etnies

Photoshop 101: Even Models Have Flaws

A model before and after being retouched using Photoshop

Have you ever flipped through a magazine and felt hopelessly fat and ugly? If you haven’t had that experience at least once, you’re either exceptionally self confident or you have a Y chromosome.

Part of the problem might be that you think you’re looking at something real. Huh, you might ask? Look through the pages of any fashion magazine and you’ll see photos that have been subtly, and oftentimes even radically, altered. Blemishes have been eliminated, teeth and eyes have been whitened, legs have been lengthened, wrinkles have been smoothed out, breasts have been made larger, thighs and hips have been trimmed…the list goes on and on. In short, if you think the images of models and celebrities that you see in magazines, on billboards and posters are the real deal, you’re really wrong.

Jessica Alba recently admitted to Access Hollywood that the poster for her movie “Into the Blue” was retouched, saying “They enhanced it,” pointing to her chest. “They always do it.” She went on to say, “It's a movie poster. It's all pretend. It's all airbrushed.”

Got that? It’s not real. To prove our point, check out these photographs of a model before and after being retouched using Photoshop. Pretty eye-opening, isn’t it?

So the next time you’re looking through a magazine and feel like you don’t measure up, take a deep breath and repeat the Jessica Alba mantra: “It's all pretend. It's all airbrushed.”

Doesn’t that feel better?

New etnies Girl Ad Gallery

The etnies Girl Ad Gallery has just been completely revamped and updated with all of the ads from 2005. Check it out!

Free Ground Shipping With $65 Purchase

Throughout the holidays, when you make a purchase of $65 or more in the etnies Girl Online Store you’ll receive free ground shipping. Happy shopping and happy holidays from etnies Girl!

Meet Jordan, the etnies Girl of the Month

Meet Jordan, a 14-year-old skater from Tennessee and our newest etnies Girl of the Month!

etnies Girl: What are your interests?
Jordan: I am interested in action sports, skateboarding, soccer and music.

etnies Girl: What are your talents?
Jordan: Skateboarding, violin and sports.

etnies Girl: How did you get involved in skateboarding?
Jordan: When I was 12, I bought my first skateboard. My first set up was a Girl Paul Rodriguez deck, Independent trucks, Spitfire wheels and Reds bearings. I was inspired by Ryan Sheckler and some guys in my neighborhood.

Jordan wearing her etnies Girl “Chola” beanie.

etnies Girl: What do you like about etnies Girl?
Jordan: I like etnies because it is one of the only companies that supports female athletes.

etnies Girl: Why are you an etnies Girl?
Jordan: I’m an etnies Girl because I am confident in my skateboarding, I believe in myself and I am not scared to do things because of what other people might think.

etnies Girl: What do you do for fun?
Jordan: I like to skate, play sports, play music, hang out with friends and surf the Web.

etnies Girl: Where do you find inspiration?
Jordan: I find inspiration in other girl skaters and when people give me compliments.

etnies Girl: What’s your biggest accomplishment?
Jordan: Landing backside flips and getting better at bowl.

etnies Girl: Why do you love skateboarding so much?
Jordan: I love skateboarding because it’s a tough sport and I have accomplished so much. Every time I land a new trick, I want to skate even more. I love it!

etnies Girl: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Jordan: “Every day is going to be better than the last.” Aaryn Vesperman told me that last summer because I was frustrated about landing kickflips and he told me that and I would get better every day.

etnies Girl: What’s really important to you?
Jordan: My family. My mom is the one who drives me to the skatepark and tells me what I am doing wrong. My sister is just very supportive.

etnies Girl: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself?
Jordan: I love meeting other girl skaters—especially if they are as good, or better than, me.

