What began as a small local contest more than a decade ago has grown into one of the most influential events in skateboarding. In 2025, Exposure Skate held its 14th annual two-day competition in Encinitas, bringing together top women and non-binary skaters from around the world to compete in street, vert, and bowl events while raising funds for the community.

Run by Olympian and professional skateboarder Amelia Brodka and Lesli Cohen, Exposure Skate has become a major platform for showcasing women’s skateboarding talent and creating opportunities for skaters at all levels, from locals to international competitors.

“This year, we have 21 different countries represented, which is a record number for the event,” Event coordinator Gabriela Levy stated.

On top of providing spectators with one of the most exciting skate competitions in all of southern California, Exposure does more than just put on a show. Since its founding, the organization has raised nearly $300,000 for survivors of domestic violence, using skateboarding as a platform for awareness and community support.

“On top of empowering women and girls through skateboarding, we also really strive to give back,” Levy said. “There’s just a lot of different layers of community give back that we do outside of the world of skateboarding.”

The event also attracted skateboarding legends Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi, who were in attendance to show their support and cheer on the girls, showing the event’s growing influence in the skateboarding community. Exposure has grown into the world’s largest women’s skateboarding competition, continuing to elevate female skaters and put them at the center of the sport.

Levy reflected on how much the event has grown and its potential moving forward. “I just hope that Exposure keeps on getting bigger and bigger,” she said. “I hope that, further down the line, 30 countries are represented. A lot of girls grew up coming to our year-round learn-to-skate clinics, and now they’re competing at the annual event. We’re really able to support girls from the first time they step on a board to their first competition.”

Exposure Skate also runs programs throughout the year that provide mentorship, gear, and community for girls and non-binary skaters, helping those who might not otherwise have access to the sport.

Over 14 years, the event has elevated women’s skateboarding from a forgotten about corner of the sport into a global movement. With women’s skateboarding now part of the Olympic’s and participation at record levels, women are stepping fully into the skateboarding spotlight and it’s clear that Exposure has played a major role in that shift within the sport. The event continues to give skaters a platform to showcase their skills while inspiring the next generation of women, and will continue to do so next year in 2026.