July 10, 2026 • 18 mins
- Rockstar Energy Open — Video Qualifier Open. (Ria Tanno Breakout video submission)
- Jackalope Canada preview
- Adjacency Bias Conference
- Street League Takeover: Rio & Tempe
- World Skate adds Vert World Championships. Could Vert become an Olympic discipline?
- X Games League.— Sacramento & Chiba recap, Championship Finals next week in New Orleans
- Shout out Amelia Brodka appreciation corner
- Postcards From Lisbon now streaming, featuring Lau Willems & Lilli Werner
- Nora Vasconcellos on the road with Adidas - If you're in Boston, go say hi!
Next week's guest: Lau Willems.
XOXO, talk soon
- GLWT
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good Luck With That is an iheartwomen's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome back, everyone to another episode of Good Luck with That.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm your host, Ashley ray Feld.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Joining me today is the very one and only Alex White.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
I'm so happy to be here with you, Ashley. We
got some news.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
We have so much news to get caught up on.
I hope everyone had whatever the holiday weekend was. It's
always a weird one to try to celebrate and support
and shout.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Out my mom's seventieth birthday. Everybody was celebrating that, right,
That's right. Who wasn't Happy birthday Mom seventy.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're back at it, and yeah, there's a lot
of news to talk about in the world of women
and gender expansive skateboarding. We've got some events coming up, Alex.
What's on the calendar?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
So first off on the upcoming list August fourteenth through
the sixth Rockstar Open happening in Portland again and right
now they're running.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
A video qualifier for it.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
They do this every year, so anybody can send in
submission as long as they use to write hashtags. The
submissions are due by August second, and I got to
see Ria Tano's video submission.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
She Ashley Ria Tanno from Japan.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
She can do back to seventy lips, she can do
hurricane grinds.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
What else can What can she do? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
She's fifteen years old and has a kickflip that is
undeniably psycho. She skates everything and it's just like blow
up energy. It's not like dainty slow energy. It is
like explosive and she's only fifteen.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
With that kind of energy.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
And again, just want to highlight the first trick you
called out is a first ever trick we've seen done
down a handrel for a female skateboarder, So she's really
like moving the bar up. These video qualifying series like
open Invitationals are huge for women's skateboarding right now. We're
seeing that to enter into the Olympic cycle if you
(02:10):
want to go that route, and we're seeing it at
these contest event series that I think is ultimately a
way better way to get introduced and invited. You know,
historically these invites were always done by a lot of
the same people who worked those contest series, so they
were only pulling from whoever was in their purview, which
was limited, and that was what it was like why
it felt kind of not representative of the world of
(02:34):
women's skateboarding. So this that you can just submit on
your own is just showing us there are people that
we just don't even know about. And Ria was a
new name to me, and I think I know who's
out there, So yeah, on unbelievable. I think she's going
to be a very exciting candidate at that open. I
mean that's how Nico Sugaramoto got invited also to the jam,
(02:56):
same way, So yeah, put your video out there.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, instead of for the flight of the cost of
a flight, you can just post on Instagram and get
an invite.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So yeah, those video coopfers for the rock Star.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Pro Open are going through the second get your clips, kids,
And also coming up July tenth through the twelfth is
going to be Jackalope in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I will
be there and I will be announcing the street too,
So I'm very much looking forward to what I.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Call like the Canadian X Games Jaclobe.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And if you're not so into the contest side of
things and you want to get into the intellectual high IQ.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Side of skateboarding.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
There's another thoughtful conference happening in Portland, Oregon July twenty
fourth through the twenty six Adjacency Bias conference going on
in Portland.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Like I said, Alex.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
White, you are going to be there representing the pod
talking about podcasting and skateboarding, So thank you for your service.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Should be a cool conference and I'm excited for you.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
We got a Street League takeover come up August ninth
in Rio de Janio and also later on in August
in Tempe, Arizona.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Street League is back for another one of their takeover events.
