Our first ever featured young rider is a young lady from a small town in England who you may recognise from her YouTube trick tips video.

Hi Ella, where are you from?
I am all English, and proud.. I guess haha

Where is English?
I am East-Anglian mainly, but also a scouser! Lived in and around Cambridge all my life, except when I lived in Cyprus for 3 years from 2007. If only I had known about longboarding then.. it would have been heaven.

When did you start skating?
I got my first skateboard when I was around 3 years old. It was a Yu-Gi-Oh skateboard. I can still remember letting an older boy on it, he broke his arm haha! But I started to skateboard properly (i.e. do tricks) when I was 8. Then I found out about longboarding in September 2010.

How did you find out about longboarding?
I met one of my best friends through the sport! He was on a longboard, I was on a skateboard. He let me have a go, and I fell in love with it!

Where do you skate now?
I skate where ever I can really. Which is usually the car park around the back of my house! English weather is evil.

Do you have a local crew?
Not really. I usually skate on my own these days. I like to skate with other people, but with exams, work and revision, my free time is limited to evenings unfortunately. Thank goodness for street lamps!

Who have you been skating with since September 2010?
Very few people actually. The skating scene isn’t that big here, recently I have got in touch with a few people though, so hopefully longboarding will become a social regular event for me!

You haven’t had the chance to skate outside Cambridge?
I have; a couple of times when I go on a holiday, and sometimes when I use my longboard as transport when I catch a train somewhere, but other then that no! Sadly…

What’s the longboarding scene like in the rest of the UK?
Pretty good I think! I just haven’t had a chance to look. I have been in touch with a whole bunch of longboarders, and most are from the UK!

How do you stay stoked with nobody to skate with?
Skating with someone is always a LOT better then skating by yourself, but I guess the thing which makes me want to keep longboarding is mainly my YouTube channel, as I’m well-known throughout the longboarding world now. Plus, there’s all my fans etc. They want videos! Then also I just want to stay longboarding because it is my sport! I love it too much to quit!

What sort of stuff do you post on your YouTube channel?
Everything and anything to do with longboarding! What ever pops into my mind first, or what ever I feel like doing!

When did you start the channel?
Me and my friend had the idea around October 2010, then I made my first video, kept making videos, then got spotted by Longboardism (a popular longboarding website) which featured me on their front page, then after that I kept making them quite a lot! I did not expect my channel to hit off that well – it was a great surprise!

How big a hit was it?
A very big one… yup.

Who helps you run the YouTube channel?
I have a friend who occasionally films if I ask him to. I never really have any other riders to feature.. but I think that Longboard UK has really turned into a channel which only ever has been and only ever will be Ella! We’ll see.

What is the future of Longboard UK?
I have no idea! I hope it gets bigger and better, and is never forgotten! I would like it to be an awesome longboarding channel. One of the best!

Why is your channel called Longboard UK?
I longboard.. in the UK… yup. Many people ask me why I took up the pressure of representing the UK for longboarding… I didn’t! I just got the user-name! Nothing big! I didn’t ask to do that haha!

How have you progressed from October 2010 till now as a rider?
I teach myself how to do everything! Along with the odd help of a trick tip video. But that’s how I have only ever learnt how to skate. I do all kinds of skating. Mainly tricks, and sliding though. I’d love to try the other disciplines of longboarding, but haven’t had the chance to yet!

Which riders inspire you?
There is a large selection. If I had to choose, I’d say; Adam Colton, just because he was my first longboarding idol. Brian Bishop, because he is crazy.. and amazing. Ethan Cochard, because of the video he put out ‘Sweat the small stuff’, and then I asked him a question on Facebook about the DKP and he gave an awesome response! He was officially my favourite after that!

What do you ride?
I have ridden many longboards in my time. Right now I am riding the Original Apex 40, which is OFFICIALLY my favourite so far. Just because it is PERFECT for me. I also ride Orangatang 80a Durians, and Paris Steel Blue 180s! Great ride! But I need new wheels…

When did you get new board?
About a week ago. I have only gotten to ride it a few times, but I really do love it!

Was it a late Christmas present?
If it was. It would have been an amazing Christmas present! I got an email from the Original team manager in the middle of school, saying: ‘I want to talk to you about sponsorship’ and I SCREAMED, really loudly, in the middle of class. Then I had to explain that I wasn’t looking at my phone. I was so happy at that moment in time though, so to be honest I wouldn’t have cared if the teacher had taken it! Haha! About 2 weeks later, I received a Flow Team sponsorship, and a new longboard! I was so happy! The day it came, it arrived in the morning, but I needed to go to London, so I had to wait ALL DAY to open the parcel. It drove me crazy!

Congratulations! Was the initial email a surprise?
Thanks! It was indeed! I did not expect to get sponsored at all. I didn’t think I was good enough.. well I must be doing something right I suppose haha. It’s been my goal to get sponsored since I was 8 years old, so 8 years later when it happened, I actually couldn’t believe it!

That’s great to hear! What are your plans for this year?
Pass my GCSE’s exams I guess. They’re top priority unfortunately. But when summer comes LONGBOARDING TOUR! That would be nice. I only ever want to always enjoy myself. So hopefully my plans will all be something I feel like I want to do!

What are the stops on this tour?
Longboard events and lots of different locations in summer would be great. I can’t go on a weeks tour or something, and I can’t go abroad, but I can get out a lot more, and hopefully go to different places around the UK, and yes; London will come!

Are there a lot of female longboarders in the UK?
There are a few! I have discovered. To this, I have only one thing that people can wait to look forward to… Longboard Girls Crew UK anyone?

You guys are making one?
We are indeed! There’s some girls around the UK who thought it would be great to make us all come together, and I am involved! Yay!

Awesome. Just 1 last question. Choose 3 numbers between 1-23
Uhm.. ok.. 10. 7. 18?

10 – Snack – before during or after ?
If I get the choice of any, all of them. I am greedy, and like food.

7 – What is your favourite cheese ?
I don’t really like most cheese… but I like mozzarella.

18- What is/was your favourite Cartoon?
THAT is an incredibly difficult question. If I had to choose, I would choose Family Guy. It is hilarious, and has me leaving the day on a happy note!

It was great talking to you Ella, hope your story inspires many young skaters to go out and chase their dreams!
Pleasure’s all mine – this was a fun conversation! Cheers!

Uhm.. thanks to Original I guess, thanks to you for having me, thanks to my parents for encouraging me, and thanks to ALL MY FANS! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

http://www.youtube.com/user/LongboardUK