Editor’s Note: To celebrate Pride Week, and the July 1 release of Skateism Issue #4, we’re releasing some of our favorite articles from Issue #3. Kicking it off is the cover girl herself, Jenn Soto. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more special Pride Week stories!
Two years ago Jenn Soto was a girl with a dream. Growing up in Jersey, she looked up to the likes of Leo Baker and Vanessa Torres, having nothing more than skateboarding in her mind. But in classic Soto style, she threw caution to the wind and went with her dream – driving across California, hoping the world would be good to her. Now, at only 22, she is at a delicate point in her competitive career where every move matters and every win is set in stone. In 2018 she won Gold at Street League in London – her first time ever out of the United States – and second-place at the Dew Tour in Long Beach. She’s become something of a poster girl for Adidas, a wild-haired bright-spark who, despite the hype, is just happy to be here. We caught up with Jenn to find out how she keeps her cool in the lights, camera and action of skating’s most moneyed moments. And how going with the flow, took her to the top of the game in just two years.
INTERVIEW: RUBY MATEJA & PAULA VIIDU
PHOTOGRAPHY: ZANDER TAKETOMO
PORTRAIT: SAM McGUIRE
Jenn! What’s new?
I’m a bit sore right now but I’m gonna go out skating in a bit. I’ve got to do some laundry first…make sure I exercise, do all that boring stuff.
All the bits in between the skating…
Exactly, I’ve been doing a lot recently so it’s good to check in with all the other life stuff. But I’ve been getting stoked on things too. I’m pretty hyped with Primitive’s latest part – it’s cool to see a video that makes you wanna drop everything you’re doing right now and go skate. I get that with The Skate Witches and Skateistan too actually.
You went to London – your first time out of the USA – for Street League in 2018. Enjoy your time there?
I was so relieved we got there a couple days before SLS, because I ended up taking my roommates board by accident – I was so nervous, it was the first time I’d ever left the country and I was like ‘passport, keys, wallet, sick, sick’ …and then I didn’t realise until we were at the airport that it wasn’t even my board I had taken. I thought it was over for me before it had even started. So those days we had to skate and explore were crucial to get used to the new board set up.
Woah, and you still walked away with Gold! Where did you skate to warm up?
We skated BaySixty6 and that was great, it has everything you need. And you can watch the trains go by too, it’s so pretty. Then the day before we skated Southbank and that was sick, super rugged, it reminded me of home. On the East coast it rains a lot, so things are weathered-out and crusty. The street spots were amazing too, I was kind of overwhelmed, I want to take another trip back there just for the street spots.
How are you feeling post-Street League, your big win! Has everything been a bit crazy?
I just feel super grateful. I still can’t wrap my head around it, but just enjoying it honestly. My friends and I joked: “Bring home a trophy.” And then there I was, with my homies on the podium. It’s just one of those things, you don’t ever plan for it – but for it to end up working out like that is amazing.
“I just wanted to be outside playing with the homies.”
I’m not really a contest skater mentally, so for me to finally understand my nerves and to work with them rather than letting them work against me, was a huge moment for me – in my own little brain.
You’re not mentally, but you compete a fair bit…
I mean I’ve had other contests where I do well in practice and then the moment they say my name I’m like ‘oh shoot’, and it all goes out the window. But this time around I just kept reminding myself that it’s just another sesh. I’m just so happy I was able to do that you know, and to have Mariah [Duran] up there with me. I made a bet with her, I was like, ‘Yo bro, whoever’s on the podium has to do 100 push ups.’ So we both had to do push-ups that day and it was super sick. And Leo was up there too – just to be next to my friends was amazing.
When I was watching the footage it was so great to see the atmosphere between all the womxn skaters. It doesn’t look like you’re competing against each other…
We’re just excited to skate together in a super dope park. That park’s going to get torn down later, but it’s sick that you get the opportunity to skate it now. It’s everything around the contest rather than the contest itself. And all the love you get from the people watching is great.
But at the same time, it’s a huge thing, no?
It’s probably the biggest stage we have to show what we’ve got and I feel like the more we progress in all these contests, the more people see the overall progression of womxn’s skateboarding. They’re like “Oh shoot: girls do skate.” You know it just puts that thought into their head, they’re vibing with us.