I'm excited to see.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Is there any announcements on like what the takeover spots
are for either of these gosh.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I mean, historically a takeover event uses.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Kind of an idea of what a spot in those
places is like. So for example, the takeover event in
Santa Monica was kind of like the Santa Monica Triple set,
so it should replicate a major Tempe spot and a
major Rio Dejanerio spot, so TBD. Course, previews come out
a couple days before the event happens, and there's lots
of excitement there.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I wonder if they're gonna like build a ditch for
the Tempe spot. I know there's going to be a
cactus on the course. On the World Skate side of things.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
In Paraguay in October, they have added Vert Avert World
Championships to the rosters. So for all you Vert skaters
out there, you can come join the entire circ Chris
down in Paraguay in October for Vert Vert World Championship.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Really interesting case study. Will this make it into the
next Olympic cycle? So I know that is a big
goal of Tony Hawk. That's what a lot of these
Vert Alerts and beyond are trying to demonstrate World skate. Now,
putting this into their lineup only means that they're going
to make a push in case for this in the
next cycle.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Do you know that when an Olympic sport is introduced,
they have to take one out for a game?
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Did you know that? I did not, Alex And what
do you think would be on the shopping block? I
mean they want to add vert into the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
If vert becomes a sport in the Olympics, they're going
to have to pull something.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And I'm wondering, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
What's the low hanging fruit from the summer games that
they're gonna pull.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I mean, I don't know, is gymnastics still popular.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I don't want to throw shade on any sport in
the summer games do you have to get cut?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
But I think that VERT could be added. I think
in our lifetime they're going to advert oh the for sure,
And honestly, you would be a better way to watch
skateboarding for a non skateboarder like person in the sky.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Yeah, is really exciting. It just like feels thrilling.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
You don't really need to know all of the like
specifics because ultimately you're seeing how high, how far, how
many twirls in the air can they go. So Park
does a great job of that, but it's limiting and
it's a little slower because there's so much of a
course to take over. Vert is just back and forth,
instant visual gratification.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, and watching some of the X Games highlights too,
you can see why VERT is such a spectacle. And
right now too, there's this whole gener I'm like, where
are these kids finding vert ramps? I want to know
all these kids that can skate vert and where are
these vert ramps?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That was kind of the whole reason why, like VERT
has had so many like die, like it dies and
then it comes back, and it's like it's.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Really just a not Like.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
VERT ramps don't serve the crater population of skateboarders, So
for a city to invest in a VERT ramp is
a disservice to the majority of skateboarders. It's actually not
good for skateboarding, but for the contest side of things,
we're saying that it is good for things. So yeah,
this is going to be really interesting to see how
like the infrastructure of this is supported worldwide and what
(07:11):
that means for VERT.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So yeah, I don't know, got to find the ramps.
Hey you're listening to Good luck with that.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
We'll be right back after this short ad break. All right,
And X Games League has just completed two stops. They
did Sacramento and just recently the Japan Chiba spot. The
(07:42):
next stop is for the entire league championship. Five hundred
thousand dollars is on the line for these city clubs
we've been watching and following along this new format. I'd
love to kind of like talk a little bit about
it with you and if you are trying to watch.
That is July twenty fourth, twenty six to see the
final New Orleans stop should be interesting.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah, you are a lot closer to this than I am, Ashley,
So I'm going to ask you questions because I don't
know what's going on with X games.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
What are these city based teams? Tell me more?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Look, I gotta be honest, I don't know if anyone
entirely understands what is going on here, but to just
break down, like the larger format that's happening in this
new version of X Games League, which I think you're
legally required to say moon play X Games League, is
that there are four city clubs Tokyo, New York's, Apolo,
(08:40):
and Los Angeles, and they have each club has like
ten athletes drafted to the club and it's a mix
of skateboarding and BMX.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
So that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Now, I mer lacrosse naturally those things go great together.
