By: Simon
Pro skateboarder Lyn-Z Adams-Hawkins talks to Kidzworld about skating with boys, skipping school and her secret skateboarding diet.
Simon: So, first off, tell me how you went from being a Lyndsey to a Lyn-Z?
Lyn-Z Adams: When I was a kid, I got sick of writing my full name out, so I'd always just write "Lyn-Z" instead. At the time, I was kind of hoping to get into pro surfer, Lyn-Z would be a cool surfer name, so it just kind of stuck.
Simon: How did you first get into skateboarding?
Lyn-Z Adams: My parents got me and my brother sponsors.
Simon: Did you ever find it intimidating skateboarding around a bunch of guys when you first started?
Lyn-Z Adams: Not really. I always skated with guys - that's who I hung out with and they all really looked out for me. I know a lot of girls sometimes feel intimidated at TV coverage and it gives girls a chance to get into the sport and have other skaters to look up to.
Simon: On the grip tape on your board, it says, R.I.P, Dad. What kind of influence did he have on you?
Lyn-Z Adams: He was really ive of both me and my brother with skateboarding. He would watch us skateboarding for like hours and take us everywhere. I was really lucky to have him and I'm just glad he got a chance to watch me compete before he (died) and at the time, I never thought he really understood the moves I was doing but I think looking back he must have because he was always watching.
Simon: You skate at quite a few competitions and travel quite a bit. Does that mean you get to miss a lot of school?
Lyn-Z Adams: Yeah, it does. It's pretty hard though and really stressful. My teachers let me email my assignments in if I need to but it's just one more thing I need to worry about and I gotta try to be really disciplined to keep on top of things. But that doesn't always happen.
Simon: Do have any special foods you eat to keep in top skating shape?
Lyn-Z Adams: Diet is really important to me because way you fuel yourself up and what you put into your body makes a big difference on how you perform. So, I don't like to eat genetically engineered foods and I eat a lot of fruit - but I eat ice cream and candy too.
Simon: What's your favorite place that you've travelled to with skateboarding?
Lyn-Z Adams:I would say Australia. I've been there four or five times now and it's a beautiful place. Europe is nice too but Australia is much more like home and everyone speaks English.
