"We dropped
acid and went off a huge cliff called Wrigley's at
Mammoth last year. It was late in the season and I
was really scared, but I was thinking, even if I kill myself,
it doesn't matter, the season's over."
The spontaneity and vigor of her words rang out as I listened to Jodi
tell one of her thousands of life adventures that she and her right-
hand woman have endured together. It's a Wednesday night in
November and Jodi Elizabeth McDonald and Jen O'Brien
are playing Yahtzee and swilling Miller Genuine Draft.
The propane burns warm in their Tahoe cabin as the snow peacefully
gravitates towards Mother Earth to cap the lovely, voluptuous curves of the
Sierras. The MGD buzz starts. The girls reminisce...
"When I was 14, I used to hang out at the beach with my friend
Pam. All the guys would skate up there to surf and, when they hit
the water, the girls would hold the skates. So that's how I started
skating", Jodi says of her betty days.
Jen adds, "I would hitch-hike to Daytona Beach, my hometown, and
surf and that's where I started skating. Once I went to Gainesville,
it was 1989, to skate a mini. I was wearing some girls' shoes, and it
turned out they were Jodi's. That's how we met. I didn't steal her
shoes, so she thought I was cool."
Jen and Jodi are best friends. But they are more than just friends,
they are also business partners on the same mission. Skating and
travelling and definitely raising hell wherever they spring up.
"Made up my mind, make a new start. Goin' to California with an
achin' in my heart. The sea was red and the sky was grey. Wonder
how tomorrow could ever follow today. The mountains and the
canyons start to tremble and shake. Children of the Sun begin to
awake. Watchout." Going To California by Led Zeppelin...Jen remembers their move to California...
"We left Florida and met up in Atlanta where we drove to Dallas
to party with Billy Smith and some local guys. We went to a party
where we got free beer for skating a mini. Everyone was all loaded
and the cops showed up. Jodi was passed out in the car. This one guy
shot his board out at a cop and the cops started beating the shit out
of him. I got pissed and tried to hit a cop with my board and ended
up spending 19 hours in a Dallas jail. I gave them an alias and got out
and Jodi picked me up in Oklahoma and we ended up at John
Lucero's house. We went to a party in California with Christian
(Hosoi) and (Dave) Duncan and some of those guys. We had given
up beer to get in shape, so we said we'd only drink Tequila. We
hooked up with Cara-Beth (Burnside) and took her out! Our motto
was, 'Break Somethin!' so I broke this $100 ashtray at this party in
the Hilton Huntington Beach. The cops busted me, but they let me go."
Since then, life has been pretty chill for the dynamic duo. Being a
female in a patriarchal industry such as skateboarding does not even
phase these young shredders.
"Being a female skater rules", says Jen.
"I feel I get judged the same as the guys in contests, on overall
performance", adds Jodi.
If they were to change anything about the skate world, it would be
to have more public parks, more vert, and to all the new school kids
who dog vert, vibe and don't know what they're saying; go back to
school. They see the street tricks hitting the vert ramp for now and
the future. J & J like to ride with Matt Moffett, Peter Hewitt,
Greg Whit, Eddie Alietto and pools with G-Man.
At 24, Jodi is sponsored by Milk Skateboards, Vans, and gets flow
from Indy, Dead End and Cold Earth Wear. She sees no long
term goals. "Don't carry nothin', that might be a load" is one of her
favorite mottos. As far as the future, she wants to stay on all her
runs next contest and place well. She finds great inspiration from
Adam Luxford. If she needs to go fast or big, it is the spirit of
Luxford that moves her. Jodi's favorite spots are The Charlton
Hanger with Kelly Belmar's a close second. Mach 20!
Jen is sponsored by Good Times Skateboards, Vans, Indy and
gets flow from Type A. "Stay healthy and don't get tied down or
held back. Just be happy and go with the flow" is this 21 year old's
plans for the future. She shares respect for everyone who has hung
through it, still rides and has done shit for the industry. Her favorite
spots to sessions are the Plan B vert ramp, Encinitas when it's
good and Kelly Belmar's. She sends a "What up" out to Team Glug
(even though you guys suck), Jimmy Lee Park, Holly and Raging
Wombat. Thriving on snowboarding, Jen says "We're living in Tahoe
so look the fuck out!"