And I will explain how they're not actually together. It's
just they're grouped in point systems together. Isn't involved and
I don't know why their motocross is happening at these events,
but they're not a part of the club teams.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
And the coolest part.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
In my opinion, is that there are five equal spots
for men and women on the roster.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So no longer are you just seeing like, oh, we
have to add a girl.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
No, we have to add five women and we are
positioning them completely equal across these city clubs. Here's the
part that gets confusing. It's not just ten athletes to
each stop. It's like a total open like you can
show up as a not city club athlete and team
writer and still get a medal.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Like the way X games traditionally is makes.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Sense, so does it because there's like two different formats
of points happening. So year city club, you are writing
for your individual self to try to get a gold,
and you are writing to get points for your team,
your entire team, like per stop is going.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
To determine if your team wins the champion or not.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And there are many different ways that you can score
points in all the different divisions.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So it's like Park Street best Trick.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
BMX has way more too, So depending on how many
vmxers are on. I wasn't watching the BMX, I got
nothing to say on that, but they have an ability
to score more points than the skateboarders.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I know that much.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So yeah, it's an interesting like strategy and format that
we've never seen. Some other bonuses I will shout out
that I think are unique in skateboarding are unique for
skateboarding is the athletes receive a salary to just be
on the team, so a flat rate. And then if
you have your sponsors on top of that and you place, well,
(10:43):
you're getting your bonuses from that. So there's a chance
to make a pretty good amount of money and you
get a health insurance stipen.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
So that's so funny to me too, because like all
of them are like teenagers. Is like a rist of
true and closes and like, what did you do for
your summer job?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Honey? Oh, I did the X Games or a month straight.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I was in Sacramento, then Sheiba, then I was in
New Orleans, and you know, I walked away with one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars little.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Summer job, just my little side summer job. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So I mean, you know, I will say they are
bringing a more like traditional stick and ball sport approach.
Does it work for skateboarding? I think we're kind of
watching that in real time. Does it work for the
business of skateboarding to sell it? Oh?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
X Gamesleaguet figured out a really interesting way to position
these teams to VC groups and.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Sell sell, sell baby.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But ultimately I think there is a little bit of
a trickle down economy to the skateboarder and all of this.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
So I think that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
And one of the things that has really been clear
is the standout of how women are being positioned, even
in the advertising. It's not just like, you know, Nijah
Houston on New York and that's the billboard. It's like
Chloe Cavell is the face of the New York City team.
They really understand the excitement that is happening within women's skateboarding.
(11:58):
They see the potential and the connection. And I think
the best tricks have been by far the most exciting
part to watch.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Alex. I know you've at least seen some of those
best tricks.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Yeah, I love a best trick and Mamita Nishia just
took it in Japan with the Crooks down.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
The Hubbahn all heel out landed perfectly.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
What other contest formats don't have, you know, World Skates
Street League, they don't have the best trick, And women's
best trick is a distilled version of the progression that
we hear overused all the time, the progression in real
time best tricks really do offer that. So if I'll
give X games one thing or sorry, moonpay, X Games
(12:35):
reintroducing a best trick event is really it's really fun
to watch. Where are we at now after Chiva with
these teams? Ashley's what's the leader board?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
For the leader board, we haven't a tie going between
Tokyo and New York. They have seventeen hundred points on
the board. Actually they have one thousand, seven hundred and
seventy points to be exact tied at first right now.
The third is sab Paulo at one thousand and six
and ten points and trailing behind is City Club LA
(13:07):
with fifteen hundred points. So a little bit of a
ways to go. How is this gonna shake out? It
looks like it's down to top three. Tokyo New York
are the standouts and we're gonna find out this in
a couple weeks. Who is gonna be the first ever
X Games League champion team?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:27):
I mean, honestly, I gotta say one of my favorite
things about watching this X Games thing the broadcast because
I'm not there is listening to Amelia Brodca because they
have Amelia doing men's women's everything, Park Street Vert and
Amelia is one hell of a broadcaster and she has
a newborn baby. She's on the road with doing this
(13:47):
with so we're gonna have Amelia on the show.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
At one point too.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
But she's been doing a phenomenal job calling all of
that and having a baby. And I don't know how
she's thinking straight, but she's calling the tricks. She must
be sleeping two hours a day. Love you a Milia,
great job. Also out there on YouTube is Postcards from Lisbon.
