Maddie Alkire, She/her, St. Petersburg, FL, 22, no sponsors.

Where did skating start for you?

Skating started for me towards the end of 2020 in my hometown of Winter Garden, FL. I bought my first pair of skates to ride along the trail that ran through my town. I finished high school online because of Covid, so skating quickly became one of my favorite pastimes.

When did it stop being just something fun and turn into something you needed to do?

In January of 2022 I got my Moxi Panthers which allowed me to feel secure enough to start transition skating. I dropped in for the first time that month and never turned back. Aggressive skating found me in one of the most difficult periods of my life and became my best emotional outlet.

Your skating feels super well-rounded already. Transitions, rails, spins. Did you come from another sport, or is this something you built from scratch?

I played many sports but regrettably never tried gymnastics. Tennis was my thing; I stuck to it for about six years before a bad coach made me lose interest. I like that I can use the sports mentality to help me progress and compete in skating.

Tampa is heavy on skateboarding, especially with Tampa pro and that whole scene. What made you pick quads instead of a board or blades?

As a teenager I was interested in skateboarding but never went after it. I remember expressing interest to a skater friend and he told me I shouldn’t because I’d get hurt if I tried. Then one day I came across videos of these really cool women skating quads in a bowl and I wanted to be like them. No one could convince me otherwise this time.

When I started skating in Tampa there was a pretty large quad scene. I think that it's fair to attribute that to the popularity of skateboarding here. The amount of aggressive quad skaters has severely dwindled down since then, but most of my best friends came from it so I can’t really complain.

What’s your session vibe right now? headphones and locked in, or full crew, hyping each other up?

We all have our locked-in, listening to music moments and then take breaks to sit on the sidelines of the park and chit-chat. I skate with one earbud because I need the extra motivation that music can provide but still have fomo if I can’t hear the conversations around me.

You’ve already stacked some big moments. Supergirl win, up-and-comer nomination, Fantom magazine feature. Did that recognition shift anything for you mentally or in how you approach skating?

It feels amazing to receive recognition for something I’m so passionate about. It has given me the confidence and reassurance that I needed to believe in myself and keep my standards high. I hope that this is only the beginning.

Your control is kind of wild, especially with spins and switching directions. Are you drilling that stuff or is it just how your body moves?

Thank you! That means a lot because I have drilled all of my tricks. My sports background helped shape the way I approach learning a new skill. I try to be mindful of what each part of my body needs to do to accomplish the trick & always overexaggerate the movements!

What’s something about you as a skater that people would only understand if they actually shared a session with you?

I am super technical in my approach to learning something new. I think the best way to learn a trick is to relate it to something you know already. For example, if I want to learn a top soul, first I need to be comfortable doing fish brains because that’s going to be my base foot. Knowing that I am safe in my fish brain, I am more comfortable focusing on my shoulders and soul foot.

What are you obsessed with right now? a trick, a spot, a clip you’re trying to get just right?

I’ve been working on 540’s for almost a year now. I have landed some but they’re so rare for me. I want to make them look effortless and eventually learn to do one while exiting a grind.

Fast forward a bit. What’s the version of Maddie you’re working toward, on and off skates?

About a year ago I graduated from USF with a Bachelors in Environmental Science and Policy and currently work for my local government in the water quality department. Now, I’m looking into possible ways I could progress my career through grad school. I love feeling like my degree led to me giving back to my community and I want to do even more.

Outside of work I prioritize skating. It is my exercise, social life, and therapy. I am currently working on a street edit and hope to travel to different places to compete and meet other skaters! I want to continue improving and will absolutely take any opportunity I am offered!

Lightning round

Loose or tight trucks? tight

Favorite song to skate to: Stars by Pinkpantheress, but it kinda changes every session.

A skater who inspires you: @t3mpessssstad

Perfect setup: ramps or DIY spots? both

Favorite place to skate: Campbell skate park in St. Pete- specifically at sunset.

Next destination: Brooklyn Quad Comp… hopefully.

A skater people should keep an eye on @mikachu_52

Favorite food: The knockoff hot cheetos from Trader Joes.

Dream trick: Citric Acid to true mizou, 360 out.

Roller skating needs more… (finish the sentence): Eyes on the Florida skaters!

Rider Check 10Q: Maddie Alkire

Coastal Depression

Quadzilla zine issue 8