video on IG.
A big part of my continued skateboard abilities come from working out 5 days a week at CrossFit Aptos. Staying fit and strong has made a huge difference in my skateboarding and life in general, thank you to my awesome coaches. Thank you for posting my video on your Instagram.
QR code to video on CrossFit Aptos IG.
I want to thank all of my skateboard sponsors:
NHS Fun Factory - my original sponsor since my professional skate career starting 4 decades ago!
Today, I saw a post about the 500th issue of Thrasher Magazineon Instagram. I looked back at the first issue on Thrasher's website and noticed it had an article about Downhill Skateboard Racing and the Gold Cup Series that I had skated in. (I still have my first copy.)
Spread from the first issue of Thrasher Magazine flashback.
A look back and realization that not being the top women's team rider changed me and probably helped me in the long run. At the Capitola Classic and I was ahead of all of the women even with a crash and sliding 25 feet down the double yellow in short shorts and hitting my head.
After John Hutson won on a set of specialPark Rider wheels that were super tall and fast, Jay put the winning wheels on Terry Brown's board and she beat me at the finish line. Winning is winning but I ended up with more photos and press because I raced my heart out. I wasn't the big name I ended up not getting the special wheels and placing second. In the long run it made me fight harder and continue to skate decades later.
(For anyone that wonders why I stopped competing in vert it was the Winchester contest judges that made me stop competing in scored contests and just do timed events and that's another story. Because I get asked alot but don't usually tell why)
Decades later Terry told me she never considered that she won that race. It was good to hear but I will always remember feeling like the second pro rider for Santa Cruz and not as important. I was still honored and proud to be sponsoredSanta Cruz Skateboards and Independent Trucks.
Competition is competition it is cut throat and not everyone likes competing. You can have a career as a free rider in some sports like Surfing legend Santa Cruz surfer Josh Mulcoy and freeskier Cody Townsend. Skateboarding not so much.
Capitola Classic Downhill in Action Now with Michele Baker. Photo: James Cassimus
If you had told me I'd still be skateboarding and racing in 2022 I would probably think you were cray cray. I remember another competitor asking me what it would be like skating in 20 years? I told her I probably won't be skating that was 18 years ago.
This weekend I will be racing in Southern California my first head to head race since Morro Bay Classic 2019
Last weekend I drove to Los Osos to skate at Jonny Miller's slalom skateboard race. I had not raced cones since October 2020 cyber slalom weekend with anyone because of Covid-19. I ran cones on Saturday the day before in front of my house. My last run was fast and clean and I was happy to go out and get some exercise.
6 footers
Practice run Powerlines
Jack Smith, Stephen King, me, Wentzle Ruml, Cliff Coleman and Jamie Hart.
I placed first place after Cliff Coleman told me that he had beaten me by .2 of a second. I went back up the hill and got my fastest run of the day even with the stronger headwinds. They were closing the course at noon so I had to get a last run in. Super fun and stoked to have won the Grand Masters against men I have been skating against and with since the 70's. Jamie Hart Cliff and I skated for Santa Cruz Skateboards back in the day.
Fun photo from Shreddie Mercury check out his website.
Thank you to everyone for being super kind and awesome. Thank you to Brad Jackman for loaning me Sk8kings Turbo wheels since I didn't have any of the bigger faster wheels. Thank you Jonny for reminding me to do a few things to get more speed. I was rusty but did well. Here's to pushing yourself and not letting your head get in your way of what your body can do.
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