(14:11):
That is the new video project from Adidas and Lao
Warner and I'm sorry, Laois.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
And Lily Warner are in that. Go check that out.
It's visually stunning.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
And our co host Nora of Asknslos is out on
the East Coast with Adidas right now here in July too,
So go visit Nora. Go get a selfie with Nora
and tell her you listen to good luck with that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
We'll pay you. We'll pay you if you do it.
Get the picture, send it to our Instagram. We'll then
mo you.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
No, we won't, No, we won't I'm If anybody does it,
I'm down. I'll put my own money forward.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, and listen, listeners, dm us you listen to the
news desk. You want to hear more from the news.
Please let us know what you would like to know.
And Ashley would love to come at you with more
valuable insight. It's into the world of skateboarding.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And actually right now we're in the thick of it.
It's July. It's hot out. What do you need some luquid?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I'm back in San Francisco and wow, it's not summer year.
So I am remembering how and why you just avoid
SF at all costs during the summer. So I need
a little luck figuring out how to transition back to
being here or just getting back on the road again
and finding my next skate trip.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
I like that hit it.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Come pick me up on your way south. Let's go
back to LA I might come find you in Portland,
who knows. Yeah, I would love that. We should go
skate curbs in Portland. Alex, what's going on for you?
You're like on the road, busy talking about skateboarding.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Oh my gosh, the gospel never ceases to be in demand.
I am going to Jacklobe next weekend, so I'm going
to Canada for forty eight hours. I'll be with Todd Richards,
who we love, friend of the Pod, and then I'll
be going to Portland, and then I'll be going to Woodward,
and then I'll be going to as F again. So
I'm very excited for all the things coming up. I
(16:04):
just need good luck without for planes.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Make them not delayed. I don't want to get stuck.
What's happening in Woodward.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Woodward is Street League Futures, so they run an event
every week of summer camp. There's a contest at the end,
and there's a men's and women's winner, and then at
the very end they win a free week at the
very end of the summer, so like the first week
of August, they bring all the winners back, they get
a free week at Woodward and then they get to
compete in the Street League Futures and they bring out
some of the hosts and judges from Street League to
(16:34):
come judge them and meet the skaters and announce it.
So it's a really fun one. I love going to Woodward.
I went for the first time last year. I would
love to take you if you want to come with me,
You're more than welcome.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
It is so fun. Is so fun, dude, It'd be
a dream. I would love to go.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Honestly, if I could just go on a tour to
like all the different summer skate camps, I'd be so stoked.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
It would be so much fun.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Every time I go to Seek formerly known as Windows,
I literally do have the best time of my life ever.
So I can't even imagine the offerings that are going
on at Woodward. Never been always wanted to Woodward. Let
me know when I can come. I would really love
to the handrail into the phone pit. I've always always
wanted to skate. That's one of the Woodward properties.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
You can come with me. I know a guy and
his name is Mo.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Look at listen, Mo. I'm ready. Whatever you need me
to do, I'm there.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
He's the best. All right, everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
We'll be back next week with a really special guest.
Lew Williams is joining us on the pod. Alex White
have all the grilling questions for her, so stay tuned
to learn more, and we're excited to have her.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
See you next week.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You can find us in the meantime on Instagram at
Good Luck Pod.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
We're there.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Let us know. We love to hear from you guys.
I say it every time. Alex says, it's every time.