And eventually there won’t even be that, it’ll just be “Oh you saw that part from her?” and it’s gonna be totally normal. No more girl-guy this-that, just like yeah they’re a rad skater, sick.
What are your thoughts on all-womxn crews and girls skate nights, the non-competitive end of things?
I think it’s important to skate with who you feel comfortable skating with at the end of the day. When I was growing up skating there were no other girls skating so I didn’t get to take part in those things. So I just hung with the dudes. I had inspirations like Vanessa Torres, Leo Baker, Alexis Sablone, Elissa Steamer. They’re the womxn that showed me that you can go pro and make this your career if you want to enough.
Where did you grow up specifically?
Jersey City, New Jersey. I loved it. Spent a lot of time lurking around the train station to go skating in New York.
What was it that drew you to skating when you first started?
I just saw someone with a skateboard one day and I was like ‘oh shit that’s cool, I wanna skateboard’. When I got into skating, I was about 12, and I really had no idea about the culture that surrounded it, like I wasn’t watching skate videos, and there weren’t that many skateparks about. I would just skate out front with my friend all day after school. We were pretty young, maybe like sixth grade and before our parents let us venture out too far we’d just skate at the train station on our way home. So we’d mostly just skate flat until another kid showed us the local skatepark. From then on that was the spot.
Did you see any other girls skating at that point?
No, not at all. I was the only one for a while actually, at least I think I was. I didn’t see anyone, and there was no Instagram to hook up with other people. I knew there were homies out there, but in my area there was no one. I guess in New York, a little later on, that’s when I first started seeing girls skating. At the same time, I was just happy to skate with anyone. I just wanted to be outside playing with the homies.
It’s great to start skating when you’re young because you tend to be more carefree…
Definitely, but there was also a time when I would turn up to the skatepark and just sit for a solid three hours before I had the courage to start skating. But once I started there was no stopping me. So that was a huge battle for me, and totally unnecessary, all I needed to do was just skate. No one really cares at the end of the day. But I’m a shy person so I guess all those factors, and being the only girl, added up at that point.
I guess these things just build up in your head.
Exactly, the brain is super powerful.
So you weren’t ever met with any hostility about being the only girl there skating?
Nah, never. All the dudes at the skatepark have always been super respectful. Even when I was younger, they’d offer help. They thought it was rad you know.
But I did definitely have dudes ask me to play S.K.A.T.E because they thought they could beat me. Fantastic. You know when you’re 13 years old and you have this guy like ‘yo, you wanna play skate’, and then you end up beating them.
Did you have a defining moment when you realised that skating was what you wanted to pursue?
I don’t know if there was a moment, I didn’t ever think about going pro or making money from it. I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life, I just didn’t know how. Even when I moved out to California I still maintained a job and shit. I didn’t know where it was going to go, or how far it would take me but yeah, this is where I always wanted to be. So I made sure I just did everything to enable myself to live here. The love for skating brought me here. That’s why it’s so mad to have the opportunity to go to these sorts of contests, and for it to go well. I was just a kid trying to skate.
But there must have been a turning point…
It was around the point where everyone at home I used to skate with started getting jobs and not really having the time to skate anymore. That’s when I knew I had to go. To go and be around people who wanted to skate all the time. The whole industry is here, it’s progressive, you can network all the time and things just move super quickly. The skill level is so up there as well, like you go to the park and there’s a little kid tre-flipping a ten stair, you’re like ‘oh shoot, I gotta keep up.’ It’s just a different game out here.
When did you meet Mariah?
I first saw her clip on King of the Road, where they had to find a Latino girl that could do a kickflip, I thought that was so sick. I can’t remember the year, but the first time I met any of those g*rls properly -Vanessa, Mariah, Alexis, Leo – was in Austin, Texas at the X-Games. I was fresh off the plane and I instantly went and charged around the course because I was so excited. When I eventually went to talk to them it just felt like I’d already known them my whole life. There was instantly so much love between us. They welcomed me with open arms. And yeah, I feel like me and Mariah just bonded more because we were a similar age, we’re both goofs, and just try to be positive beings you know.
I do get a lot of positive energy watching your clips together…
That’s all skateboarding is in my brain, having fun with your mates. Being a kid again.
