World's first female skateboarder Patti McGee dies at age 79

The New York Times has reported that trailblazing skateboarder Patti McGee has died at the age of 79.

Photo source: Skateboarding Heritage website

In the dynamic world of skateboarding, every twist of a wheel tells a story of passion and rebellion. The sport has evolved over the years into a massive industry, worth millions. Patti McGee was one of the first women to shred on the tarmac. She is the godmother to modern-day female skateboarding, breaking down barriers and records!

Image source: Instagram @pattimcgee

A trailblazer in the truest sense, McGee's journey through the skateboarding scene not only refined the sport but also left an incredible legacy on the cultural landscape. This is the fascinating story of Patti McGee and her skateboard!

Image source: Instagram @pattimcgee

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Patti McGee was born August 23rd, 1945, in Santa Monica, California (USA). At the time, surfing was the dominant sport, but skateboarding was picking up traction quickly. There was no need to wait for adequate swell or proper conditions, just a board with wheels and some concrete.

McGee's brother gave her a skateboard he built for her in one of his wood workshop classes. Skateboards during the 1950s/60s were still not mass-produced, hence their availability was a fraction of what it is like today.

It is hard to pin down the exact place where skateboarding originated, but it must have been somewhere around California. Small-scale skating competitions began popping up around California, where judges would score individuals on their surf-like riding techniques. This would involve nose riding, spins, one-foot stalls, and so on.

Image source: YouTube - Skaterdater (1965)

Down by Southern California, you had a young skating crew in the making. Near Venice Beach, LA, the Dog-Town crew composed of Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva, and many other legends began picking up traction in the skating world. They pioneered pool skating and became a viral sensation after local shops and magazines offered some coverage.

Skateboarding, much like surfing, was a male-dominated sport at the time. Patti McGee would often be the only female present during the competition, but that didn't stop her from shredding!

In 1964, McGee became the fastest girl to ever ride a skateboard after she reached 75km/h (46.6 m/h) during D. Clark's World Teen Fair, in Orange County.

The young Californian skater wouldn't stop there, she continued her semi-professional career, winning small competitions here and there. Her big breakthrough came in 1965, after winning her first National Skateboarding Championship.

Image source: Instagram @pattimcgee

McGee was flown around the country in order to display demos and record advertisements. She became the first female skater to make a living off the sport. In 2010, she was added to the IASC Hall of Fame!

Image source: Instagram @pattimcgee

In 1965, Life magazine snapped a shot of young McGee doing a handstand on her board, and it is now regarded as one of the most iconic skateboarding pictures to date!

Image source: YouTube

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Patti McGee skateboarded well into her 70s! The modern world of female skating has shaped into the massive industry we know today, in part thanks to McGee and her efforts in the past.