Jordan’s Favorite Things

Place: Any skatepark
Animal: Llamas, giraffes and camels
Color: Purple and dark blue
Hangout: Skateparks and the movies
City: Santa Cruz, Calif.
Song: “This is tough one, so I will name two favorites: ‘Dance, Dance’ by Fall Out Boy and ‘Learn to Fly’ by the Foo Fighters.”
Band: Fall Out Boy, AAR, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Bright Eyes
Book: The Harry Potter Series
Movie: “I love just about any comedy.”
TV show: “Degrassi” and “Friends”
Sport: Soccer, skateboarding and motocross
Game: Monopoly
Food: Steak, pizza and rice
Candy: Twizzlers and Starburst
Holiday: Thanksgiving and Christmas
Smell: Peach
Hobby: Skateboarding and laughing
Guilty pleasure: Coca-Cola
Athlete: Ryan Sheckler, Eric Koston, Brian Deegan and Elissa Steamer
Hero: Oprah
etnies Girl shoe: Gal 86 in brown/tan/gum

Be an etnies Girl of the Month

Would you like to be the next etnies Girl of the Month? Leave a comment telling us why you deserve to be the next etnies Girl along with your age and, if you’re extra nerdy (which we love) add a link to a picture of yourself. Make sure to leave your CORRECT (no funny business!) e-mail address in the e-mail field, or we won’t be able to contact you if you’re chosen. (Don’t worry, your e-mail address won’t show up in your comment.) If you’re feeling shy, you can also e-mail a paragraph describing why you should be our next etnies Girl along with a photo of yourself to etniesgirl [at] soletechnology.com, or send it to:

etnies Girl of the Month
c/o Sole Technology, Inc.
25422 Trabuco Rd., Suite 105 #235
Lake Forest, CA 92609

Don't forget to include your name, age, address and phone number.

We Love Sensitive Boys

Ronnie Creager's bird, Red (R.I.P.)

Some girls love bad boys, some girls love pretty boys, but we here at etnies Girl are coming out in defense of sensitive boys. That’s right: We love sensitive boys, and we’re not afraid to shout it from the rooftops! Case in point: Mr. Ronnie Creager. When we read the etnies Skate story about how he took care of an injured baby bird over Thanksgiving, our hearts melted just a wee bit. That’s right, Ryan Sheckler might have boyish good looks, but Ronnie is a caretaker, he’s a giver, and that’s why we love him.

Stuff + Cats = Awesome

Albert the cat and Cookie Monster be chillin.

OK, so Stuff On My Cat has exactly nothing to do with skating, surfing or snowboarding (or motocross and BMX, for that matter), but it’s so freaking awesome that we had to tell you about it. Check it out.

Enter the You’re the Designer Clear Cut Contest!

Have you always wanted to be a shoe designer? Well here’s your chance! Enter etnies Girl’s You’re the Designer Clear Cut Contest for the opportunity to have your design vision become a reality.

Here’s the scoop: The Clear Cut, etnies Girl’s brand-new customizable version of the Callicut, comes with a clear logo window and interchangeable “E” insert options, including one blank so you can create your own design. That’s where you come in. Download the “E” insert line drawing and start designing, then upload or snail mail us your best design. The etnies Girl shoe designers will pick their favorite five designs, which we will post on the etnies Girl Web site so our readers can pick the winner.

The grand prize winner will receive five pairs of the Clear Cut that include the winning “E” insert design and a head-to-toe etnies Girl outfit. The four runners-up will receive a pair of the Clear Cut and an etnies Girl T-shirt.

All entries must be received no later than January 10, 2006, in order to be eligible, so get creative and start designing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

These turkeys are chillin'

Just one little post today to say Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families and friends from all of us here at etnies.

etnies Girl’s Travel Tips, Part I

It’s getting to be that time of year again—holiday travel is upon us! In fact, today, the day before Thanksgiving, is the busiest travel day of the year. Whether you’re preparing to fly cross country with the whole family to visit grandma, going on a snowboarding trip with friends or jetting off to a tropical island for some R&R (lucky duck!), here are some tips to help make your travels go more smoothly. Stay tuned for the second installment in our series of travel tips.

