Do you know any Ocean Heroes in the 3rd - 5th grade? Encourage them to enter the #CanTheTrash Clean Beach Poster Contest for a chance to have their art displayed on beach trash barrels this summer. Deadline for the 2022 contest cycle is 1/31/22.

For full details, Click Here

The Temporary Skate Park is located at 24250 Pacific Coast Hwy and open daily from 8:00 AM - Sunset.

Skate Park users are required to bring their own helmet and must wear it at all times while inside the Skate Park. Users must review and adhere to the Skate Park rules.

More info, contact: IsabellaBlueSK8

On Saturday, August 14th, Life Rolls On host They Will Skate Again at the Venice Skatepark.

They Will Skate Again is an adaptive skate clinic. Adaptive athletes of all ages come and learn how to ride a skatepark from some of the top adaptive skaters and wheelchair athletes, including Nitro Circus' Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham , as well as regular Venice Skatepark adaptive athletes Tracie Garacochea and Jesse Swalley

These photos were shot by Six12 Media
















You can find about 150+ more photos from this event, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

They Will Skate Again 2021 Photo Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool shots of you, go check them out!

Jake Familton, aka Stuntman Jake, the 10 yr old Skateboarder from Venice Beach.

Barbie has announced 12-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown as a Barbie Role Model by unveiling a one-of-a-kind doll created in her likeness, to highlight how she has broken boundaries for the next generation of girls.



Sky Brown is a professional skateboarder and surfer. Sky will be competing for Team GB next year in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making her Great Britain’s youngest Summer Olympian ever, and the youngest Olympic athlete since 1936. Sky began skating and surfing at the age of two and quickly became a phenomenon when short videos of her gained millions of views on YouTube.



As the original girl empowerment brand, Barbie is dedicated to shining a spotlight on powerful, diverse role models to inspire the limitless potential in every girl, and this year honours women breaking barriers in sports. The doll is dressed in Nike activewear and holds a skateboard, ready for adventures on and off the ramp.

The doll was gifted to Sky as she recovers from injuries from her worst fall yet, breaking her left wrist and hand and suffering skull fractures earlier this year at a skate park in California.



Sky’s already looking forward to recovering and picking up her skateboard. She commented: “I’m going to push boundaries for girls with my skating and surfing. I’m going for gold in 2021 and nothing will stop me. Having a Barbie created in my likeness is one of the most incredible things that’s ever happened to me. I hope other girls my age can see what is possible when you follow your dreams.”

Earlier this year, Sky released a book titled ‘Sky’s the Limit’ – a compilation of stories and inspirational quotes illustrating Sky’s journey so far. Sky hopes to continue making history while inspiring fans of all ages across the world.

This year, Barbie is spotlighting female role models in sports, in an effort to close the Dream Gap; the time when girls start to doubt that they can be anything. Research shows that when girls play sports, they report higher levels of confidence, which in turn breaks down barriers to girl’s self-belief.

The Barbie Dream Gap Project is an ongoing global initiative that aims to give girls the resources and support needed to continue to believe that they can be anything. Barbie is working to close the Dream Gap by: highlighting role models, encouraging purposeful play, and donating funds.

Hot Wheels has teamed with Nitro Circus for the Hot Wheels Superchargers Fueled by Nitro Circus Virtual Competition, an open competition for kids in the United States aged 5-16 in skateboarding, BMX, and scooter. This one-of-a-kind event welcomes all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Kids get the chance to show off their skills, compete against peers, and of course have a whole lot of fun!

Enter by submitting a consecutive run on a scooter, skateboard or BMX bike of up to 60 seconds — one entry per person. The run must be filmed by a parent or legal guardian and should be filmed in horizontal on a camera or phone, with no music or editing. The top 10 runs from the Beginner and Advanced categories of each sport will be judged live via Nitro’s social media platforms by legends from the world of action sports!

For more info and to enter, CLICK HERE

Hot Wheels has teamed with Nitro Circus for the Hot Wheels Superchargers Fueled by Nitro Circus Virtual Competition, an open competition for kids in the United States aged 5-16 in skateboarding, BMX, and scooter. This one-of-a-kind event welcomes all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Kids get the chance to show off their skills, compete against peers, and of course have a whole lot of fun!