We really do mean it. We're just trying to hang
out with you guys, So yeah again. You know where
to find us, you know where to tune back in.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
We'd love to have you.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
We are your hosts Ashey Rayfeld, Nora Bascnzlos, Alex.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
White, and Mimi nu.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz, supervising producer Tari Harrison,
video producer Daniel Goodman, and video production by School of Humans.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
This podcast was created by Ashey Rayfeld.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Listen to Good Luck with That, a skateboarding podcast, on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Good Luck With That is an iheartwomen's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome back, everyone to another episode of Good Luck with That.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm your host, Ashley ray Feld.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Joining me today is the very one and only Alex White.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
I'm so happy to be here with you, Ashley. We
got some news.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
We have so much news to get caught up on.
I hope everyone had whatever the holiday weekend was. It's
always a weird one to try to celebrate and support
and shout.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Out my mom's seventieth birthday. Everybody was celebrating that, right,
That's right. Who wasn't Happy birthday Mom seventy.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So we're back at it, and yeah, there's a lot
of news to talk about in the world of women
and gender expansive skateboarding. We've got some events coming up, Alex.
What's on the calendar?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
So first off on the upcoming list August fourteenth through
the sixth Rockstar Open happening in Portland again and right
now they're running.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
A video qualifier for it.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
They do this every year, so anybody can send in
submission as long as they use to write hashtags. The
submissions are due by August second, and I got to
see Ria Tano's video submission.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
She Ashley Ria Tanno from Japan.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
She can do back to seventy lips, she can do
hurricane grinds.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
What else can What can she do? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
She's fifteen years old and has a kickflip that is
undeniably psycho. She skates everything and it's just like blow
up energy. It's not like dainty slow energy. It is
like explosive and she's only fifteen.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
With that kind of energy.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
And again, just want to highlight the first trick you
called out is a first ever trick we've seen done
down a handrel for a female skateboarder, So she's really
like moving the bar up. These video qualifying series like
open Invitationals are huge for women's skateboarding right now. We're
seeing that to enter into the Olympic cycle if you
(02:10):
want to go that route, and we're seeing it at
these contest event series that I think is ultimately a
way better way to get introduced and invited. You know,
historically these invites were always done by a lot of
the same people who worked those contest series, so they
were only pulling from whoever was in their purview, which
was limited, and that was what it was like why
it felt kind of not representative of the world of
(02:34):
women's skateboarding. So this that you can just submit on
your own is just showing us there are people that
we just don't even know about. And Ria was a
new name to me, and I think I know who's
out there, So yeah, on unbelievable. I think she's going
to be a very exciting candidate at that open. I
mean that's how Nico Sugaramoto got invited also to the jam,
(02:56):
same way, So yeah, put your video out there.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, instead of for the flight of the cost of
a flight, you can just post on Instagram and get
an invite.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So yeah, those video coopfers for the rock Star.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Pro Open are going through the second get your clips, kids,
And also coming up July tenth through the twelfth is
going to be Jackalope in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I will
be there and I will be announcing the street too,
So I'm very much looking forward to what I.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Call like the Canadian X Games Jaclobe.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And if you're not so into the contest side of
things and you want to get into the intellectual high IQ.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Side of skateboarding.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
There's another thoughtful conference happening in Portland, Oregon July twenty
fourth through the twenty six Adjacency Bias conference going on
in Portland.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Like I said, Alex.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
White, you are going to be there representing the pod
talking about podcasting and skateboarding, So thank you for your service.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Should be a cool conference and I'm excited for you.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
We got a Street League takeover come up August ninth
in Rio de Janio and also later on in August
in Tempe, Arizona.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Street League is back for another one of their takeover events.
