At 65, Judi Oyama is still lining up at the start gate — not in a “Masters” category, but shoulder-to-shoulder with athletes half, or even a quarter her age. She’s a World Champion slalom skateboarder, a Guiness record holder, a Hall of Fame inductee, and a pioneer who’s been breaking barriers since she first picked up a board in Santa Cruz in the early 1970s.
Back then, women’s divisions barely existed. Prize money was unequal. Media crews left during women’s finals. Judi skated anyway — pushing through invisibility, injury, and a sport that wasn’t built to include her. Five decades later, she’s still competing, still winning, and mentoring the next generation of racers who may one day take the sport to the Olympics.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What slalom skateboarding actually is — and why it’s so addictive
- How Judi fought for gender and racial equality in skateboarding
- The longevity toolkit she’s built: CrossFit, heavy lifting, recovery, and smart nutrition
- Why representation matters, and how she’s mentoring young women in the sport
- How to stay competitive, joyful, and relevant in your sport for decades
- Her motto: “Be badass every day” — and what it means in practice
Whether you’ve ever stepped on a skateboard or not, Judi’s story is about rewriting the limits others put on you, and replacing them with your own.
- Follow Judi on Instagram
- Judi in the Guiness Book of Records
Cover pic 📸 Dave Re
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