Enter by submitting a consecutive run on a scooter, skateboard or BMX bike of up to 60 seconds — one entry per person. The run must be filmed by a parent or legal guardian and should be filmed in horizontal on a camera or phone, with no music or editing. The top 10 runs from the Beginner and Advanced categories of each sport will be judged live via Nitro’s social media platforms by legends from the world of action sports!

For more info and to enter, CLICK HERE

The Venice Skatepark and Boardwalk are featured locations in Sky Brown's new music video "Girl".

Classic longboard surfing at its finest filmed by Andrea Coleman.

Photo by @marygrosswendt

17 year old longboarder from Malibu, Brooke Carlson took to Instagram to respond the angry governor's new state-wide beach closure order:

"As of May 1st in California, you will not be allowed on the beach or in the water. Gavin Newsom, you don’t own the ocean so that fact you're ticketing people for surfing is beyond me. In Ventura the boardwalk was far more crowded then in the water or on the beach and you don’t hear anyone talking about closing the boardwalk. Everybody I saw (I went on a beach run this weekend from marina park to Ventura pier about a 2 1/2 mile stretch) was following the CDC rules and everybody was being respectful of the CHP when they said that you can’t be laying on the beach, you have to be moving around and social distancing. I understand it may have been a different story in Newport and Huntington but that shouldn’t mean just because people wanted to go lay on the beach that you have to punish the people who actually surf and train at the beach. If people want to go against CDC rules they’re going to do it regardless of if it’s at the beach or not. This completely sends the wrong message to people and county’s who are actually following the rules. Feel free to disagree but this is just my opinion" - Brooke Carlson

Back in October, a young, blonde powerhouse began showing up in the Venice lineup. The adorable goofy-foot with a backhand smack began turning heads up and down the beach prompting people to ask “Who’s that?!?”

We chatted with 17 year-old Rubiana (Rubi) Brownell to find out.

By Nicole Lynch

Where are you from and what brings you to Venice?

I was born in Santa Monica, and then my family moved to Costa Rica when I was four. I basically grew up there, so I consider myself to be from Costa Rica. I moved to Venice in October of last year. My dad works here and I do a lot of competing in Southern California and I needed to get used to the waves, so I used this as an opportunity to come here and train.

Photo: Six12 Media

When did you start competing? How long have you been competing on the QS?

When I was like 13 years old, so about four years ago. I started doing the QS like 2 years ago. When I first started on the national circuit in Costa Rica I was doing well, so moving on the QS was the next step. I got into it pretty smoothly and easily.

Rubiana is 5x Costa Rican National Champion.

So you like competing?

Yeah, for sure! For me more than anything just being a good surfer is my main goal, I care about that more than results. But competing really motivates me. Getting to travel around, you make the closest friendships with people from completely different parts of the world you would never go to. So it’s really cool at such a young age to have that experience while trying to make a career out of it.

When did you learn to surf?

I learned when I was 12. I have a brother who is six years older than me (Indy Brownell), and when my dad had kids his goal was to make sure his kids surfed. But me and my brother, neither of us wanted to – hahah! So he had to get my brother into it first, and that took a while, and then it was my turn. I didn’t want to but after like two months of hardcore surfing I fell in love with it and now I’m more grateful for that than anything.

Haha, so dad had to drag you to the beach?

Yep! It was easier for me than my brother, there was a part of me that just wanted to please him and make him happy. But it was a struggle at first, a lot of frustrating sessions. I was scared of the ocean even on an one foot day! A perfect little beach break and I was terrified of it, so it took a while. But I’m so so grateful for that. I wouldn’t be the same person if I didn’t surf.

You didn’t start surfing until you were 12, at what point did you realize you’ve got talent?

My dad could tell right away. It really helped having him and my older brother around, just catching white water, they would tell me exactly what I needed to do differently and were able to shape my style. So it happened within the first few months for sure.

