10-year-old Canadian skateboarding phenom Reese Nelson competes in X Games
Skateboarding is more than just a way of life for Reese Nelson, it’s all she’s ever known.
The 10-year-old from Calgary can’t remember when she first started skating or when she first fell into a halfpipe, it’s just ubiquitous in her life.
She will compete in the vert and best women’s trick events at the upcoming X Games.
Skating in the women’s vert is especially important to Nelson, as that event hasn’t been held at the X Games since 2010, three years before she was born.
Nelson spoke to The Canadian Press from Carlsbad, California, where she trains with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.
She says she’s excited that everyone can see what women can do on vert.
It was a good day: I helped young Reese Nelson learn frontside blunts on vert while re-learning them myself. I predict that very soon she will be beyond my teaching abilities. pic.twitter.com/cCd1h4fEf6
Hawk created his Vert Alert event in 2021 to try and promote the sport that has made him an internationally known star.
He made sure his tour had men’s and women’s events to help restore women’s vert skateboarding.
Winning at Vert Alert also brought Nelson into contact with Hawk, who has become a coach and mentor.
She says she didn’t understand at first what a big deal he is in the skateboarding world – not until the first time they were out in public and everyone was freaking out about his presence.
Hawk says it was a pleasure coaching Nelson, who is very determined when she wants to pull off a trick.
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