Lauren Perkins (Marvle) was a professional avenue skateboarder from Huntington Seashore, who made an affect through the early 2000s with sponsors that included Etnies, World Industries, Oakley, Nixon, Stussy, Cranium Sweet, Kickers and Volcom, through the years.
At age 5, Lauren “was already creating her thrill for hazard by taking her first spins on a motorbike, as nicely embarking on her dad’s skateboard for the very first time” (Ferrantino). She was additionally lucky {that a} skate park was constructed close to her home within the late-Nineties, and since she figured it seemed like enjoyable, Lauren obtained a Nash skateboard for her 9th birthday and by no means seemed again, based on her interview with Lisa Whitaker for the Women Skate Community.
Photographs: Lauren in 2000 together with her hero, Elissa Steamer, after which profitable a contest in opposition to all of the boys in 2001
In January 2006, Lauren was interviewed for American Famous person journal, which was a radical report of her expertise in skateboarding. Lauren defined that with constant practise, and a good friend to skate with, she improved on a regular basis. “The extra I skated, the simpler it bought.” For instance, in 2001 when Lauren was age 12, “she had turn into so expert that she captured first place at a Gravity Video games contest — defeating 45 boys within the course of.” Dang! This success resulted in a sponsorship with Volcom. “That was large… It’s the one contest that I’ll all the time bear in mind.”
With few feminine friends in her neighborhood at first, Lauren was motivated to compete in opposition to the fellows, however as soon as she discovered in regards to the All Lady Skate Jam contests (launched in 1997), she embraced them. In 1999, Lauren had a 2nd place end within the Newbie Road contest behind Kea Duarte and forward of Amy Caron in San Diego. Lauren would go on to win her native Huntington AGSJ contest in 2002 and mentioned, the competition “was nonetheless exhausting as a result of there was nonetheless these new ladies that I had by no means seen earlier than,” which might push her to be taught new tips.
Examine it Out skateboard journal usually featured Lauren of their pages from 2003-2005. Photographs by Luciana Ellington, Fondo, Magda Wosinska. Her spotlight appeared in problem #18 from 2005.
Elissa Steamer was all the time Lauren’s hero, and inside a number of years of competing, she ending up touring and performing demos with Elissa, as they each rode for Etnies. Lauren mentioned, “After I was youthful, I seemed as much as ladies skateboarding and I feel everybody wants a task mannequin. I hope that the youthful ladies can take a look at me and be like, ‘She’s out on the skate park, skating on a regular basis, all the time having a smile on her face.’ That’s what I needed and what I hope to carry.”
Lauren’s sponsor Etnies included her in a number of ads in 2004 / 2005, with the “Step Up” photograph over Lauren’s Yamaha by Patty Segovia. The World Industries advert appeared within the December 2006 problem of TransWorld.
Lauren’s title began registering within the World Cup Rankings in 2001 and he or she was persistently within the prime 10 for Girls’s Road: 7th total in 2001 based mostly on 2/3 contests; 3rd total in 2002 behind Amy Caron and Vanessa Torres; 2nd total in 2003; 5th in 2004 with the return of Elissa Steamer within the contest circuit; 2nd total in 2005, 6th in 2006; 5th in 2007; 12th in 2008.
In 2002, Lisa Whitaker featured footage of Lauren skating avenue for the Women Skate Community:
2003 was an particularly good yr as a result of Lauren was the stunt double for the movie Grind (2003), and he or she was the primary feminine skateboarder to seem on the duvet of SG journal (skate, surf, snow) for the October / November 2003 problem.
There’s even some footage of Lauren from Slam Metropolis Jam that yr, because of Meghan McGuire (Migzy!) of Bigfoot journal:
And, in 2004 Lauren appeared in a “Women Skate Montage” by Whitaker, once more for the Women Skate Community:
Lauren was aside of the epic Getting Nowhere Quicker (2004) video that was filmed by Whitaker for Villa Villa Cola, which helped solidify ladies’s skateboarding and supply heroes for a complete new era of skaters.