I'm excited to see.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Is there any announcements on like what the takeover spots
are for either of these gosh.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I mean, historically a takeover event uses.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Kind of an idea of what a spot in those
places is like. So for example, the takeover event in
Santa Monica was kind of like the Santa Monica Triple set,
so it should replicate a major Tempe spot and a
major Rio Dejanerio spot, so TBD. Course, previews come out
a couple days before the event happens, and there's lots
of excitement there.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I wonder if they're gonna like build a ditch for
the Tempe spot. I know there's going to be a
cactus on the course. On the World Skate side of things.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
In Paraguay in October, they have added Vert Avert World
Championships to the rosters. So for all you Vert skaters
out there, you can come join the entire circ Chris
down in Paraguay in October for Vert Vert World Championship.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Really interesting case study. Will this make it into the
next Olympic cycle? So I know that is a big
goal of Tony Hawk. That's what a lot of these
Vert Alerts and beyond are trying to demonstrate World skate. Now,
putting this into their lineup only means that they're going
to make a push in case for this in the
next cycle.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Do you know that when an Olympic sport is introduced,
they have to take one out for a game?
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Did you know that? I did not, Alex And what
do you think would be on the shopping block? I
mean they want to add vert into the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
If vert becomes a sport in the Olympics, they're going
to have to pull something.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And I'm wondering, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
What's the low hanging fruit from the summer games that
they're gonna pull.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I mean, I don't know, is gymnastics still popular.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I don't want to throw shade on any sport in
the summer games do you have to get cut?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
But I think that VERT could be added. I think
in our lifetime they're going to advert oh the for sure,
And honestly, you would be a better way to watch
skateboarding for a non skateboarder like person in the sky.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Yeah, is really exciting. It just like feels thrilling.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
You don't really need to know all of the like
specifics because ultimately you're seeing how high, how far, how
many twirls in the air can they go. So Park
does a great job of that, but it's limiting and
it's a little slower because there's so much of a
course to take over. Vert is just back and forth,
instant visual gratification.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, and watching some of the X Games highlights too,
you can see why VERT is such a spectacle. And
right now too, there's this whole gener I'm like, where
are these kids finding vert ramps? I want to know
all these kids that can skate vert and where are
these vert ramps?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That was kind of the whole reason why, like VERT
has had so many like die, like it dies and
then it comes back, and it's like it's.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Really just a not Like.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
VERT ramps don't serve the crater population of skateboarders, So
for a city to invest in a VERT ramp is
a disservice to the majority of skateboarders. It's actually not
good for skateboarding, but for the contest side of things,
we're saying that it is good for things. So yeah,
this is going to be really interesting to see how
like the infrastructure of this is supported worldwide and what
(07:11):
that means for VERT.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So yeah, I don't know, got to find the ramps.
Hey you're listening to Good luck with that.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
We'll be right back after this short ad break. All right,
And X Games League has just completed two stops. They
did Sacramento and just recently the Japan Chiba spot. The
(07:42):
next stop is for the entire league championship. Five hundred
thousand dollars is on the line for these city clubs
we've been watching and following along this new format. I'd
love to kind of like talk a little bit about
it with you and if you are trying to watch.
That is July twenty fourth, twenty six to see the
final New Orleans stop should be interesting.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah, you are a lot closer to this than I am, Ashley,
So I'm going to ask you questions because I don't
know what's going on with X games.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
What are these city based teams? Tell me more?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Look, I gotta be honest, I don't know if anyone
entirely understands what is going on here, but to just
break down, like the larger format that's happening in this
new version of X Games League, which I think you're
legally required to say moon play X Games League, is
that there are four city clubs Tokyo, New York's, Apolo,
(08:40):
and Los Angeles, and they have each club has like
ten athletes drafted to the club and it's a mix
of skateboarding and BMX.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
So that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Now, I mer lacrosse naturally those things go great together.