Your dad (Trey Brownell) rips too.

He grew up in Florida with no waves, and at 15 he moved here to LA. He didn’t start competing until he was an adult. He competed for a few years, won some national contests, some WSA events and was even on US Team for two years. Then he had to find a different career to support his family.


"There's only one way to leave the beach. Tired, hungry, one shade tanner, two shades blonder and with Champ." Rubi and her father, Trey in Costa Rica. Photo: Avellanas Surf Photos

Who are your mentors/ heroes?

My older brother is definitely one of my mentors. He taught me as much as my dad and still pushes me every day. My favorite pros are Sally Fitzgibbons, her attitude towards everything and how motivated she is just being an athlete is super inspirational. Mick Fanning is my other favorite surfer. The bottom turn to front-side top-turn combos, it’s incredible. Even though they’re both regular foots I study their surfing more than anybody else.


"An unforgettable two months spent on double sessions, turning the little blonde thing into a ripper" - Indigo Brownell

I overheard one of the old timers saying you have one of the best backhands he has ever seen surfed at the pier.

Aww ☺

Do you prefer going front or backside?

Backside for sure! I mean, it depends on what kind of waves I’m surfing. I really struggle with barrels backside, but when it’s just turns then backside for sure! Caroline Marks is insane.

What does your quiver look like?

I’m riding a combination of Losts and boards from my local shaper in Costa Rica called Global Surfboards. 5’6” thrusters

Photo: Six12 Media

What other kinds of training are you doing?

I have a personal trainer who sends me workouts online. I do that three or four times a week. Weight training and being overall more in shape is one of my goals.

What about an air game? Is that something you’ll be looking to incorporate into your regimen?

Yeah, it’s something I’ve had a hard time with. When I’m back home my brother really gives me a hard time about that. We argue about it, but we’ve decided that he’s better at airs and barrels and I’m better at everything else. We push each other. Now that I’ve got some time off from contests it’s definitely something I want to focus on.

Photo: Six12 Media

What has it been like navigating sponsors?

It’s hard, especially being from Costa Rica, it’s a place where it’s really hard to get sponsors from the US. I’m super grateful for O’Neill and Monster. I’ve also had a ton of support from local sponsors in Costa Rica. Pimienta Verde Organic Market and Mermaids and Sailors in Tamarindo, I’m very grateful.

You were due to compete in a QS 3000 in Barbados before Coronavirus hit. What’s the plan now?

All the contests got cancelled through the end of May and potentially longer. The plan was to go home, but then the borders got closed so now we’re just chilling here. We’ll see.



Where are your favorite spots here in Cali?

That’s really tough. I honestly like the waves in Nor Cal, Pleasure Point and Morro Bay. In So Cal, I guess Lowers has to be my favorite wave. And the Venice Pier is definitely my favorite every day spot. Surfing here has helped me so much! Learning how to surf one peak with a crowd. I have to be more alert and position myself properly. Learning how to surf close-outs, surfing a wave where you have to make your own speed in a small section. It’s been a process, it’s been a frustrating five-months but feels really really good to finally be improving on it and I think it’s going to really help me when I travel. Yeah this place is special for sure!




Photos: Six12 Media

With beaches being closed, the Mighty Under Dogs are on a mission to provide surf therapy to those who need it most in these challenging times. We are a "can do" type of crew. Please stay tuned for a special treat coming to you live on Easter Sunday.

From Surf Academy:

Please meet some water safety Wednesday heroes: Gretta Johnson, Ethan Foley, and Miles Carlson . These three worked together this afternoon at practice to listen, spot, and assist a man in distress about 250 yards out from shore. Once Gretta and Ethan were paddling toward the swimmer, Miles came in and got help to call the lifeguards, who responded in mere minutes to perform a rescue.

The man was paddled to shore by guards. He was wearing street clothes—a cotton shirt and cargo shorts—and was unfamiliar with how rip currents operate. He was unfamiliar with beach indicators—he couldn’t tell where he had entered the water and how far he had drifted.