Lauren and Elissa have been interviewed for a brief characteristic in a Canadian journal referred to as Exposé in 2005 (by me) once they got here to Vancouver for the twond annual “Skateover not a Makeover” occasion with 65 ladies participating. Lauren shared that she was extra motivated to get out and take pictures when she’s on the street, and the way she loved assembly new individuals and exploring new skate spots when touring.
In 2006, Lauren defined that “Skating is in contrast to some other sport… Common sports activities, you possibly can go to the health club and work out and that basically, actually improves your talents. With skating, numerous it truly has to do with skating. Being on the board. Getting on the board. And getting used to it.” She did profit from having a private coaching, Scot Prohaska who would assist encourage her to set objectives, be taught new tips and keep robust and wholesome.
Contest pictures of Lauren from 2002 in Melbourne, the X-Video games, and Maloof Cash Cup. X-Video games pictures in 2005 by Rob Meronek.
Regardless that contests have been nerve-wracking, Lauren mentioned, “Skateboarding usually is rising greater and larger… Girls’s skateboarding moving into the X Video games is large. There are extra ladies, and yearly the bar will get pushed up one other stage with the tips and the stuff the women try. It’s turning into fairly the game.” On the identical time, Lauren nonetheless liked to tear round L.A. together with her associates and get footage for her video components. “Contests are good, nevertheless it’s lower than you. To get actually good footage for that is one in all my fundamental objectives.”
Photographs: Lauren demonstrating her huge pop and flip tips. Rubbish can photograph by Lisa Whitaker.
Lauren was profitable in accumulating some stable footage. In 2008, she was featured together with Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins in a movie made by Oakley referred to as Uniquely (dir. John Roderick). The 35-minute video highlighted ladies’s motion sports activities together with skateboarding, browsing, snowboarding, snowboarding and wake-boarding from around the globe.
Annie Quick, the editor of Transworld Snowboarding was quoted on the Oakley web site as saying, “I liked the film… I imply, I actually liked it. The snowboarding in Japan bought me pumped up, however the skateboarding was inspiring.” A premiere screening occasion was held on the Oakley headquarters in Foothill Ranch, and the complete solid was in attendance, together with Lauren and Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins who was rocking a solid for her ankle.
Lauren’s half was filmed on the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest:
Within the 2008 SG Supergirl Jam contest at Huntington Seashore, a video was produced, which had commentary from Lauren, who ended up being the winner of the occasion forward of some robust expertise like Rachel Reinhard, Evelien Bouilliart, Leticia Bufoni, Lorena Lima, Amy Caron, Sophie Poppe, and Vanessa Torres. And, she additionally bought “greatest trick” for a FS bluntslide on the hand-rail.
Lauren mentioned, “it’s actually good to see extra ladies developing, particularly the younger ones, it’s actually cool.”
Lauren concluded her interview with American Famous person with knowledge, recognizing that at any second an damage might sabotage her expertise. “With one loopy damage, I couldn’t be capable of skate any longer. I take it day-by-day and take a look at it as, day by day that I can skate, I’m stoked to be skating. When I’m going to cease might be after I can’t skate.” And when requested about skateboarding within the Olympics, Lauren mentioned, “That might be superior… I can’t see why skateboarding couldn’t be [in the Olympics.]” Good name, Lauren!
By way of skateboarding, Lauren traveled to Canada for Slam Metropolis Jam in Vancouver, Australia for the Globe / Gallaz World Cup, Germany for the Munster Monster Mastership, Mexico for a photoshoot in SG journal, and even attended a Women Skate Camp in Barcelona, Spain which was reported on by Lucy Adams for Realskate.com, amongst different locations.
Right here’s a montage from 2009 of Lauren tearing up the park:
Photographs from 2011 & 2014:
Lauren now has a household and continues to surf, snowboard, and rip on her bike.
References:
- Ferrantino, Jeff. “Professional Skateboarder Lauren Perkins has a thrill for hazard,” American Famous person (January 31, 2006).
- Whitaker, Lisa. “Professional Highlight: Lauren Perkins,” Women Skate Community (April 11, 2008).