Girls Skate Network

Nora Vasconcellos Interview (2011)

Birthday: 11/28/92
 

Hometown: Pembroke, Massachusetts
 

Currently Reside: Pembroke, Massachusetts
 

Started Skating: 2006
 

Sponsors: Pioneers Board Shop, Rye Airfield, Athletic Revolution, Bern Helmets, and flow for Hoopla, Bones, Vans, Nixon, 187 Killer Pads and Theeve Trucks
 

How were you introduced to skateboarding and what got you started? 

When I was really young I loved to watch the show Rocket Power, I wanted to be Reggie Rocket! I would mess around on my neighbor's skateboard and at the time I was also rollerblading and bmxing...oh yea. When I was in middle school I was a competitive surfer and skating bowls was great cross training. I eventually started skating more and really started to push myself, especially in vert.

 

Do you remember what your first setup was?

It was awesome, a Hobie with plastic trucks and on the bottom there was a cat doing an invert...classic!
 

Were there any early influences on your skating?

I remember reading an article on Lyn-z when I was about 11 in this surf magazine. I thought it was the coolest thing, so I looked up to her and Bucky. I really had no idea about the scene at the time, but those two were my first big influences.
 

What is the best and worst thing about your hometown? 

Pembroke is a pretty average New England town. It's right in between Cape Cod and Boston so thats nice, its easy to get to the beach and the city. Worst thing is there is absolutely no where to skate and very few people who skate and understand the culture.

Besides skateboarding, what do you like to do in your spare time? 

I love to hang out with my friends and family, surf, draw, and paint. 
 

What is your typical day like? 

Get up, school starts at 7:40 and I'm out at 2. Afterwards I have homework but if it's nice I try and get to the new concrete park about 20 min away. It's small but fun, with a little plaza and bowl. Then I usually workout at Athletic Revolution around 5:30 or 6. My trainer is so awesome and we work on a lot of injury prevention and stretching. Then I go home, feed my cat, and get lost on facebook.
 

Where do you like to skate?

I love to skate up at Rye Airfield in New Hampshire. I am usually up there on the weekends to skate vert. The new vert ramp is unreal and their is such a good group to skate with!
 

Who do you like to skate with?

Davis, Tate, Eamon, Derek, Max, Josh, Zac, Nolan, Nick, Scott, Cam, Ivana, Eric...we have such a great group of kids from Rye and I also love traveling and getting to skate with my friends from all over. 
 

What kind of music do you listen to? 

Everything, I'm really into The Morning Benders, Two Door Cinema Club, the Shins, Vampire Weekend, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and Adele...I like to mix it up.

 

What is something most people don't know about you?

I love my cat, she's like my child. I also have never thrown up in my life...just putting that out there.
 

So far, what have been some of the highlights of your skateboarding?

Last summer competing in the X-Games was a dream come true. Just to get out to the west coast was amazing and I can't wait to travel more!
 

What do you have planned for this year? 

When I graduate I plan on taking a gap year to really push myself and my skating. I am working on a girls program up in Rye also and I may be doing some internships. I am just so excited to be able to put so much more time and energy into what I love! 
 

Shout outs and thanks?

Thanks to my parents for driving me all over and always supporting my dreams, my brother for putting up with me, Pioneers and the O'Haras for all the support and love, Beau Lambert and Rye Airfield, Josh Walker at Bern, Dave and Andrea Gleason at Athletic Revolution, everyone who I skate with and who has offered me advice, and Bob Pollard for his inspiration and encouragement. 

www.noravasconcellos.com