1. Bag It: Pack a small bag with the following items and keep it within arms reach: eye drops, nasal saline spray, hand lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste, hair brush, wet wipes and lip balm. We’ve found that using all of this stuff every few hours really keeps you from getting that haggard, dehydrated, I’m-on-a-plane-feeling. If you really want to feel luxurious, get Evian face spray—it’s heavenly!
2. Pack Earplugs and an Eye Pillow: They’re perfect for shutting out the crying baby and arguing older couple that seem to come standard with every long flight.
3. Don’t Forget Food: It’s easy to forget how disgusting airline food is and how hungry you’ll be until you’re on the plane looking at a smooshed, half-warmed sandwich and a wilted salad…if you’re lucky enough to get even that! Bring a few PB&Js (you’ll score major brownie points if you bring extras for your travel buddies), fruit, crackers and lots of water because you’ll need to stay hydrated.
4. Bring Your Own Entertainment: Teen Vogue, Seventeen and ELLEgirl become your best friends on a long flight, and a good book beats out watching a lame airline movie on a tiny screen any day!
5. Emergency Row: If you’re 15 years of age or older, always ask for an emergency row seat when you’re checking in. (You can’t request them when you buy your flight.) They have the most leg room so you can stretch out.
6. Get Comfy: A track suit is the perfect outfit to travel in; it will keep you warm and it’s as comfortable as PJs, but fashionable enough that you won’t feel like a dork in the airport. Flip flops are great for planes too because you can slip them on and off easily and they don’t take up much room. Just make sure to bring comfy socks to slip on when you get on the plane, because otherwise your tootsies will get cold.
7. Final Tip: Don’t sit by us, because we’ll talk your ear off/ask personal questions/giggle incessantly/make you play the “Who Would You Rather Kiss” game the entire flight.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy travels from all of us at etnies Girl!

November’s Skate Team Report

Here’s a quick update on what Elissa, Lauren and Evelien have been up to this month…

Elissa Steamer has been at home in San Francisco, Calif., since the etnies GvR and Push, the etnies Girl Jam contests in October. She’s been skating pretty much everyday (weather permitting), finding time to golf and enjoying some downtime. She’ll be heading to Southern California soon for an etnies Girl team photo shoot. The photo shoot, which is scheduled for Dec. 5-9, will be a road trip in the etnies RV that will take the girls from the etnies headquarters in Lake Forest up to San Francisco. Lauren Perkins will also be on the shoot, as will girls from the snow, surf, motocross and BMX teams.

Speaking of Lauren, she’s been at home in Huntington Beach, Calif., for awhile now, as there haven’t been any contests lately and she hasn’t had any other travel plans. She’s just been keeping herself busy with school and finding time to skate whenever she’s caught up with her schoolwork. As mentioned, she will be on the etnies Girl team photo shoot road trip next month, before enjoying some time at home for the holidays.

Evelien Bouilliart has been at home in Belgium taking care of her school commitments before she gets a big break for Christmas…only a couple more weeks to go, Eve! Outside of school, she has found some time to skate—mainly at the indoor skatepark near her house, since the weather has been pretty cold in Belgium. School, skating and getting rid of her nagging injuries (ankles, especially) are what she has planned for the next couple of months.

Keep checking the site for updates and photos from the etnies Girl team photo shoot road trip, and Happy Thanksgiving from the skate team!

Catch etnies Girl at Bling Fest 2005 Nov. 19!

Catch etnies Girl this weekend at Active Bling Fest 2005! Active’s annual best trick contest and music festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 1-5 p.m., at the Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Stop by the etnies Girl booth to customize free T-shirts, learn how to DJ and for the chance to win tons of prizes! Tickets are available at all Active store locations and cost $10 pre-sale and $15 the day of the event.

This is one event that is not to be missed!

Pro Contest Prize Purses: Are Female Skaters Getting a Fair Cut?

Geoff Rowley received the same $2,000 check for showing up and not competing at the 2005 X Games as Elissa Steamer (center) did for winning it.

This past summer, Flip pro Geoff Rowley received the same $2,000 check for showing up and not competing in X Games 11 as Elissa Steamer did for winning the gold medal in Women’s Street. The question is, is this fair?

etnies’ Rob Brink explores the issue of female skate prize purses and sheds some light on the Alliance, an organization of female skaters working together to create a new voice for women’s skateboarding, in his article “The Alliance: Are Women Skaters Being Undercut in Pro Contests?”

Check out the article and weigh in here with your opinion on this issue.

etnies Girl “323 Denim” on The OC Nov. 17!

Mischa Barton’s ever-so-stylish character, “Marissa Cooper,” will wear the etnies Girl “323 Denim” on the Nov. 17 episode of Fox’s hit show, “The OC.”

