How old is too old too keep skateboarding?

I found out yesterday that I qualified for the 2025 USA Slalom Skateboarding National Team at 65 years old. I would give up my spot to make sure Leiola gets in but I kind of want race in the World Championships in Brazil in November if I can raise enough funds to help pay for it. I'll probably skip the US Nationals in Colorado in September so I can take the time off from work and race. I have only traveled twice out of the country to skate in my entire 50 years of skateboarding. How old is too old to keep skateboarding? I think I will find out myself. Tony Alva is still ripping as well as Randy Katin and several others close to my age or older. What an epic life adventure.

ISSA World Skateboard Slalom 2024 Standings

Thank you ISSA for putting these numbers together. Next race is the Texas Sizzler March 28th - 30th in Hockley Texas.

Women's

Men's Cyber

Women's Cyber

My skateboard items in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects

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.

Asian Pacific American History link.

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.

Slalom Skateboard Rankings for 2024 posted

Men's Overall Rankings

Women's Overall Rankings

Women's USA Only Rankings

Only a matter of time before I am off the top rankings which is a good thing for the sport of slalom skateboard ranking. The younger skaters are coming up the ranks and will dominate and crush it. It's been a fun ride and I have no regrets. I am glad I kept racing thanks to friends, family and sponsors that have supported my long career.

Talkin' Schmit Ep.233: JUDI OYAMA 2025

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.

"The Curiosity Effect" Judi's Roku shoot in Santa Cruz

I have to say 2024 has been quite a year. The World Skate Games in Italy, several news interviews, a continuing Japanese American History skate documentary project and this Roku The Curiosity Effect. I had the most amazing experience shooting this piece with Roku. I had no idea how large this project was until the night before when I got emailed the call sheet that had 17 people on it. This was the biggest crew so far.

World Skate Games 2024 Italy quick update new results

 

                            Leiola and I at our Hotel in Italy.

 

Slalom magazine designed by Jani Soderhall and put together for the race.

The racing was amazing. I have been meaning to post about Worlds. So many amazing things have been happening. The film crew Lou and Brea followed Leiola Kahuku and I to Italy with Leiola's family. Her parents and two Uncles.

Practice day photo on the Hybrid by Max Eaton. Leiola and family went up on Tuesday to check out the race locations. It was extra effort and 120.00 round trip to go the 20 minutes by van to the hill. I wanted to see the hill and the foot braking. The GS was the first race which had a gnarly left turn with grates and manhole covers to look out for. 

Leiola did amazing at her second slalom competition. This is the Giant Slalom photo by Max Eaton. This was a fast hill.

I posted a few videos of the runs on my YouTube Channel.

Coach 64 vs student 16

Judi Oyama VS Maïté Fournier-Parent (CAN) 64 vs 22

Collin follow on the World Skate Games slalom skateboard
Hybrid with Sasuka from Japan 19 vs 64!

I didn't know until this morning that I was 13th overall. All the information I had leaving Italy I was 14th. Super cool to move up one.

Slalom Skateboard World Skate Games Championships 2024 September 11-15, 2024 Where? When?

Slalom Skateboard World Skate Games Championships 2024 September 11-15

We are pleased to announce that Skateboarding Slalom will return to the World

Skate Games on 11-15 September, in the city of Chieti ( Abruzzo region, 200

kilometers east of Rome). This exciting skateboarding discipline will feature the top

racing talents from around the world, three exciting days of competition and a prize

money of $10,000.

About Slalom Skateboarding:

Slalom skateboarding is a form of downhill skateboard racing that first appeared in

the 1960s and 1970s and made a worldwide resurgence in the 2000s. Racing events

are electronically timed - so being the fastest through the course is the name of the

game. Adding to the challenge, competitors must launch from a ramp and navigate

through a course of variously spaced cones while still generating speed - requiring

technical strategy and high skill level. Staying clean through the course is a top

priority as each cone hit carries a time penalty that will be added to the racers' run

time. Competitors are time-qualified and then seeded for elimination matches that

conclude with the final winners of each event day - awarding titles and medals to

the top finishers both men and women.

VENUE INFORMATION (Race Locations)

CHIETI, Abruzzo, Italy

Small charming historical city 10 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, with the Maiella and Gran

Sasso mountains in the background.

