From Diapers to Skate Hall of Fame: Judi’s Enduring Passion for Skateboarding

Judi has always been passionate about skateboarding. She started her career at 15 with a downhill race in Capitola, and has been part of the local skate scene ever since. Her early job at the Santa Cruz skateboard company NHS helped kickstart her career in graphic design, as she learned how to silkscreen skateboards and airbrush surfboards.

Despite having two young children, Judi eagerly reentered the world of racing in 2001 when official slalom races started up again. Her kids even accompanied her to the races when they were still in diapers and while she was breastfeeding in her early 40s. Judi’s dedication paid off and she began winning without slowing down. In 2018, she was honored with an induction into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.

Judi played a role in curating the NHS Skate Museum when it opened in Santa Cruz, which features photos and videos of old competitions, colorful skateboards, and vintage skate art. Her original Santa Cruz skateboard team bag is displayed in the museum alongside other skateboarding gear from the 1970s. One of her early skateboards, a Santa Cruz brand board made of deep red fiberglass with red wheels and yellow block lettering, is highlighted in the museum. Additionally, one of her helmets from her early skating days is housed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Judi jokingly remarks that having her items in a museum makes her realize she’s getting older but she couldn’t be happier to see how far she has come.