Word on the street is that Mischa has been in search of the perfect slim-leg jean and finally found it in etnies Girl’s “323.” She loved it so much that she ordered four extra pairs for herself!

The five-pocket denim pant, featuring a narrow fit, one zippered pack pocket and a deep black wash, is from the Fall 2005 collection and is in stores now. Catch them on “The OC” Thursday, Nov. 17, at 8/7c on FOX.

The etnies / Deftones Skateboard Contest!

All you Deftones fans know damn well the band can blow minds with their music. You might also know, like many of us, the boys grew up just hangin out on their skateboards and chasing their dream of becoming musicians one day. Well, from skateboards to selling out venues all over the world, the Deftones are proof that dreams come true. To celebrate the release of their new B-sides and Rarities CD, etnies has teamed up with the Deftones to give away some kick-ass prizes to the fans. Three winners will be selected from all those who have a bit of good luck and take a minute to fill out this form.

Check Out Lauren Perkins on Icelounge!

Have you visited Icelounge lately? Head on over to the site and check out the profile of etnies Girl skate team rider Lauren Perkins!

Lucy Adams’ Manchester Girlie Skate Camp Journal

Happy Girlie Campers!

etnies Girl UK skate team rider Lucy Adams sent this dispatch from the Girlie Skate Camp in Manchester, UK, where she was teaching girls how to skate. Check out more photos from the 2005 Girlie Skate Camps series in the Photo Gallery.

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2005

Day one! The camp and day started with an early morning session at the Mancunian Way Park. We planned to go to Warrington all day today, but all the girls seemed to be so hyped to skate so we went down to the park where we met and had a private session courtesy of John, the park manager. It was kind of a free skate at first just to see how the girls skated; we just all introduced ourselves and had fun.

Afterwards, we went to watch the Warrington Jam, where we saw some awesome skating. Some of the girls had a little skate there but as it was very crowded, it was like skating through the traffic to get a line!

MONDAY, AUG. 1, 2005

We started off with a private session under the bridge again, which was perfect for getting some good skating in. All the girls were really motivated after seeing the Skate Jam at Warrington and it really showed today! Katie, Rachel, Remmi and Emma could already drop in so they became part of the more advanced group, which would work more on tricks and stunts during the week. Those girls who were only just beginning on a skateboard would be learning more of the basics such as stance, pushing and getting used to the ramps.

Dinner was enjoyed by all along the “Curry Mile,” a famous strip in Manchester filled with the finest Indian cuisine.

TUESDAY, AUG. 2, 2005

Again we started at Mancunian Way. The girls Ben was instructing were beginning to make kickturns on the banks and many were riding to fakie on the transitions! Most in my group were well into ollieing and were stoked on learning frontside kickturns and backside kickturns on the big quarter pipe.

After an ace session, we headed up to Platt Fields Park. Since the weather was good today and the girls were enjoying skating so much, we got started with skating straight away. The girls loved it, as it was somewhere new to practice those skills that they had been learning at the previous park.

With a helping hand from the local supermarket, a lunch break was in order. Reenergized, the girls had another hour or so of fine skating. Lucy, Allie, Mira, Nichola, Sam and Katrin all were battling it out to pump the mini ramp. Legs became tired and faces and shoulders were becoming increasingly red from the sun, so skating was over for the day!

The rest of the afternoon was spent chilling out in town; some shopped and others just stuck to window shopping.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3, 2005

Early start at Warrington! Ben and I arrived a bit early to sweep the puddles as unfortunately it had been raining the night before; but with some sunshine and a bit of wind, the park dried up in no time. Everyone enjoyed skating the park in its less chaotic state. The girls were trying to make linked turns using the bowled corners and others were dropping in on all sorts. Rachel was the first to drop the big quarter and that deserved much respect! Another notable incident was when Outi from Finland slammed on her head. Much respect to her also for not only taking such a slam, but being a soldier and still smiling.

The skate was followed by some lunch courtesy of Morrison’s supermarket and then we went on a trip to A4. This is the UK distributor of etnies, and a big thanks to Anne and everyone at A4 for accommodating us.

