Leo Baker (skateboarder)

Leo Baker (born November 24, 1991; they/them[1]) is a goofy-footed American professional skateboarder from Covina, California,[2] now based in New York City.[3]

Leo Baker

Personal information
Born	November 24, 1991 Covina, California
Height	5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Weight	135 lb (61 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Skateboarding
Medal record Summer X Games Representing  United States 2014 Austin Street Norway 2018 Street 2013 Los Angeles Street 2013 Foz do Iguaçu Street 2006 Los Angeles Street 2016 Austin Street

Skateboarding

Leo Baker (who identifies as nonbinary[3]) began skateboarding at the age of 5, but only started focusing on it at the age of 11.[4] Baker lists their proudest moment as the first time they landed a kickflip.[5] They are said to be one of the best skaters in the world.[6]

In the March 2007 edition of The Skateboard Mag, Baker is featured in two photo sequences showing them perform a 360 flip and a hardflip down 8 stairs. This was part of the magazine's article "Killer Kids."[7]

In 2006, they placed first in street competitions at both the Canadian Open in Toronto and the Slam City Jam in Calgary.[8]

They are the child of guitarist Marshall Rohner (who played for The Cruzados, T.S.O.L., and Dino's Revenge).

In 2016, Baker won the Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship.[9]

In 2017, Baker was the only skateboarder to be nominated for an ESPY Award in the "Best Female Action Sports Athlete" category.[9]

As of 2020 Baker is sponsored by Nike SB, Meow Skateboards, Spitfire Wheels, Independent Trucks, Bronson Speed, Mob Grip, and Pawnshop Skate Co. in Covina, CA.

Creative/Design

Prior to turning pro and moving to New York, Baker worked as a graphic designer in Los Angeles, an environment they found unfulfilling;[3] 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.

Skateboard videos

Baker is shown briefly on the Tampa Am 08 DVD.

They were also on Fuel T.V.'s, " The Captain & Casey Show" in late 08 for a couple of tricks.

Their first full part, entitled "Bombshell," was released (in April 2013) on the video section of Thrasher Magazine's website, on which Thrasher described their part as "one of the best female street/tech parts [they've] seen."[10]

Competition history

2019

• World Skate OI STU, Open Qualifiers, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: 20th place (street)[11]
• USA Skateboarding National Championships, Finals: 4th place (street)[12]
• Street League World Championships, Quarter Finals, in São Paulo, Brazil: 32nd place[13]
• x Games, in Minneapolis, Minnesota: 9th place (street)[14][15]
• World Skate Street League Pro Tour, Semi-Finals in Los Angeles, California: 22nd place (street)[16]
• Dew Tour, Finals, in Long Beach, California: 8th place (street)[17]
• Street League World Skate, Semi-Final, in London, England: 10th place (street)[18]
• Street League World Championships, Finals, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: 3rd place (street)[19]

2018

• x Games, in Minneapolis, Minnesota: 8th place (street)[20]
• Street League Pro Open, Finals, in London, England: 2nd place[21]
• x Games, in Oslo, Norway: 2nd place (street)[22]
• Skate Like a Girl Wheels of Fortune, Pro Final, in Seattle, Washington: 5th place[23]

2017

• Street League Super Crown, in Los Angeles, California: 1st place[24]
• Wheels of Fortune, Advanced, in Seattle, Washington: 11th place[25]

2016

• Exposure Pro Street, in Encinitas, California: 5th place[26]
• Street League Super Crown, in Los Angeles, California: 1st place[27]
• x Games, in Austin, Texas: 3rd place (street)[28][29]
• x Games, in Oslo, Norway: 2nd place (street)[30][31]

2015

• Exposure Pro Street, in Encinitas, California: 3rd place[32]
• Kimberley Diamond Cup World Championships, in Kimberley, South Africa: 5th place (street)[33][34]
• Street League, Finals, in Chicago, Illinois: 4th place[35]
• x Games, in Austin, Texas: 5th place (street)[36][37]

