"I started skating in Ft. Myers, Florida around my house and at Alan Park Elementary school. Then I started skating around the streets of Ft. Myers with my friends." Elissa went pro in 1998, where she won the first Women's Street competition at Slam City Jam in British Columbia - the first time a women's competition had been held at a World Cup Skateboarding event.
I asked Elissa how things are different for her as a female pro skateboarder. She said, "Nothing is different for me, it's only different if you ask the question, 'What is Different?'" Elissa Steamer is well known for her ability to skate right along side the male pro skateboarders. She added, "One thing that is different is, When the cops come to arrest everyone, and they pat them down, they can't pat me down unless they are a female officer. I could go on for hours about what's different for me."
I asked Elissa what her motivation is. "Not having a normal job and being able to do what I want and skateboarding and a bunch of other things too."
When asked what she was most proud of, Elissa said, "So far I am proud of the fact that I've lead a pretty cool life and I've got to travel and see the world." She added, "I'm also proud that I'm still skating!"
I was curious what Elissa was like outside of skateboarding, and she stated, "I am the same person, there is no outside of skating!"
I asked her if she had any advice for the girls out there who want to be the next Elissa Steamer. Elissa said, "Yeah, it's gonna hurt and your shins aren't going to look so good and they're going to have to have to like skateboarding as much as me."
Elissa definitely likes skateboarding. She was voted the best female skater in the world in 2003 by Check It Out Girl's Magazine in 2003, and again in 2004. Elissa continues to stand out as not only the top female skater, but as one of the best pro skateboarders in the world.
