LEOLA

She/her/hers

Where can we find you on Instagram? @stop_destroya

Which Five Stride shop do you work in? Portland

What is your history with roller skating & what type of skating are you into now? I grew up skating in a rink in South Sacramento called King Skate. Everyone in my family used to skate well into adulthood including my grandparents. My grandpa was the person that gave me my first pair of skates. When I was about 7 the adults in my family used to drop me and my cousins off at the rink each weekend with about $10 each for open skate and processions. They'd come back to pick us up around 10:00pm, it felt like midnight. Those are some of the best memories in my life.

When I moved to Santa Cruz in 2013 my love of skating was reinvigorated with a roller derby bootcamp I signed up for on a whim. I wasn't a good defender and I knew how to skate fast, so jammer it was. I eventually went on to be on a recreational team for all about 5 months before quitting. I then moved to speed skating and long distance, practicing at the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium and outdoor on the westside beach trails.

I've always been afraid to dance in front of people. When I lived in LA I'd skate to a remote parking lot just to boogie on my skates in private. Eventually, I gained confidence, started jam skating. I now regularly attend adult nights and skate disco's and I've even started getting artistic and slalom lessons. I'm still riding that wave of growth and confidence.

Tell us about your roller skate setups & gear that you love... 
This is my setup
- Moxi Lolly's in Pinneaple
- Stock plates (PowerDyne Thrust) 
- Bones Reds bearings
- Atom Tone 97A, 57mm x 32mm, urethane
- Fomac jam plug
- 96" Derby Laces spark in pink cotton candy
- Triple 8 Street knee pads and elbow pads
- Triple 8 Wrist Saver wrist guards

What is your favorite skate spot? I love skating at the King school recreation court

What's your favorite thing about working at Five Stride? I love seeing the joy on peoples faces when they walk through the doors for the first time and then again when they're leaving with their skates. Its endearing to see people get so excited about something so positive and fun

Tell us one fun fact about yourself that isn't related to roller skating! I love drag and one of my favorite shows is The Boulet Brothers Dragula

What do you love most about roller skating? When I'm skating my aches and pains temporarily go away. I get out onto the floor and I turn into a kid again. It gives me something to work towards in a space where I'm in control and I'm never bored.