Rider Spotlight: Marcie Morgan

USA DSA: First off, huge congrats on qualifying for the World Skateboarding Championships! How does it feel to be part of the team representing the USA at the World Skate Games?

MM: As an athlete representing the United States of America, I feel honored to be participating in part of such a trailblazing moment in Downhill Skateboarding history.

USA DSA: Let’s kick it back to the beginning. What sparked your passion for downhill skateboarding, and how did you get started in the sport?

MM: The spark that lit the flame in my soul for this sport was the ember of stoke that my son passed on to me in 2017 or so when he began teaching me how to skateboard. At the time, he was interested in racing, so I took him to as many events as we could find. After a year or so, he said, “Mom, you should try this since you get so into it.” We had been getting all of his equipment from Motion Boardshop in Seattle, so one day, I just walked in and bought a board and protective gear. My son was getting to know Fred, at Ronin, and the rest of the crew, so while in California, Fred said that he would make sure I learned from the right people.

I skated with my son and eventually branched out to find my own friends within the community. I really owe the beginnings of my journey to some of the best male riders in the sport and their willingness to show a mom how to skate, haha!

USA DSA: Every skateboarder has a unique journey. What’s been the key to your success and progression in downhill skateboarding?

MM: My journey is unique in the fact that I began at age 36 and am now, at minimum, 10 years older than the athletes in the Women’s Division. I’m competing with people that are sometimes 20 years younger than me, and that’s wild! With that being said, my style is different. I feel like the motivation behind skating at a competitive level is also probably a little different. I am here to see what my body is capable of, to grow as a person through the various challenges presented by this sport, to enjoy my time, and to prove that age doesn’t have to hinder life goals.

Knowing which criticisms to listen to and blocking out the negativity has been a huge part of my journey. It’s a mental game, as well as a physical one. Day by day, doing the little things and trying my best to be consistently there for myself is a huge factor to staying determined and not throwing in the towel. Defining my goals and then looking at the rungs of the ladder, putting them in order and just starting to climb.

I would say that the friends and family that have been there in one capacity or another have been a huge help because even if you don’t have a ton of cheerleaders, having a few valuable people in your corner is worth its weight in gold when you’re stepping outside of the box to challenge yourself and grow.

USA DSA: Heading into the world championships, what’s going through your mind? Any specific strategies or mindsets you’re focusing on?

MM: This is such a great question! The mental game is really one of my biggest areas of focus right now. People don’t often talk about the performance anxiety that is a very real part of an athlete’s life. I find that knowing what to do when I feel anxious and what the triggers are is key to helping me do well. For me, I have to put aside whatever I believe might be other people’s expectations of me and just show up for myself. Letting everything that is outside of my control disappear so that I can just be me, I think, is going to really prove to be the golden ticket.

When you are aware that cameras are here and there, and folks are watching at home, it causes a heightened sense of pressure that can be detrimental. So, for me, the mindset is – I’m here for me, I know who I am and what I want to accomplish – let’s just do that and have a good time while doing it!

USA DSA: Downhill skateboarding is all about speed and precision. Can you share some insights on how you maintain control and speed during a race?

MM: I sometimes talk to myself like a mean drill sergeant as some form of reinforcement that I will not fail. Other times, I sing to myself to get hyped up and lose the jitters. At other times I just go to a place that feel calm in order to sort of “merge” with the elements and what is surrounding me.

When I am at a new road, I usually take it slow and calculated until I feel tuned in and comfortable with what the road is telling me. I have to feel it out before I can push myself. I find that is my learning style, and it helps me to gain the confidence that I need to know that I can make it down unscathed. I’ve learned to be in touch with my board and how it feels under my feet – the different tactile feelings of the motions as the board glides over different areas of asphalt and how my body responds to them is something that I had to consciously develop over time.

USA DSA: Every skater has that one trick or aspect of the sport that took the longest to master. What was that for you, and how did you overcome it?

MM: Sliding has been my biggest obstacle. I have been able to overcome the fear that came with trying to learn the various forms of drifting and sliding by skating with people who have the patience to spot corners and ride chill with me while I build my confidence and dial in the techniques.

There came a point, after breaking my ankle, in 2022, where I knew that I would not progress unless I let go of my fear associated with a few different aspects of skating, sliding was one of them.

USA DSA: What advice would you give to young skaters who aspire to reach the levels you’ve achieved?

MM: I would tell young and old skaters alike, who are just starting out “Go for it! Just start. Sure, there are aspects that are scary, but no one expects you to go 25 miles per hour out the gate. Start slow, learn to stop, wear protective gear. You are going to fall, don’t worry what people think – every person who has ever done this sport falls!”