2014

• x Games, in Austin, Texas: 1st place (street)

2013

• X Games, in Los Angeles, California: 2nd place (street)
• X Games, in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil: 2nd place (street)

2010

• Mystic Skate Cup, in Prague, Czech Republic: 1st place (street)

2008

• Maloof Money Cup, in Orange County, California: 1st place (street)

2007

• X Games XIII, in Los Angeles, California: 4th place (street)
• Mystic Skate Cup, in Prague, Czech Republic: 3rd place (street)
• Rockstar Masa Pro, in Fayetteville, North Carolina: 2nd place (street)

2006

• X Games XII, in Los Angeles, California: 3rd place (street)
• Goofy vs. Regular, in Lake Forest, California: 3rd place (street)
• West 49 Canadian Open, in Toronto, Ontario: 1st place (street)
• Slam City Jam, in Calgary, Alberta: 1st place (street)

References

1. Stu, Gomez (2020-03-07). "THE RISE OF LEO BAKER". The Berrics. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
2. Ryan, Maggie (2020-01-11). "Pro Skater Leo Baker Pushes For Equality and Amplifies LGBTQ+ Voices in an Inspiring Nike Ad". POPSUGAR Fitness. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
3. Pappalardo, Anthony (2018-09-18). "Leo Baker is the skate hero we've all been waiting for: New York state of mind". Huckmag.com. Huck Magazine. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
4. Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
5. "Element Europe | Skateboards, Shoes, Clothes, Events, Videos, Online Store Mens & Women's Apparel, Skateboards & Footwear". Elementskateboards.com. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
6. Garber-Paul, Elisabeth; Garber-Paul, Elisabeth (2017-05-05). "Lacey Baker: The Rebel Queen of Skateboarding". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
7. "Welcome to SPoT Skate Shop at Skatepark of Tampa". Theskateboardindustry.com. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
8. Pro Rider/Driver (2011-01-02). "ESPN Action Sports: The Worldwide Leader In Action Sports – ESPN". Expn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
9. "Olympic Skateboarding Hopeful Lacey Baker Takes Silver In Street At X Games Norway". Team USA. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
10. "Lacey Baker's Bombshell Full Part".
11. Meronek, Rob. "World Skate OI STU Open Womens Street Open Qualifiers". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
12. Meronek, Rob. "USA Skateboarding National Championships Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
13. Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Championships Sao Paulo Womens Quarter Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
14. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Minneapolis Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
15. "Minneapolis 2019 womens-skateboard-street". X Games. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
16. Meronek, Rob. "World Skate Street League Pro Tour Los Angeles Womens Street Semi Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
17. Meronek, Rob. "Dew Tour Long Beach Womens Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
18. Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Skate London Womens Semi-Final Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
19. Meronek, Rob. "Street League World Championships Rio de Janeiro Brazil Womens Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
20. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Minneapolis Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
21. Meronek, Rob. "Street League Pro Open at London Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
22. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Norway Womens Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
23. Meronek, Rob. "Skate Like a Girl Wheels of Fortune Pro Final". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
24. Meronek, Rob. "Street League Super Crown Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
25. Meronek, Rob. "Wheels of Fortune Advanced Division". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
26. Meronek, Rob. "Exposure 2016 - Pro Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
27. Meronek, Rob. "Street League Super Crown Women's". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
28. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
29. "Austin 2016 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
30. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Oslo Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
31. "Oslo 2016 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
32. Meronek, Rob. "Exposure Pro Street". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
33. Meronek, Rob. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Women's Street World Championships". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
34. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Results 2015". Girls Skate Network. 2015-10-08. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
35. Meronek, Rob. "Street League Chicago Women's Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
36. Meronek, Rob. "X Games Women's Street Finals". TheBoardr. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
37. "Austin 2015 Women's Skateboard Street". X Games. Retrieved 2020-04-09.

External links

• Leo Baker’s page at Nike SB
• Girls Skate Network interview