'Yes, Skating Is a Girl Thing', Says Seven Year Old Brazilian Skate Champion

10/01/2015 - 09h18

Bob Burnquist, Sandro Dias and Karen Jonz have made Brazil accustomed to a record of important skate titles in the last few years. If you look to 7 year old Rayssa Leal, the success of the country in the sport will continue for a long time.

A few weeks ago, Rayssa left the city of Imperatriz, in Maranhão, to win the world. A video, in which the girl, dressed as a fairy, maneuvers on a skateboard, spread across the internet.

The video made its way to Tony Hawk, one of the sport's greatest idols. 'That's a 'heelflip' fairytale. I don't know anything about her, but I loved it', the American said in a Facebook post that received almost 20,000 shares.

"Heelflip" is a maneuver in which the skateboard turns 360 degrees. It is the girl's favorite. And it was with this move that Rayssa defeated the Brazilian Street Skating Championship Mirim this year.

The girl's involvement in the sport started almost a year ago, when she received a pair of skates for her birthday. After a short while and many falls later, she decided to exchange them for a skateboard and never stopped.

"I started practicing with a friend of my dad's. But he quit and I kept going'', says Rayssa. Today, she counts on the support of her parents, who accompany her to every competition. Except that the entire family is not in support.

Her grandmother and an aunt have already said skating is not for girls. And what does she have to say to those who think that way? "Skating is, indeed, a girl thing."

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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