Leo Baker (skateboarder) explained

Leo Baker
Birth Date:24 November 1991
Birth Place:Covina, California, U.S.
Height:5inchesft3inchesin (ftin)
Weight:135lb
Sport:Skateboarding

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] Baker got his first skateboard shortly after this, aged two.[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.

Aged around nineteen, however, he quit his board sponsor, Element, while Billabong, another long-time sponsor, cut their skate team. 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.[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.[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], 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]

Competition history

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2010

2008

2007

2006

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pro Skater Leo Baker Pushes For Equality and Amplifies LGBTQ+ Voices in an Inspiring Nike Ad. Ryan. Maggie. 2020-01-11. POPSUGAR Fitness. en-US. 2020-03-03.
  2. Web site: Leo Baker is the skate hero we've all been waiting for: New York state of mind. Pappalardo. Anthony. 2018-09-18. Huckmag.com. Huck Magazine. 2020-12-09.
  3. Web site: The Rise Of Leo Baker . 2022-04-20 . The Berrics. 7 March 2020 .
  4. Baker . Leo . 2021-07-15 . 'I Couldn't Keep Putting Myself on Hold.' In Missing Out on the Tokyo Olympics, Skateboarder Leo Baker Found Himself . 2022-12-10 . Time . en.
  5. Marks . Andrea . 2022-08-07 . A Skateboarder Quit the Olympics to Come Out As Trans. A New Doc Shows His Journey . 2022-12-10 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  6. Web site: Ennis . Dawn . Pro Skateboarder Leo Baker's Newest Trick: Sticking To Business . 2022-12-10 . Forbes . en.
  7. Web site: Pappalardo . Anthony . 2018-09-18 . Why Leo Baker is the skate hero we've all been waiting for . 2022-12-10 . Huck Magazine . en-US.
  8. http://www.thesideproject.com/laceybaker.htm
  9. Web site: Element Europe | Skateboards, Shoes, Clothes, Events, Videos, Online Store Mens & Women's Apparel, Skateboards & Footwear . 2012-05-23 . Elementskateboards.com.
  10. Garber-Paul . Elisabeth . 2017-05-05 . Lacey Baker: The Rebel Queen of Skateboarding . 2023-01-04 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2021-10-21 . For Leo Baker, Skateboarding Is All About Making Memories . 2023-01-04 . Them . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2013-04-18 . Lacey Baker's Bombshell Full Part . 2022-12-10 . Thrasher Magazine.
  13. Web site: Bohannan . Sydney . 2021-01-06 . Meow Skateboards On Supporting Women In The Industry & Expanding To Europe . 2023-01-04 . Boardsport SOURCE . en-GB.
  14. News: Olympic Skateboarding Hopeful Lacey Baker Takes Silver In Street At X Games Norway . en . Team USA . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522015939/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/May/18/Olympic-Skateboarding-Hopeful-Lacey-Baker-Takes-Silver-In-Street-At-X-Games-Norway . dead . May 22, 2018 . 2018-07-26.
  15. Web site: Queer-Centric Skateboarding: The Story of Glue Skateboards . 2021-06-29 . www.thrashermagazine.com . en.
  16. Web site: Leo Baker . 2022-12-10 . www.nikesb.com.
  17. Web site: Tucker . Jake . 2020-07-16 . Leo Baker: skateboarding is for everyone, and so is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226033423/https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/leo-baker-non-binary-character-tony-hawks-pro-skater . 2022-12-26 . 2023-12-17 . . en.
  18. Web site: Bell . Brian C. . 2020-06-26 . Leo Baker drops into Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster . 2023-12-17 . Outsports . en.
  19. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Remains a Shining Beacon of Diversity and Representation . Gabe . Zaldivar . September 8, 2020 . January 16, 2021 . Sports Illustrated.
  20. Web site: World Skate OI STU Open Womens Street Open Qualifiers. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  21. Web site: USA Skateboarding National Championships Womens Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  22. Web site: Street League World Championships Sao Paulo Womens Quarter Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  23. Web site: X Games Minneapolis Womens Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  24. Web site: Minneapolis 2019 womens-skateboard-street. X Games. 2020-04-09. 2021-07-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210726232120/http://www.xgames.com/xgames/events/2019/minneapolis/results/27288832/womens-skateboard-street. dead.
  25. Web site: World Skate Street League Pro Tour Los Angeles Womens Street Semi Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  26. Web site: Dew Tour Long Beach Womens Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  27. Web site: Street League World Skate London Womens Semi-Final Street. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  28. Web site: Street League World Championships Rio de Janeiro Brazil Womens Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  29. Web site: X Games Minneapolis Women's Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  30. Web site: Street League Pro Open at London Women's Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  31. Web site: X Games Norway Womens Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  32. Web site: Skate Like a Girl Wheels of Fortune Pro Final. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  33. Web site: Street League Super Crown Women's Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  34. Web site: Wheels of Fortune Advanced Division. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  35. Web site: Exposure 2016 - Pro Street. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  36. Web site: Street League Super Crown Women's. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  37. Web site: X Games Women's Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  38. Web site: Austin 2016 Women's Skateboard Street. X Games. 2020-04-09.
  39. Web site: X Games Oslo Women's Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  40. Web site: Oslo 2016 Women's Skateboard Street. X Games. 2020-04-09.
  41. Web site: Exposure Pro Street. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  42. Web site: Kimberley Diamond Cup Women's Street World Championships. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  43. Web site: Kimberley Diamond Cup Results 2015. 2015-10-08. Girls Skate Network. en-US. 2020-04-09.
  44. Web site: Street League Chicago Women's Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  45. Web site: X Games Women's Street Finals. Meronek. Rob. TheBoardr. 2020-04-09.
  46. Web site: Austin 2015 Women's Skateboard Street. X Games. 2020-04-09.
  47. Web site: Pro Rider/Driver . 2011-01-02 . ESPN Action Sports: The Worldwide Leader In Action Sports – ESPN . 2012-05-23 . Expn.go.com.