Exposure Skate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering women, girls and nonbinary individuals through skateboarding and teaching compassion through service. We offer a range of classes, camps, retreats, college scholarships and events for all ages which incorporate social and emotional learning through skateboarding, mindfulness and community service. Exposure’s unique programming creates an outlet for women, girls and nonbinary individuals to build confidence, community, education and healthy mental and physical well-being.
Exposure 2012 was inspired by the Underexposed documentary, created by Exposure co-founder and Olympian Amelia Brodka, which highlighted the lack of opportunity for female skateboarders. At the time, women’s divisions had been cut from all major skate events, and the best female skateboarders in the world lacked support. The need to create space was crucial for both professional and amateur female, trans and nonbinary skateboarders, as well as those looking to be introduced to skateboarding. Hosting competitions in park, street and vert disciplines, Exposure started as an annual skateboarding competition inclusive to girls, women, trans and nonbinary people from all over the globe. As the event grew, skaters traveled from as far as Japan, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and across Europe to compete in the annual competition, growing the initial field of 32 female competitors to 230 competitors by 2020. The prize purse also saw substantial growth, and by 2016, Exposure offered the largest prize purse in women’s skateboarding. Legends such as Tony Hawk, Andrew Reynolds, Steve Caballero and Christian Hosoi regularly show their support on deck. Each year, the event supports survivors of domestic violence by spreading awareness and raising funds for the issue that disproportionately affects the girls, women and LGBTQ+ identifying communities we serve.
Lesli Cohen and Amelia Brodka created the nonprofit in order to feature year-round programming dedicated to empowerment through skateboarding and compassion through service. In addition to skateboarding, Exposure’s programs include elements of giving back to at-risk communities, social and emotional development, inclusion, leadership, service and college scholarship opportunities.
In 2016, Exposure’s youth program Skate Rising was launched, a program created to teach girls ages 4-18 a combination of skateboarding, mindfulness and community service. Each event includes a teachable moment where girls learn about communities in need or a way to practice self-case, participate in a project either dedicated to alleviating the community need or a mindfulness activity and enjoy a Learn-To-Skate Clinic taught by local and visiting Olympians and Pros. Nearly 100 girls attend each event, with each individual girl’s service project serving 1-3 individuals in need.
The adult Sesh(E) program addresses the need to make skateparks inclusive spaces by offering free skateboarding guidance to women, trans and nonbinary skaters age 16+ in exchange for goods donated to the local domestic violence shelter. Exposure provides personalized instruction with professional skate coaches, skate gear and safety equipment at every youth and adult clinic.
In 2020, Exposure introduced its two annual $5,000 College Scholarships for skaters who actively contribute to the wellbeing of their communities.
Exposure also brings community activations to schools, camps as well as existing events around the globe including X Games, Rockstar Energy Open, Vert Attack (Sweden) and Monster Skatepark (Australia).
In 2020 & 2021 Exposure partnered with Thrasher Magazine to create a first-of-its kind women’s video part competition, with a $50,00 prize purse (watch the 2020 winners and 2021 winners featured on Thrasher’s website). A field of 230 submissions from 23 different countries were judged by skateboarding legends Vanessa Torres, Elissa Steamer, Alex White, Mimi Knoop and Jamie Reyes. For the tenth anniversary of the flagship event, 2021’s Exposure X featured a red-carpet premiere of the video competition and an awards ceremony.
The inclusion of Women’s Skateboarding in the 2020 Olympics has created a rise of non-male participants and supporters in and around the world. 60% of Women’s Skateboarding Olympians got their got their competitive start at Exposure. Today, a number of these individuals continue to compete in Exposure’s events as well as volunteer to teach at our Skate Rising and SeshE Programs.
