With skateboarding being a constant presence in her life, Nelson cannot recall a time when she did not engage in the sport or perform daring maneuvers in halfpipes.

Unsurprisingly, her remarkable skills have not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Nelson is set to compete in the women’s vert and best trick events at the forthcoming X-Games. Of particular significance to Nelson is her participation in the women’s vert category, as this event has not been featured at the X-Games since 2010, a remarkable three years before her birth.

“It’s really exciting,” Nelson told The Canadian Press from Carlsbad, California. “I’m excited for everybody to see what women can do on vert.”

Hawk, who has become a mentor and coach for Nelson, created his Vert Alert event in 2021 to try and promote the sport that made him an internationally renowned star. He made sure his tour has men’s and women’s events to help re-establish vert skateboarding for women.

“They’re not seeing the bigger picture or looking further beyond like specific events,” Hawk said about the omission of women’s vert from other competitions. “There is a thriving skate scene of women that do skate vert. A lot of them also skate park and vert but now there are a select few that are focusing strictly on vert and thriving.”

Nelson is one of them.

At the recent Vert Alert competition, she demonstrated exceptional skill by securing the third position in the women’s vert final. According to Associated Press, her outstanding performance led her to triumph in the women’s best trick event, earning her a coveted spot at the upcoming X-Games in Ventura, California, scheduled for July 21-23.

This triumph at Vert Alert not only showcased her talent but also provided an opportunity for her to cross paths with the legendary skateboarder, Hawk. Initially, she confessed to being unaware of the immense influence and significance that Hawk holds within the skateboarding community.

“Not until the first time we went out and everybody went crazy about him being there,” Nelson said with a laugh. “I mean, it’s just normal for me, because we skate together a lot. When we do skate together, he has helped me on a lot of tricks.”

Hawk said that it’s been a pleasure coaching Nelson, who is very determined when she wants to nail a trick.

“She knows what she wants, she knows what she wants to do, and there is no compromise,” said Hawk with a chuckle.

Getting coached by Hawk is a big deal to Nelson’s parents as well.

“It’s so great to watch Reese doing what she loves,” said her mother, Lindsey Bedier. “She’s this happy 10-year-old who just happens to be super motivated and in love with skateboarding and I think her life is strange and crazy but for her, it’s just normal. These are her spaces. It’s very strange for us, but very normal for her.”

Hawk said that Nelson is a natural on a board and has immediately fit into the world of competitive skateboarding. He’s impressed with how far she has come in the past two years.

“In terms of difficulty factor, she’s on par with some of the best,” said Hawk. “It’s not a great surprise to me (that she’s qualified for the X-Games), but I’m super proud of her.

“I just hope that she doesn’t feel too much pressure about it. I hope she enjoys the ride and the opportunity as opposed to feeling like she has to perform to her utmost.”

(With AP inputs)

Updated: 08 Jul 2023, 07:41 AM IST