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Leo Baker (skateboarder)

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Leo Baker
Personal information
Born (1991-11-24) November 24, 1991 (age 33)
Covina, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg)
Sport
Country United States
SportSkateboarding
Medal record
Women's street skateboarding
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Los Angeles Street
Gold medal – first place 2017 Los Angeles Street
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Rio de Janeiro Street
Summer X Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Austin Street
Silver medal – second place Norway 2018 Street
Silver medal – second place 2013 Los Angeles Street
Silver medal – second place 2013 Foz do Iguaçu Street
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Los Angeles Street
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Austin Street

Leo Baker (formerly Lacey Baker; born November 24, 1991) is a goofy-footed American professional skateboarder from Covina, California,[1] now based in New York City.[2] Baker is transgender and non-binary, and uses he/him and they/them pronouns.[3][4][5]

Early life

Baker was born in Covina, California to Donna Baker and guitarist Marshall Rohner.[6] He spent a year of his early childhood in foster care, and became interested in skateboarding after seeing his foster brothers skating in their backyard.[7][6] Baker got his first skateboard shortly after this, aged two.[7][8] Baker lists his proudest moment as the first time he landed a kickflip.[9]

Career

Aged eleven, Baker picked up his first sponsorship—from Utility Board Shop in La Verne—off the back of a video part filmed over two days by a skateboard instructor who recognised his talent.[10] In following years, Baker gained further sponsorships, and found success at contests around the world.[10]

Aged around nineteen, however, he quit his board sponsor, Element, while Billabong, another long-time sponsor, cut their skate team.[10] With the industry contracting following the global financial crisis, and facing pressure from sponsors regarding gender expression, Baker sensed that his career in skateboarding might be limited going forward and pursued a degree in graphic design.[7][11]

While working a design job after graduating college, Baker filmed and released his first full part, entitled "Bombshell", through Thrasher Magazine in 2013.[12] He also continued to compete, winning three medals at X Games events in 2013 and 2014. Yet Baker still struggled to find sponsors, and so decided to join his friend Lisa Whitaker's new company Meow Skateboards, intended to fill "a void in the industry" for a skateboard brand run by women with an all-female team.[10][13]

In 2017, Baker was the only skateboarder to be nominated for an ESPY Award in the "Best Female Action Sports Athlete" category.[14]

In 2020, Baker, Cher Strauberry, and Stephen Ostrowski founded Glue Skateboards.[15] As of 2022, Baker is sponsored by Nike SB, Glue Skateboards, Spitfire Wheels, Independent Trucks, Bronson Speed Co., Mob Grip, and Pawnshop Skate Co.[16]

Other ventures

Prior to turning pro and moving to New York, Baker worked as a graphic designer in Los Angeles, an environment they found unfulfilling;[2] however, Baker continues to pursue creative projects, including a collaboration with fellow NYC skateboarder Brian Anderson resulting in the release of Cave Homo ("Human Beware" in Latin, a pun on Cave emptor, or "Buyer beware") Volume II in which they were featured (Volume I featured Anderson), a limited-run zine whose inverse side features original works by queer artists, and a portion of whose proceeds goes to support The Trevor Project.

Baker also appears in the 2020 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, a remake of the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video games,[17] making him the first non-binary and transgender professional skateboarder in the series.[18][19]

In 2022, Baker starred in the Netflix biographical documentary film titled Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story, directed by directed by Nicola Marsh and Giovanni Reda.[20] This documentary details his life and experience as a transgender man. It focuses on his struggles as a trans man in the professional skating industry, as well as how these experiences have influenced his day to day life.[21]