330 m/1,080 ft above sea level, about 48.000 inhabitants

Via Vernia Nicoletto, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

Coordinates: 42.344702° N, 14.163133° E;

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LHPVKmToHLpiw9Ym9

Viale IV Novembre, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

Coordinates: 42.346052° N, 14.165052° E;

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JuUTaUGGBmKpTpNeA

Here is information a link on the World Skate Games
website Slalom Skateboard Races.

Thank you friends, family and sponsors for the support. I will post on my Judi Oyama IG social  or NorCal Slalom Skateboard Racing Team IG
more information. 

Wow CBS Morning Show story aired never too old!

Just when I think my 15 minutes of fame is over I keep getting emails, texts and calls to do a story. I got an email yesterday morning but was at CrossFit working out at 6:00 am. When I finished class I was looking at my phone of course and had friends texting me saying they watched the CBS Morning Show. 

Vince my old tent mate from doing the Aids Ride 5 back in the 90's was the first to DM me. We have stayed friends ever since and had some of the most belly laughs when we were getting up the morning after 100 day rides riding from SF to LA.

It's Judi not Jody for the record. Either way I am stoked.

Thank you to the NHS crew and Rich Novak for letting us film in the NHS Museum.

Thank you Jamie Yuccas CBS News!

ISSA Sanctioned Banked Slalom World Championships New Mexico May 7 & 8 2024

One more bucket list item checked off. Ditch Slap is known for you know ditch slaps. I had a two good ones. Both stopping and jumping out of the ditch. It's a skill and when your legs are stuck to your board with the weight of your body with the g-force going up the bank and instinct to stay on your board but you have to jump off your board and land on your feet it takes practice.

Ditch Slap is in the books. Thanks to Joe and Isa who hosted the Banked Slalom World Championships an ISSA sanction event in Albuquerque for the first time, the stakes have never been higher. Two action-packed days of racing from May 7th to May 10th, 2024, in ABQ, NM, the world’s top riders battled it out for the title of World Champion and had an two additional days of shuttle runs on the busses, riding Albuquerque’s renowned ditch drainage system!

I was happy placing 4th day one. This was my second banked slalom race since the 70's and I'm getting more confident and figuring out the transition and pumping with your whole body to get more speed.

Day 1 – Women’s Podium:

1. Nathalia Larios
2. Jennifer Coppa
3. Lynn Kramer
4. Judi Oyama

Day two a different bank area and a tighter start off the little ramp. If you had headwinds you would die at the end. I was nervous about the metal plate with the screws at first and of course the ladders always make you think.

Day 2 – Women’s Podium:

1. Jennifer Coppa
2. Lynn Kramer
3. Judi Oyama

Texas Sizzler Slalom Skateboard Overall Results 2024

Texas Sizzler Overall Results 2024

Fun racing over the past weekend. Here are jpgs from the final PDF's. I always like to review my times and think about things I could of done to improve my racing. My arm swing, truck adjustments, wheel durometer, and anything else like not enough sleep that affected the outcome.

I placed 2nd overall for the weekend.

I was happy to place 3rd in the Giant Slalom.

2nd in the tight and 3rd in the Hybrid but I think I could have qualified higher if I had a cleaner run on the second run. I was getting cones sprayed into my lane all the way down. They counted I hit 11 but Leiola's mom had a video and so I was able to contest it and it went to under the DQ total of 9. 

I counted 6 cones total.

Thanks Jonathan Harms for the YouTube footage.

The BAR 2.0 was tall and scary. Yes, I crashed on my ass on the first drop but was able to change my torn shorts and try again. I made the drop but didn't make the course. My foot shifted and I almost crashed a third of the way down the hill but corrected. I ended up racing off the smaller ramp. 

Giant Slalom Final Results

 

Invitation to represent the USA Slalom Skateboarding Team Letter

 

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.

USA Slalom Skateboarding Donation Link

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!!!

Current Sponsors:

Catto's Graphics Boardroom Racing, Lenz Arts, RipTide Sports, Insta360 Santa Cruz Skateboards, Bronson Speed Bearings, MobGrip, Sk8kings Skateboards, Sk8kings Turbo Wheels, Girlsnota4letterword, Laird SuperFoods, Old Bones Therapy, 187killerpads, Old Lady Gains cool woman owned former Masters CrossFitter Kim Munoz and badass. I love her messaging and posts on her social media.

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.

Another view.

Here is a link to the 10 foot ramp and 9 foot ramp Texas had but it got eaten by termites.

Current media links:

KAZU article on our local NPR station

Santa Cruz Style Magazine

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.