Judi Oyama, a skateboarder from Santa Cruz, has been a part of the local skate scene for over 40 years. She started her career at the age of 15 with a downhill race in Capitola in the 1970s and has been competing ever since. One of her early jobs was at the Santa Cruz skateboard company NHS, where she learned how to screen print skateboards and drew surfboards.
Upon re-entering the racing scene in 2001 after a hiatus of about 20 years, Oyama continued to win competitions without slowing down. In 2018, she was inducted into the Skateboard Hall of Fame for her contributions to the sport. Oyama also played a role in curating the NHS Skate Museum when it opened in Santa Cruz, which features photos and videos of old competitions, colorful skateboards and vintage skate art.
One of Oyama’s early skateboards, a Santa Cruz board made of dark red fiberglass with red wheels and yellow lettering, is on display at the museum. Additionally, one of her helmets from her early skating days is in the Smithsonian Institution archives. Oyama jokingly notes that having her items in the museum made her realize she is aging. Despite this realization, she continues to compete and inspire others to get out there and ride their boards.