Born: 1959 (Inglewood, California)
Biography:
Deanna Calkins, born in Inglewood, California in 1959, is a slalom icon in the world of skateboarding. Her passion for the sport began just two months before graduating from South High School in Torrance, in 1977. It didn’t take long for Deanna to discover the slalom course at Skateboard World in Torrance, where her talent quickly emerged.
Within three weeks of starting, Deanna was already beating everyone on the slalom course at the park, using borrowed equipment. Her unique parallel ski stance combined with her natural abilities made her a force to be reckoned with. It was around this time that Deanna caught the attention of Mattel’s Magnum skateboard team during a photo session at Skateboard World.
Impressed by her skills, the team invited Deanna to join them, and the next day she walked out of Mattel’s offices with a huge bag of Magnum skateboards. This opportunity opened doors for Deanna, leading her to turn pro at the Catalina Classic in November 1977. She secured first place in slalom, which earned her an interview on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and helped her gain sponsorship from renowned brands such as Hobie, ACS, Vans, Rector, and Hang Ten.
Throughout her professional skating career from 1977 to 1982, Deanna excelled in various disciplines, including downhill slalom, giant slalom, tight slalom, freestyle, skateparks, pools, half pipes, and high jump. Her talent and dedication to the sport earned her widespread recognition. In the late 1970s, Deanna was featured in numerous publications, including an interview in the February 1978 issue of Wild World of Skateboarding and several ACS ads. She also appeared in the movie Skateboard Kings in the La Costa segment, a Women in Sports documentary on the BBC, and the CBS show Challenge of the Sexes, where she raced against Steve Olson at the Runway skatepark. Additionally, Deanna appeared in commercials for 7-Up and JC Penny, as well as Santori soda pop and Arnold Palmer Sports Wear in Japan.
Deanna’s career highlights include winning the Catalina Classic, meeting Sally Anne Miller and having her as a mentor, filming a 7-Up commercial in San Francisco with Ellen Oneal and Dennis Martinez, and purchasing a house at the age of 18 with her earnings. She also flew to Mexico City to help open the country’s first skateboard park, was part of the cast of Skateboard Mania, filmed Challenge of the Sexes, and even had her own bubble gum card.
Throughout her professional skating years, Deanna frequently skated with renowned athletes such as Laura Thornhill, Kathy Bomeisler, Vicki Vickers, Tony Jetton, Ellen Berryman, Ellen Oneal, Robin Logan, Cindy Whitehead, and Dennis Shufeldt, as well as the entire crew at Skateboard World in Torrance. While she now only occasionally skates, mostly cruising on sidewalks, Deanna found a new passion about 25 years ago when she started playing golf. She enjoys the outdoors and continually seeks new challenges.
Since the mid-1980s, Deanna has been a full-time realtor, assisting people in buying and selling their homes. Her journey from a slalom prodigy to a successful realtor demonstrates her versatility and determination in pursuing her passions.
Awards:
– First Place in Slalom at the Catalina Classic