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Recognizing #20YearsofGirl Skateboards and their connection to Vancouver

This past Saturday Girl Skateboards opened an incredible exhibition at Known Gallery in Los Angeles celebrating 20 years in business.

This past Saturday Girl Skateboards opened an incredible exhibition at Known Gallery in Los Angeles celebrating 20 years in business. Founded in 1993 by Spike Jonze (yes, that Spike Jonze), Megan Baltimore, professional skateboarder Mike Carroll and Vancouver's very own Rick Howard, Girl has always been known as a global trendsetter in the industry. The way they've always run their company reflects the creativity and fun of the sport, and I am so proud of the time I spent working in their art department when I lived in Los Angeles.

The exhibition at Known Gallery includes 279 skateboards that they've released over 2 decades (including a few that I designed) as well as a vast amount of photos, some custom artwork on their "Wooden OG" Girl dolls and a series of new skateboards and posters designed by past and present members of their art department.

Photo courtesy Atiba Jefferson / The Skateboard Mag

The show in LA goes until the 30th of August, and on the 29th they're opening one here in Vancouver at Anti Social on Main Street! As I mentioned above their co-founder, pro skateboarder Rick Howard, is from Vancouver and has always served as a friendly ambassador of our city and Canada to the rest of the skateboarding world. While they're an LA-based company, over the years the team has been host to other pro skateboarders hailing from our fair city: Vancouver's Colin Mckay, Tony Ferguson (pictured above in the red brimmed hat at the LA show!) and current pro on the team, Rick McCrank, who is also a co-owner in Anti Social.

Rick Howard's status as an international skateboarding icon, successful business owner, and Vancouverite (he went to King George Secondary!) were important when I went to City Hall and successfully petitioned that they make August 29th, 2013 officially RICK HOWARD APPRECIATION DAY. There will be an official plaque signed by Mayor Gregor at the opening! And a presentation! This is the first time a skateboarder has been recognized with their own day in the City of Vancouver.

Here's a video that Skateboarder Magazine put together of the opening night of the LA show. The show opening next Thursday August 29th is going to be different than that LA one, but guaranteed it will be worth checking out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Q2ZHMxuPw

See you there!