Photo: Anna and her Dad at the S1 Helmets & Pads Headquarters

Name: Anna Shea Reynolds-Madsen

Age: 8

Where were you born? Berkeley

And where do you live now? Oakland

When / how/ why did you start skating? My dad was a skater but he broke out his teeth on a FS board-slide in his early 20’s and quit. Years later he tried to get my older sister to start skating and bought her a board but she didn’t really like it. I would go into our garage and steal their boards and ride on our sidewalk on the side of our house. We live on a corner on a slight hill and I remember thinking it was a big deal that I could turn the corner at the bottom of our hill. My parents saw my interest in skateboarding grow, so they would take me to Bella Vista DIY park every now and then near our house towards the end of 2020. This is where I did my first drop-in on a quarter pipe and I was hooked at that moment. I also remember not getting help with an adults hands learning drop-ins, like I see kids learning now. My parents didn’t know. I’m glad I learned drop-ins the hard way because that was scary and it took the fear out of learning new tricks after that. I didn’t really start skating until the following summer in 2021 when my mom signed me up for a one week skate camp at Rob’s Skate. It was there that @royblacklavender showed me my potential and the rest is history.

Do you have a local skateshop? MacArthur Skateshop here in Oakland

What are some of your earliest/ favorite memories of skateboarding? Definitely my first drop-in at Bella Vista with my dad

What are some of your favorite or most memorable recent sessions ? Skating Venice. I’ve never had a bad day skating there.

What have you been up to lately? I skated in CASL Nationals in Florida for Park. I fell on both runs and I was super sad. But I learned that it just wasn’t my day and I was happy for the girls who made podium.

Favorite skateparks(s) and why? Venice because of the other skaters and the crowd. They always make me feel welcome and everyone is there to have a good time and cheer each other on. Fremont Skatepark here in the Bay is my 2nd favorite. It’s where all of the Bay Area ripper kids get together to push each other and have fun.

What’s in store for 2023?  I’m always interested in trying new parks because it’s always a fun adventure finding something new. Especially the perfect hip to boost on. For tricks, I want to go bigger with my airs, try new creative lip tricks on a mini, learn different inverts and get the one I know on a higher ramp, and try more street stuff with rails. I will do some contests this year for fun and to be with friends.

I’m still waiting to snowboard for the first time :). Hoping I get to go this year.

Why do you love skateboarding? Because it’s fun and I get to hang out with friends and when I go with my dad to a park, he usually buys me Taco Bell!

What are your Top 3 ?

Foods: Sushi, Tacos, Burgers

Things you enjoy when you're not skating: Soccer, drawing, piano

Dreams / Goals: To be a pro skater, get a college degree, and own my own home some day.

Books: Science based animal books

Places you would like to visit someday: Japan, Australia, Iceland

Skate Gear:

Deck: Pizza Skateboard 7.75”(Current)

Trucks: Ace Trucks

Wheels: Bones 56

Bearings: Bones Swiss

Grip: Black Gold

Shoes: Vans high tops

Helmet: S1 Lifer Helmet (Size: XS) 

Pads: S1 Pro Knee Pads (Size: Kid) 

Cindy Whitehead from Girl's Not A 4 Letter Word holding Anna's board