Competition history

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2010

2008

2007

2006

References

  1. ^ Ryan, Maggie (January 11, 2020). "Pro Skater Leo Baker Pushes For Equality and Amplifies LGBTQ+ Voices in an Inspiring Nike Ad". POPSUGAR Fitness. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Pappalardo, Anthony (September 18, 2018). "Leo Baker is the skate hero we've all been waiting for: New York state of mind". Huckmag.com. Huck Magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Rise Of Leo Baker". The Berrics. March 7, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Baker, Leo (July 15, 2021). "'I Couldn't Keep Putting Myself on Hold.' In Missing Out on the Tokyo Olympics, Skateboarder Leo Baker Found Himself". Time. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Marks, Andrea (August 7, 2022). "A Skateboarder Quit the Olympics to Come Out As Trans. A New Doc Shows His Journey". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Ennis, Dawn. "Pro Skateboarder Leo Baker's Newest Trick: Sticking To Business". Forbes. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Pappalardo, Anthony (September 18, 2018). "Why Leo Baker is the skate hero we've all been waiting for". Huck Magazine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  8. ^ [1] Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Element Europe | Skateboards, Shoes, Clothes, Events, Videos, Online Store Mens & Women's Apparel, Skateboards & Footwear". Elementskateboards.com. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d Garber-Paul, Elisabeth (May 5, 2017). "Lacey Baker: The Rebel Queen of Skateboarding". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "For Leo Baker, Skateboarding Is All About Making Memories". Them. October 21, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  12. ^ "Lacey Baker's Bombshell Full Part". Thrasher Magazine. April 18, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Bohannan, Sydney (January 6, 2021). "Meow Skateboards On Supporting Women In The Industry & Expanding To Europe". Boardsport SOURCE. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Olympic Skateboarding Hopeful Lacey Baker Takes Silver In Street At X Games Norway". Team USA. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  15. ^ "Queer-Centric Skateboarding: The Story of Glue Skateboards". www.thrashermagazine.com. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "Leo Baker". www.nikesb.com. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  17. ^ Tucker, Jake (July 16, 2020). "Leo Baker: skateboarding is for everyone, and so is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater". Red Bull. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Bell, Brian C. (June 26, 2020). "Leo Baker drops into Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster". Outsports. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Zaldivar, Gabe (September 8, 2020). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Remains a Shining Beacon of Diversity and Representation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  20. ^ Spielberger, Daniel (August 9, 2022). "Leo Baker Left the Olympics Behind. Now He's Making Space for Trans Skateboarders". Them. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "Must-See Trans Skateboarding Doc 'Stay On Board' Is Heading To Netflix". www.pride.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Meronek, Rob. "World Skate OI STU Open Womens Street Open Qualifiers". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  23. ^ Meronek, Rob. "USA Skateboarding National Championships Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  24. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Championships Sao Paulo Womens Quarter Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  25. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Minneapolis Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  26. ^ "Minneapolis 2019 womens-skateboard-street". X Games. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  27. ^ Meronek, Rob. "World Skate Street League Pro Tour Los Angeles Womens Street Semi Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  28. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Dew Tour Long Beach Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  29. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Skate London Womens Semi-Final Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  30. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Championships Rio de Janeiro Brazil Womens Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  31. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Minneapolis Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  32. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League Pro Open at London Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  33. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Norway Womens Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  34. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Skate Like a Girl Wheels of Fortune Pro Final". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  35. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League Super Crown Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  36. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Wheels of Fortune Advanced Division". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  37. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Exposure 2016 - Pro Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  38. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League Super Crown Women's". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  39. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  40. ^ "Austin 2016 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  41. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Oslo Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  42. ^ "Oslo 2016 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  43. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Exposure Pro Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  44. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Women's Street World Championships". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  45. ^ "Kimberley Diamond Cup Results 2015". Girls Skate Network. October 8, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  46. ^ Meronek, Rob. "Street League Chicago Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  47. ^ Meronek, Rob. "X Games Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  48. ^ "Austin 2015 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  49. ^ Pro Rider/Driver (January 2, 2011). "ESPN Action Sports: The Worldwide Leader In Action Sports – ESPN". Expn.go.com. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
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