And I will explain how they're not actually together. It's
just they're grouped in point systems together. Isn't involved and
I don't know why their motocross is happening at these events,
but they're not a part of the club teams.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
And the coolest part.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
In my opinion, is that there are five equal spots
for men and women on the roster.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So no longer are you just seeing like, oh, we
have to add a girl.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
No, we have to add five women and we are
positioning them completely equal across these city clubs. Here's the
part that gets confusing. It's not just ten athletes to
each stop. It's like a total open like you can
show up as a not city club athlete and team
writer and still get a medal.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Like the way X games traditionally is makes.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Sense, so does it because there's like two different formats
of points happening. So year city club, you are writing
for your individual self to try to get a gold,
and you are writing to get points for your team,
your entire team, like per stop is going.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
To determine if your team wins the champion or not.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And there are many different ways that you can score
points in all the different divisions.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So it's like Park Street best Trick.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
BMX has way more too, So depending on how many
vmxers are on. I wasn't watching the BMX, I got
nothing to say on that, but they have an ability
to score more points than the skateboarders.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I know that much.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So yeah, it's an interesting like strategy and format that
we've never seen. Some other bonuses I will shout out
that I think are unique in skateboarding are unique for
skateboarding is the athletes receive a salary to just be
on the team, so a flat rate. And then if
you have your sponsors on top of that and you place, well,
(10:43):
you're getting your bonuses from that. So there's a chance
to make a pretty good amount of money and you
get a health insurance stipen.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
So that's so funny to me too, because like all
of them are like teenagers. Is like a rist of
true and closes and like, what did you do for
your summer job?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Honey? Oh, I did the X Games or a month straight.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I was in Sacramento, then Sheiba, then I was in
New Orleans, and you know, I walked away with one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars little.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Summer job, just my little side summer job. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So I mean, you know, I will say they are
bringing a more like traditional stick and ball sport approach.
Does it work for skateboarding? I think we're kind of
watching that in real time. Does it work for the
business of skateboarding to sell it? Oh?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
X Gamesleaguet figured out a really interesting way to position
these teams to VC groups and.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Sell sell, sell baby.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But ultimately I think there is a little bit of
a trickle down economy to the skateboarder and all of this.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
So I think that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
And one of the things that has really been clear
is the standout of how women are being positioned, even
in the advertising. It's not just like, you know, Nijah
Houston on New York and that's the billboard. It's like
Chloe Cavell is the face of the New York City team.
They really understand the excitement that is happening within women's skateboarding.
(11:58):
They see the potential and the connection. And I think
the best tricks have been by far the most exciting
part to watch.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Alex. I know you've at least seen some of those
best tricks.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Yeah, I love a best trick and Mamita Nishia just
took it in Japan with the Crooks down.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
The Hubbahn all heel out landed perfectly.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
What other contest formats don't have, you know, World Skates
Street League, they don't have the best trick, And women's
best trick is a distilled version of the progression that
we hear overused all the time, the progression in real
time best tricks really do offer that. So if I'll
give X games one thing or sorry, moonpay, X Games
(12:35):
reintroducing a best trick event is really it's really fun
to watch. Where are we at now after Chiva with
these teams? Ashley's what's the leader board?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
For the leader board, we haven't a tie going between
Tokyo and New York. They have seventeen hundred points on
the board. Actually they have one thousand, seven hundred and
seventy points to be exact tied at first right now.
The third is sab Paulo at one thousand and six
and ten points and trailing behind is City Club LA
(13:07):
with fifteen hundred points. So a little bit of a
ways to go. How is this gonna shake out? It
looks like it's down to top three. Tokyo New York
are the standouts and we're gonna find out this in
a couple weeks. Who is gonna be the first ever
X Games League champion team?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:27):
I mean, honestly, I gotta say one of my favorite
things about watching this X Games thing the broadcast because
I'm not there is listening to Amelia Brodca because they
have Amelia doing men's women's everything, Park Street Vert and
Amelia is one hell of a broadcaster and she has
a newborn baby. She's on the road with doing this
(13:47):
with so we're gonna have Amelia on the show.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
At one point too.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
But she's been doing a phenomenal job calling all of
that and having a baby. And I don't know how
she's thinking straight, but she's calling the tricks. She must
be sleeping two hours a day. Love you a Milia,
great job. Also out there on YouTube is Postcards from Lisbon.