Were you following these womxn skaters we’ve mentioned before you’d met them?
Absolutely. I mean, I’d follow the guys as well, but seeing other female skaters out there – especially when there weren’t any around me – was incredible. Seeing their different styles and tricks. You know, they were the light of hope that told me ‘you can do this, you can make this your job’.
They were super inspirational, they showed me that it was all possible. I think it’s important to have exposure for womxn like that in anything – just to show like ‘oh, they’re doing it, so there’s no reason I can’t.’
So, for you it was important to see these female role models within the skate scene?
Definitely. Obviously as a kid I just thought I was going to skate forever, but I never knew how. Seeing people like Vanessa and Alexis gave me the positive affirmation that sustaining this was doable. They paved the way. And that’s super important. Now we’re all contributing and making our own paths, whilst helping each other, but it was nice to have a place to start and that’s why I look up to them.
Do you think the female skate scene has developed this close-knit kind of atmosphere because of the history of skateboarding being so male dominated?
I think we definitely feel like we’re a part of something fresh. In simple terms it’s just the case that we don’t always get to see each other so much – so when we do get to skate together we’re all just stoked on that. It’s super comforting and warm, to have these bad-ass womxn to hang out with. As far as getting stoked on each other, I get that with all skating, but with the womxn it seems to be on a different level of support. There’s nothing like the sesh when the ladies come together.
For girls and womxn who haven’t skated before, I think seeing footage of womxn like you and Mariah skating together removes the fear around taking up skateboarding. Showing that it’s not all super serious, nor is it about your ability or looking cool. You know, lose you composure; take a slam, get back up…
That part of skating has taught me so much about life. The trial and error thing – it’s not always going to work first time. Get over it, get back up and try again. It’s skateboarding that taught me this. And when you take that into real-life situations like school or work, it really comes through. You know, if something doesn’t work out you have to adjust, be patient. You don’t just quit.
Once failure is normalised, then really, you’ve got nothing to lose.
Yep, patience is key.
Something Leo brought up in a previous interview with us was the responsibility, for them, which comes with being held as a role model; effecting how they portrays themself. Do you feel like, as a role model for womxn skaters, that you are representing something that needs to be upheld?
Personally, I’m stoked that I have a voice on social media, and that kids look up to me. I feel like as long as you just portray your genuine self then you really have nothing to worry about. I’m really just being me, and it feels great to have a bunch of people support you for doing that. Like when I get sent messages from kids I love it because I was that kid. I make sure I answer to everyone because I know how it felt to get a message back from someone you admire, it’s amazing. I’m never going to be too busy or whatever to reply, because I want to share that stoke. I can’t be there in person for everyone to give them a fist pump or to hug them but I can message back. It’s the little things, isn’t it?
It seems like such a simple thing, but those are often the things that get overlooked.
Exactly, make someone smile and they’ll probably go off and make someone else smile. It’s a chain reaction.
Do you feel tempted to use your platform to highlight topics more far-reaching than just skateboarding?
I don’t feel like I’m in a position to speak out about all the important issues and stuff going on. For me I think it’s just important to show people that you can speak your mind – especially if you have a voice and a following to do so. If I feel like I need to address something, then I totally will. I think it’s important to show the positive side of these platforms – they can be used for something other than just looking at memes and cute puppies. I mean, obviously I do that. My whole ‘explore’ page is barely even skateboarding – it’s just kittens and puppies, cute shit.
Do you feel the pressure to get out and record things these days, or can you still enjoy skating for what it is?
I do acknowledge that skating is my job now; it’s my dream job, but it is a job. And with every job comes obligation. You know, sometimes I’m going to have to get up when I don’t want to. But the important thing is that I have the time to skateboard, there’s nothing holding me back from that. The pressure is more being strict with myself and resting when I need it, letting that hip bruise heal before slamming on it again. You know, there’s no handbook for becoming a skater, so I’m still figuring it all out. I want to be in this for a long time so I’m trying not to get burnt out; trying to look after my body.
Good to hear you’re treating yourself well!
Dude, honestly though, it’s just sunny here all the time. If I ever just try to sit in and watch Netflix or do some laundry, I look out the window and it’s impossible to stay in! But yeah, I’m trying to get that balance, so I can be in this for a long time. I’m down for skating ledges when I’m sixty. I won’t be jumping down stuff, but I won’t be in the mini yet. I’ll switch to transition at about 65-70.
Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out…
Yep, never stop skating, just switch to low impact – rock to fakies all day. Right now I love jumping down stuff so much. That’s the closest to flying I can get without becoming a vert skater.
Hot topic at the moment: how do you feel about the direction that skateboarding is moving in; away from its counter-cultural past into the mainstream?
I’m personally totally cool with it, it’s only going to bring more people into it. Welcome everyone, dude. It’s still going to be skateboarding at the end of the day, but more kids will be trying it – more people will be picking up a board in general. A lot of people don’t get into it simply because they don’t see it. I would have picked up a board way younger if I’d known it was around. We’re going to see more rad people get into it, and the progression of it all go up even more. It’s already pretty crazy right now, and it’s gonna get crazier.
Yeah, just making it way more accessible…
Exactly, there’s always going to be some people who discourage womxn from getting into these kinds of sports. But if they want to be like that, they can go do it somewhere else. Each person can take what they want from it. You know, if you want to train for the Olympics then do it, get there.
“I do acknowledge that skating is my job now; it’s my dream job, but it is a job”
If you just want to skate underground, go for it. Do you. It’s just skateboarding at the end of the day. Keep it that simple.
Do you think that with the way things are going, with girls starting to skate from a young age now, that soon womxn and men will be at the same level?
I totally think that it can get there. That’s what we’re all working at now. The skating thing is totally up to you, how fast you want to progress and push it. If you work hard enough at something, then it can definitely happen. There’s no doubt in my mind that we could get to the same level, it’s just up to the individuals themselves. For me seeing those womxn I was following when I was growing up, they were setting the standard. And that’s what it’s about, I want to push the next generation. Right now, we’re still a little bit behind, purely just because of time. We’ve been doing this for much less time. But we’re getting there, and soon we’ll be head-to-head.
Everyone is pushing it hard at the moment too, I saw that Leticia is already back on her board after her injury at SL, that’s insane!
I admire her so much for her work ethic. She’s in the gym every day doing everything she can to get back on it – I personally, would probably still have my foot in that boot because I’d be playing Call of Duty, or eating chips. I’m getting better at it now, but no one has work ethic like Leticia. She’s out of the boot because she really wanted to be out that boot. And yeah, she’s back out skating. I’ve been hanging out with her a lot recently and like, she doesn’t drink, she doesn’t smoke, but she’ll still be up all-night partying and then go out ripping in the morning. Super sick. She’s really doing it. You know, everyone’s killing it right now, Leo’s pushing it, Mariah’s pushing it.
Where would you want your next skate trip to be?
Bar-ce-lo-naaa! I’ve never been! Everyone tells me ‘you gotta make it out there’, and I’m like ‘I’m trying!’ Going to London was the first time I ever left the country, so I survived that, and now I have a passport.
You’ve got to go!
Oh for sure. This is the first time I’ve had a schedule as a skater so I’m trying to plan around stuff – but I’ll get there.
Do you have any particular aspirations now that you’re in this full-time?
I think every skater’s dream is to have their name on a board. Right now it’s just one thing at a time, film some video parts, etc… I don’t think I’m like ‘there’ yet, you know, like to be pro and have your name on a board – that’s a whole other set of obligations. I mean, I’m ready for it but still trying to figure this shit out. I’m just trying to progress. As a skater my dream would be to do a kickflip-crook-nollie-flip-out. That’s all I want to do, get some wild tricks.
How’s that going so far?
One day at a time. That’s my motto, that keeps the pace of things mellow. I don’t like thinking ahead too much, it gets me all overwhelmed. You just got to wake up and be the best you can be every day. One day at a time.
And will we be seeing you in the Olympics?
You know, people seeing womxn in skateboarding is going to progress skateboarding overall, and that means a lot of rad people are gonna pick up a skateboard and a lot of kooks are gonna pick up a skateboard. There’s gonna be a lot of wacky things going on, as well as mainstream things like the Olympics. As far myself, I’m from the US, but my whole family is from Puerto Rico, so if I could have the opportunity to have a Puerto Rican flag on my uniform instead, I’d love to do that.
