USA Skateboarder Poe Pinson chasing Olympic qualification by going with the flow: “I kind of do my own thing and hope for the best”
In an interview with Olympics.com, the US street skater opens up on her origin story, her pursuit of Paris 2024 and the reason why it would mean so much to make it.
Poe Pinson would be the first to admit the road to Paris 2024 so far hasn’t exactly been a smooth one.
“It still feels crazy to believe that I’m even in this position,” the 19-year-old U.S. street skateboarder told Olympics.com candidly back in December last year.
Over the last 12 months, the American has been struck by bouts of injury disrupting any kind of contest rhythm.
“I hurt my knee and I missed the World Championships in Sharjah. Then I couldn't really skate for like five months. That kind of healed up. [I] went to Rome, did pretty decent there, and then my back kind of started hurting and then I hurt my back. And it turns out I have chronic issues. So then that took a minute to kind of like just rehabilitate and then I missed out on Switzerland and then came here,” she recounted without hesitation.
“So, I mean, yeah. Honestly, I’m surprised that I’m still kind of in the rankings.”
Currently sitting in 26th as the third American skater in the list that will determine ultimately who will compete in Paris, it’s a testament to Pinson’s abilities that despite the misses she remains on track to progress to the next stage of the Olympic qualification process: the Olympic Qualifier Series.
When she has hit the street course, Pinson has been impressive. Her best result, an 11th place at the Rome stop in the summer of last year, showed that when it comes to the crunch, she can keep up with the best.
While, for some, such setbacks might be frustrating, Pinson shows no sign of such gripe. The easygoing Floridian’s sincere love of the art of skateboarding never stops shining through as shares her journey to now.
From the beginning to trying to qualify for Tokyo 2020
“I started skating when I was about four years old,” Pinson says remembering fondly how she first stepped on a board.
“I was always just intrigued by it, watching skaters go down the streets. My dad has a story about how I would be in my stroller, he'd be walking me down the street or something in our neighbourhood, and a skater would go by and I'd be like, ‘Oh, Dad, skateboarder!’ Like [I was] just super, super into it.
“And for my fourth birthday, I just asked him to go to the skate park with a skateboard. And that's kind of how it happened.”
Integrating herself into the small but tight skate scene in Fernandina Beach was a natural step for Pinson.
“It’s kind of a typical small town. People pick it up, skate for a year and then just of kind of grow out of it; [I’ve] kind of seen that a lot my entire life.”
But where others would come and go, the American stayed committed to her craft. Grappling with the flat bars and stairs in between enjoying the simpler joys like hanging out with friends and filming in the streets.
Things then got more serious for Pinson when she decided to try her hand at Tokyo 2020. The Olympics were far from a “main goal” for the skater having not been “a thing” when she first started, but sensing the opportunity she decided to have a go.
Her first major contest in 2019 is one she says she won’t ever forget: “I kind of remember wanting to throw up,” Pinson continues smiling, “I was just so excited to be there.”
Progressing past the quarters, she ended up just one spot away from making the semifinals. It was a result that quietly nodded to her potential.
Though unable to commit to the entire qualification journey for Tokyo due to financial reasons, Pinson still came remarkably close to the cut. And while the question of what might have been lingers, she doesn’t hold on to it too much. Looking back, she says she wouldn’t have been ready for an Olympic tilt, but the lessons it taught her are even more valuable now.
“Just being in the qualification process for Tokyo I feel like put me in the mindset because if I had placed well enough in the World Championships in Rome in late 2021, I believe I could have gone to the Games. I mean, I tried my best. I was like a few placements away, but I was like, ‘Wow’.
“I don't know what I would do if I went. Looking back on it, I'm almost kind of glad because I feel like I felt underprepared.
“So I feel like that qualification process led me to like the mental state of being able to compete and like, put my all into [this one],” she continued. “I'm just excited. Hopefully, I lock in more on the training aspect and try and do my best for those and then see where that takes me.”
Poe Pinson on the rise of female skating: "It's just a crazy"
Back in the hot seat to bid for Paris, Pinson’s next stop will be World Skateboarding Tour’s Dubai Street 2024 event which, given her lack of contest consistency could mark a significant return for the young American.
Among the challenges presented by the qualification marathon that skaters have embarked on for the upcoming Games, the Floridian points to the progression of women’s skating as one of the greatest but also most demanding aspects.
“It’s just been crazy watching like all the female skating progress,” Pinson says.
“A few years ago when I started competing, I was watching the tricks that all the girls are doing and I was like, ‘Wow, I'm not sure I'm ever going to be able to even do those tricks’. Now [I’m] doing those tricks and then thinking the same thing about the tricks that everyone's doing now. Like, it's just such a crazy shift.”
If the level being asked is too much for Pinson, she doesn’t show it. Her tempered attitude towards contests speaks to a skater ready to go with the flow; to have fun and see and see where it all lands.
That becomes even more obvious as she shares her hopes for the future where skating seems to remain an integral part:
“I love competing and stuff, but eventually too, ‘cause I love skating street, I feel like film more video parts, definitely. And then, I feel like I want to just do something, like sports science, physical therapy or something or maybe go to school for that. Just like off in the future where my body doesn't really let me skate at a high level anymore.”
Before all of that can come into view, first there will be the Games. And though the skater never explicitly calls it a ‘goal’ or a ‘target’ like some of her peers, there is still the sense of how much it would mean. Not just for her, who can feel it in her reach, but also for those who have backed her all the way.
“My dad is honestly always been my biggest supporter,” Pinson reflects.
“Like he's made so many sacrifices for me to be able to compete and just skate too. My mom and my stepdad. I mean, they're, they're supportive of it, but, and I love them but my dad, he's always been the one to drop everything, even if I just did not want to, he'd come with me to a contest.
When asked if there is a part of her that wants to make it to the Olympics for him, she doesn’t falter.
“For sure. I wouldn’t be here without him, so.”