THURSDAY, AUG. 4, 2005

The day began with our private session at Mancy Way. Bones were aching today after all the skating that had been going down, but all the girls were psyched to master the drop-ins. Emma made a rad frontside boardslide on the rail. After quite a short skate we decided to head over to Stockport and skate Bones Skate Park. Lunch was eaten at the station and everyone boarded for a short train journey to Stockport. Everyone had an excellent session at Bones, and more than half of the group got to drop in even if it was with one helping hand. Others enjoyed pumping on the ramp. Mira and Nichola even reached the coping!

After what turned out to be a long day’s skate, everyone went back to chill out at the hotel and get some more well-deserved food and drinks. Emma and I felt that we had more skating left in us and went on a little mission of our own. This turned out to be a three hour trip to skate for 45 minutes, but it was all worth it as the skate park was super cool!

FRIDAY, AUG. 5, 2005

Final day of the Girlie Skate Camp in Manchester! After such a cool day yesterday, we decided to cruise back over to Bones—a decision that was also swung due to the rainy weather. Everyone wanted to drop in again and the small ramps made it a dream come true! By the end of the session everyone had dropped in, some with one hand of help from Ben or me.

After Bones, we headed back to the city to catch the éS Game of Skate. It was fun to see it and bet on who would win. After that, we all went back to the hotel to get dressed up for the final evening. We all enjoyed the dinner together and reflections were made on the great week we all had. After dinner we all hit a cool club at which Ben was DJing—a great night to end a great week!

I would like to say a big thanks to Girlie Camps for giving me the opportunity to be there, to all the girls who took part and made it such a fun week, to Ben for being a great instructing partner and to etnies Girl for helping to make this happen!

Peace,
Lucy Adams

ASEC Giveback Follow Up!

The ASEC Giveback event we told you about last week was a huge success, with about 500 people showing up throughout the day. Once the ramps were opened up for skateboarding, the kids went wild on their new community skatepark!

Thank you to all of the sponsors and to everyone who came out for helping ASEC and etnies bring a positive message to this community through skateboarding and for donating Good Wood to the Hood.

Girlie Skate Camps 2005 Photo Gallery

etnies Girl was proud to sponsor Girlie Skate Camps again in 2005 after a successful inaugural year in 2004. Check out photos from the series of all-female skate camps held in four different locations throughout Europe, including Prague, Czech Republic; Montpellier, France; Manchester, United Kingdom; and Madrid, Spain.

Visit the Photo Gallery to view the photos.

Snow Team Halloween Hijinks!

Leanne channels Ali G while Wille, the Finnish Frenchman, just looks confused...

Ali G, a Christian folk singer and a Frenchman walk into a bar…

Alexis, the birthday girl!

No, that’s not the beginning of the worst joke ever—it’s the beginning of our snow team’s Halloween night! Check out these Halloween photos of etnies Girl snow team riders Leanne Pelosi as Ali G and Alexis Waite as a Christian folk singer. (She met up with the rest of her “band mates” later.) The French guy in the photos is etnies snow team rider Wille Yli-Luoma, who just happens to be Finnish.

We also belatedly want to wish Lexi a happy birthday, which took place Oct. 30!

Did you do anything fun for Halloween? Let us know by posting a comment in the blog.

Action Sports Environmental Coalition: Giveback

This Saturday, November 5, from 12-6 p.m., ASEC (The Action Sports Environmental Coalition) has teamed up with etnies, Element, Stonyfield Farms, Silk, Clif Bar, and others to give back another Good Wood for the Hood Festival. These organizations and companies have gathered to donate ramps from this year’s X Games to the Lennox Community Youth Center.

The Elemental Awareness guys will be giving out product to the amateur with the best trick, DJ Episode will be spinning along with DJ Icy Ice of the Beat Junkies. Show up to skate the ramps and you might even bring home some free stuff from your favorite companies!

The Lennox Youth Activity Center is located at: 11911 Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, CA

Leanne Pelosi on TW Snow Online!

Leanne showing off her softer side in Iceland (photo via Scott Serfas/TW Snowboarding)

Check out TransWorld Snowboarding Online for an interview with etnies Girl rider Leanne Pelosi about getting sponsored via the Internet, giving up soccer for snowboarding and co-founding the all-girls MGT Snowboard Camp, and to view a slideshow of her trip to Iceland.