Elissa Steamer facts for kids
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Steamer in 2009
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | July 31, 1975 Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Professional skateboarder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1989–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 pounds (55 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Skateboarding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Elissa Steamer (born July 31, 1975) is a famous American professional skateboarder. She is known for being one of the first women to become a professional street skateboarder. Elissa has won many awards and is a true legend in the skateboarding world.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Skateboarding
Elissa Steamer was born in Fort Myers, Florida, United States. She started skateboarding in 1989 when she was about 14 years old. She often visited a small skate park in her city on Grand Avenue to practice her skills.
Becoming a Professional Skateboarder
Joining Toy Machine
Elissa's first official sponsor for skateboard decks was Toy Machine. This company was started by professional skateboarder Ed Templeton. Another pro skater, Chad Muska, helped Elissa get sponsored.
Elissa filmed parts for two Toy Machine videos: Welcome to Hell (1996) and Jump Off A Building. These videos helped show her amazing skateboarding talent to the world.
Moving to Baker and Bootleg
After some time, Elissa joined a brand called Bootleg. This was part of the Baker skateboard company. She worked with other famous skaters like Andrew Reynolds and Erik Ellington.
Elissa's video parts were featured in Baker's Bootleg and 2G videos. She once said that she earned her highest paychecks from skateboard sales during her time with Bootleg.
Winning Gold at the X Games with Zero
In 2006, Elissa joined the Zero skateboard team. While with Zero, she continued to show her skills.
At the 2008 X Games in Los Angeles, Elissa won her fourth gold medal in the Women's Street event. The women's street category began in 2004. The only year she didn't win gold was 2007, when she earned a silver medal.
After her win, another pro skater, Mimi Knoop, said that Elissa "paved the way for those girls in street." She added that Elissa "set the bar ability-wise for all those girls that are coming up." This shows how important Elissa was for women's skateboarding.
Starting Gnarhunters and Returning to Baker
In 2013, Elissa started her own project called "Gnarhunters." She explained that it would eventually become a brand. Other pro skaters like Brian Anderson helped her with the artistic side of the project.
In 2018, Elissa officially joined the Baker Skateboards pro team. She released her first signature board with them. As of 2021, Gnarhunters is also distributed by Baker Boys Distribution.
Awards and Honors
Elissa Steamer has received special recognition for her skateboarding career:
- In 2003, Check it Out Girls magazine voted her "Female Skater of the Year."
- In 2015, Elissa was honored by being inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
Appearing in Video Games
Many kids know Elissa Steamer from the popular Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game series. She was a playable character in the first five games and also in the 2020 remake, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2.
Elissa has mentioned that her biggest paychecks came from the money she earned from these video games. Another pro skater, Andrew Reynolds, said that all the skaters in the first game were paid very well. He recalled getting a large check for royalties, showing how successful the game was.
Personal Life
Elissa Steamer has invested in properties in Fort Myers, Florida. The money from these properties helps support her life in California, where she lives.
Contest History
Elissa Steamer has an impressive record in skateboarding contests:
1998
- 1st place, Slam City Jam, Women's Street, Canada
1999
- 1st place, Slam City Jam, Women's Street, Canada
2003
- 1st place, World Cup of Skateboarding, Women's Street, Melbourne, Australia
2004
- 1st place, Gallaz Skate Jam, Melbourne, Australia
- 1st place, Triple Crown, Women's Street, Cleveland, Ohio, US
- Gold, X Games, Women's Street, Los Angeles, California, US
- 1st place, Gravity Games, Women's Street, Cleveland, Ohio, US
- 1st place, Triple Crown Finals, Women's Street, Huntington Beach, California, US
- 1st place, Slam City Jam, Women's Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2005
- 1st place, World Cup of Skateboarding, Women's Street, Melbourne, Australia
- 1st place, World Championships of Skateboarding, Münster, Germany
- Gold, X Games, Women's Street, Los Angeles, California, US
- 1st place, Malaysia X Games, Women's Street, Malaysia
2006
- Gold, X Games, Women's Street, Los Angeles, California, US
2007
- Silver, X Games, Women's Street, Los Angeles, California, US
2008
- Gold, X Games, Women's Street, Los Angeles, California, United States (US)
Videography
Elissa Steamer has appeared in many skateboarding videos, showcasing her skills:
- Toy Machine: Welcome to Hell (1996)
- Toy Machine: Jump Off a Building (1998)
- Baker: Bootleg (1998)
- Baker: 2G (2000)
- Bootleg: Bootleg 3000 (2003)
- Nike: Gizmo (2019)
- Baker: Baker4 (2019)
- Baker: Baker Has A Deathwish Part 2 (2024)
Images for kids
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Elissa Steamer
See also
In Spanish: Elissa Steamer para niños