-Sonny Mayugba
The spontaneity and vigor of her words rang out as I listened to Jodi
tell one of her thousands of life adventures that she and her right-
hand woman have endured together. It's a Wednesday night in
November and Jodi Elizabeth McDonald and Jen O'Brien
are playing Yahtzee and swilling Miller Genuine Draft.
The propane burns warm in their Tahoe cabin as the snow peacefully
gravitates towards Mother Earth to cap the lovely, voluptuous curves of the
Sierras. The MGD buzz starts. The girls reminisce...
"When I was 14, I used to hang out at the beach with my friend
Pam. All the guys would skate up there to surf and, when they hit
the water, the girls would hold the skates. So that's how I started
skating", Jodi says of her betty days.
Jen adds, "I would hitch-hike to Daytona Beach, my hometown, and
surf and that's where I started skating. Once I went to Gainesville,
it was 1989, to skate a mini. I was wearing some girls' shoes, and it
turned out they were Jodi's. That's how we met. I didn't steal her
shoes, so she thought I was cool."
Jen and Jodi are best friends. But they are more than just friends,
they are also business partners on the same mission. Skating and
travelling and definitely raising hell wherever they spring up.
"Made up my mind, make a new start. Goin' to California with an
achin' in my heart. The sea was red and the sky was grey. Wonder
how tomorrow could ever follow today. The mountains and the
canyons start to tremble and shake. Children of the Sun begin to
awake. Watchout." Going To California by Led Zeppelin
...Jen remembers their move to California...
"We left Florida and met up in Atlanta where we drove to Dallas
to party with Billy Smith and some local guys. We went to a party
where we got free beer for skating a mini. Everyone was all loaded
and the cops showed up. Jodi was passed out in the car. This one guy
shot his board out at a cop and the cops started beating the shit out
of him. I got pissed and tried to hit a cop with my board and ended
up spending 19 hours in a Dallas jail. I gave them an alias and got out
and Jodi picked me up in Oklahoma and we ended up at John
Lucero's house. We went to a party in California with Christian
(Hosoi) and (Dave) Duncan and some of those guys. We had given
up beer to get in shape, so we said we'd only drink Tequila. We
hooked up with Cara-Beth (Burnside) and took her out! Our motto
was, 'Break Somethin!' so I broke this $100 ashtray at this party in
the Hilton Huntington Beach. The cops busted me, but they let me go."
Since then, life has been pretty chill for the dynamic duo. Being a
female in a patriarchal industry such as skateboarding does not even
phase these young shredders.
"Being a female skater rules", says Jen.
"I feel I get judged the same as the guys in contests, on overall
performance", adds Jodi.
If they were to change anything about the skate world, it would be
to have more public parks, more vert, and to all the new school kids
who dog vert, vibe and don't know what they're saying; go back to
school. They see the street tricks hitting the vert ramp for now and
the future. J & J like to ride with Matt Moffett, Peter Hewitt,
Greg Whit, Eddie Alietto and pools with G-Man.
At 24, Jodi is sponsored by Milk Skateboards, Vans, and gets flow
from Indy, Dead End and Cold Earth Wear. She sees no long
term goals. "Don't carry nothin', that might be a load" is one of her
favorite mottos. As far as the future, she wants to stay on all her
runs next contest and place well. She finds great inspiration from
Adam Luxford. If she needs to go fast or big, it is the spirit of
Luxford that moves her. Jodi's favorite spots are The Charlton
Hanger with Kelly Belmar's a close second. Mach 20!
Jen is sponsored by Good Times Skateboards, Vans, Indy and
gets flow from Type A. "Stay healthy and don't get tied down or
held back. Just be happy and go with the flow" is this 21 year old's
plans for the future. She shares respect for everyone who has hung
through it, still rides and has done shit for the industry. Her favorite
spots to sessions are the Plan B vert ramp, Encinitas when it's
good and Kelly Belmar's. She sends a "What up" out to Team Glug
(even though you guys suck), Jimmy Lee Park, Holly and Raging
Wombat. Thriving on snowboarding, Jen says "We're living in Tahoe
so look the fuck out!"
-Sonny Mayugba