Saturday Sporty Spotlight

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on fourteen-year-old superstar skateboarder, Stacia Suttles. Stacia hails from Bronx, New York (Go Yankees!). Today she shares her biggest lessons, balancing three sports, and the dish on her skateboarding sponsors. Check out her insightful interview below.

Name: Stacia Suttles

Age: 14

Sport(s): skateboarding, tae-kwon-do, basketball

Hometown: Bronx, NY

High School/Middle School/College: St. Catherine Academy

Number: 31

Position: forward (basketball)

What’s your fave sport? skateboarding

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 10 years

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

Learning how to drop in a ramp

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

To never give up.

What have you learned about teamwork?

In basketball you need to work together with your team, and you can’t act as if you are alone.

How do you balance school and sports?

I get my schoolwork done first, then comes skating, basketball, and tae-kwon-do. When I am in school, I think about school, and when I am doing a sport, I think about the sport.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

In tae-kwon-do I have achieved the level of half/black belt, and in November 2009 I will get my 1st degree black belt.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Ross Levine(martial arts), Danny Way(skateboarding), Rajon Rondo(basketball), Layla Ali(female boxer)

Are you sponsored? If so, by who?

Yes I am sponsored in skateboarding, by Fuel clothing, Division 26 clothing, Physcho wear, Aplomb clothing, F1 ceramic bearings, IPath footwear, SMX Optics, Christopher bean coffee, Drop in ride shop, and warrior skateboards.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I like to have a lot of clothes, and sneakers. I also like to have my hair nice.

Thanks, Stacia! Good luck with your skateboarding career, sponsorships, and earning your black belt. I love your advice to ‘never give up’. Good stuff. :)

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Sporty Saturday Spotlight

This week the Sporty Spotlight shines bright on seventeen-year-old Massachusetts’ skateboarder, Rachel Reid. Check out her interview below where Rachel shares how she combats intimidation before competitions, her favorite memory, and much, much more. And don’t miss her amazing pic.

Name: Rachel Reid

Age: 17

Sport(s): Skateboarding, snowboarding

Hometown: Stoughton Mass

High School/Middle School/College: High School

What’s your fave sport?

skateboarding

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

Well I got my first board around 8 years old. So about 9 years.

What is your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite memory would have to be when my dad convinced me to do my first contest. I was so terrified, but I stuck with it and did my thing. I realized how much fun they are and I have been entering as many come my way!

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

My biggest lesson I have learned through skateboarding is that I can skateboard just as good as the guys. Also not to be intimidated by the guys.

What have you learned about work ethic from playing sports?

You have to work hard in order to succeed in life.

How do you balance school and sports?

It’s hard because all I want to do is skate every second I have!

I usually take care of my schoolwork and then go skate with my friends. Most of the contests I enter are in the summer time so I don’t have to miss school.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

I have so many fave athletes. Mike Vallely would have to be my fave male athlete. He’s so inspirational and I like how he has his own style of skating. My fave female skater would have to be Elissa Steamer. She is such a sick street skater.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

The girliest thing I like to do is prob get new skate clothes and shoes.

Thanks, Rachel! I’m inspired by your extreme dedication and I look forward to following your exciting skateboarding career. Good luck!

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!