(14:11):
That is the new video project from Adidas and Lao
Warner and I'm sorry, Laois.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
And Lily Warner are in that. Go check that out.
It's visually stunning.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
And our co host Nora of Asknslos is out on
the East Coast with Adidas right now here in July too,
So go visit Nora. Go get a selfie with Nora
and tell her you listen to good luck with that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
We'll pay you. We'll pay you if you do it.
Get the picture, send it to our Instagram. We'll then
mo you.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
No, we won't, No, we won't I'm If anybody does it,
I'm down. I'll put my own money forward.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, and listen, listeners, dm us you listen to the
news desk. You want to hear more from the news.
Please let us know what you would like to know.
And Ashley would love to come at you with more
valuable insight. It's into the world of skateboarding.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And actually right now we're in the thick of it.
It's July. It's hot out. What do you need some luquid?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I'm back in San Francisco and wow, it's not summer year.
So I am remembering how and why you just avoid
SF at all costs during the summer. So I need
a little luck figuring out how to transition back to
being here or just getting back on the road again
and finding my next skate trip.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
I like that hit it.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Come pick me up on your way south. Let's go
back to LA I might come find you in Portland,
who knows. Yeah, I would love that. We should go
skate curbs in Portland. Alex, what's going on for you?
You're like on the road, busy talking about skateboarding.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Oh my gosh, the gospel never ceases to be in demand.
I am going to Jacklobe next weekend, so I'm going
to Canada for forty eight hours. I'll be with Todd Richards,
who we love, friend of the Pod, and then I'll
be going to Portland, and then I'll be going to Woodward,
and then I'll be going to as F again. So
I'm very excited for all the things coming up. I
(16:04):
just need good luck without for planes.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Make them not delayed. I don't want to get stuck.
What's happening in Woodward.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Woodward is Street League Futures, so they run an event
every week of summer camp. There's a contest at the end,
and there's a men's and women's winner, and then at
the very end they win a free week at the
very end of the summer, so like the first week
of August, they bring all the winners back, they get
a free week at Woodward and then they get to
compete in the Street League Futures and they bring out
some of the hosts and judges from Street League to
(16:34):
come judge them and meet the skaters and announce it.
So it's a really fun one. I love going to Woodward.
I went for the first time last year. I would
love to take you if you want to come with me,
You're more than welcome.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
It is so fun. Is so fun, dude, It'd be
a dream. I would love to go.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Honestly, if I could just go on a tour to
like all the different summer skate camps, I'd be so stoked.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
It would be so much fun.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Every time I go to Seek formerly known as Windows,
I literally do have the best time of my life ever.
So I can't even imagine the offerings that are going
on at Woodward. Never been always wanted to Woodward. Let
me know when I can come. I would really love
to the handrail into the phone pit. I've always always
wanted to skate. That's one of the Woodward properties.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
You can come with me. I know a guy and
his name is Mo.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Look at listen, Mo. I'm ready. Whatever you need me
to do, I'm there.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
He's the best. All right, everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
We'll be back next week with a really special guest.
Lew Williams is joining us on the pod. Alex White
have all the grilling questions for her, so stay tuned
to learn more, and we're excited to have her.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
See you next week.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You can find us in the meantime on Instagram at
Good Luck Pod.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
We're there.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Let us know. We love to hear from you guys.
I say it every time. Alex says, it's every time.
We really do mean it. We're just trying to hang
out with you guys, So yeah again. You know where
to find us, you know where to tune back in.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
We'd love to have you.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
We are your hosts Ashey Rayfeld, Nora Bascnzlos, Alex.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
White, and Mimi nu.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz, supervising producer Tari Harrison,
video producer Daniel Goodman, and video production by School of Humans.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
This podcast was created by Ashey Rayfeld.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Listen to Good Luck with That, a skateboarding podcast, on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.