At the opening of practice this day, we had a talk about water emergencies and how to coordinate and respond to any mishap in the sea. The kids were listening.

Ocean safety and swim skills should be as familiar to us in Los Angeles as learning to walk, skate, love the Lakers, and cheer for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, there are major gaps in access and education to water and these gaps fall along racial lines.

There is programming out there designed to bridge these gaps in access and we recommend investing your time and energy in the following organizations to help broaden the horizons of Angelinos unfamiliar with their birthright: the sea.

Malibu Sharks Surf Team member Saxon Rhodes surfed her way to a first-place finish as two groups of Sharks surfers grabbed wins in the team’s last event of the season.

Rhodes, a senior and seasoned youth surfer, won the women’s shortboard bracket in the Scholastic Surf Series meet at the Tarpits in Carpinteria on Feb. 1. She outlasted five other surfers at the top of the division, including a teammate, to lead the Malibu Black squad (surfers at the top skill level) to a 60-27 victory over Palisades. The Malibu White group also won, downing Oak Park, 43-41.

Contending in the exhibition were surf squads also from Loyola, Oaks Christian, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Westlake high schools. The teenage wave riders vied in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard surfing brackets on waves that were around five or six feet in height.

The event was the fifth competition since October for the teams, which are all in the surf series’ LA to Santa Barbara High School division.

Vanessa Clark, also a Malibu Black member, placed one spot behind Rhodes in the women’s shortboard, while Malibu White surfer Whitney Shanahan placed fourth and her teammate Chole Rapf finished fifth. In the coed bodyboard, Malibu Black member Gavin Cross finished second and Malibu White surfer Kai Owens finished third. Malibu Black members Evan Kassoy and Sebastian Bluhm placed fourth and fifth in the men’s shortboard, respectively, and Cross finished third in the men’s longboard. Maxine Kelly, a Malibu Black surfer, finished fifth in women’s longboard, and Nicky Chittendon, a Malibu White member, finished sixth. Malibu Surf Team members pictured, from left: Evan Kassoy, Sebastian Bluhm, Kai Owens, Max Gourson, Gavin Cross, Vanessa Clark, Whitney Shanahan, Saxon Rhodes, Chloe Rapf, Nicky Chittendon, Maxine Kelly; front row: Coach John Cross and Coach Dale Rhodes; back row: Coach Jorge Lopez-Vida. Photo courtesy: Shelley Myers

Malibu Sharks Surf Team member Saxon Rhodes surfed her way to a first-place finish as two groups of Sharks surfers grabbed wins in the team’s last event of the season.

Rhodes, a senior and seasoned youth surfer, won the women’s shortboard bracket in the Scholastic Surf Series meet at the Tarpits in Carpinteria on Feb. 1. She outlasted five other surfers at the top of the division, including a teammate, to lead the Malibu Black squad (surfers at the top skill level) to a 60-27 victory over Palisades. The Malibu White group also won, downing Oak Park, 43-41.

Contending in the exhibition were surf squads also from Loyola, Oaks Christian, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Westlake high schools. The teenage wave riders vied in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard surfing brackets on waves that were around five or six feet in height.

The event was the fifth competition since October for the teams, which are all in the surf series’ LA to Santa Barbara High School division.

Vanessa Clark, also a Malibu Black member, placed one spot behind Rhodes in the women’s shortboard, while Malibu White surfer Whitney Shanahan placed fourth and her teammate Chole Rapf finished fifth. In the coed bodyboard, Malibu Black member Gavin Cross finished second and Malibu White surfer Kai Owens finished third. Malibu Black members Evan Kassoy and Sebastian Bluhm placed fourth and fifth in the men’s shortboard, respectively, and Cross finished third in the men’s longboard. Maxine Kelly, a Malibu Black surfer, finished fifth in women’s longboard, and Nicky Chittendon, a Malibu White member, finished sixth.

Malibu, coached by John Cross, Dale Rhodes and Jorge Lopez-Vida, will have a few surfers competing in the state championships from April 25-27 in Oceanside.

This story was written by McKenzie Jackson and was originally publish in The Malibu Times