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Recruited to Logan Earth Ski by Danny Bearer at age 13 after winning first place in slalom and freestyle at a Steve’s South Bay contest in 1975, Laura Thornhill went on to become the second female skater ever to get her own signature model skateboard. After being taken under the wing of Warren Bolster, she also became the first girl to get a Who’s Hot in Skateboarder, eventually the first girl to get a full-feature interview in the magazine, and also the first and only female centerspread. Having moved to Redondo Beach from Texas in ’74, Laura arrived right as the urethane wheel was kicking off a whole new boom. Throughout the ’70s, Laura won or placed in nearly every women’s competition organized, and sometimes even competed against and beat the boys.
Footage of her long, flowing hair while doing 360s is almost mandatory in any documentary from the period. Outside of contests, Laura was one of a few of the only girls charging all terrains—fearless in backyard pools, vertical parks, and full pipes, she held her own with the best and probably intimidated the rest. Laura would also be credited with discovering a nine-year-old Eric Dressen while skating a pool in Torrance and helping him get his first board sponsor through Logan Earth Ski along with his own now historic Who’s Hot at the age of 10. Having married in 1987, Laura continues to remain active in the world of skateboarding and has imparted some of her incredible skill to her son, Sage, and daughter, Kylie.
