About the Book
The bad*ss story of the female, queer, bi, and nonbinary skaters who charted a path to the Olympics and changed the face of skateboarding.
Who gets to tell the story of skateboarding Drop In is the first book to recognize and historicize the female, queer, bi, and nonbinary humans who blazed the path that led to today’s more equitable skate culture. It wasn’t easy getting here.
Like the rest of the world, skateboarding has long been patriarchal. In the 70s, it personified the punk rock, lock-up-your-daughters, middle-finger-to-the-man ethos. In the 80s, it was Miami Vice soundtracks and parachute pants, neon graphics and fingerless gloves. In the 90s it was New York City—graffiti, hip-hop, and skating in the street. Rarely did you see a woman’s name in a skate video—either on a deck or behind the lens.
The four skateboarders at the heart of Drop In defied expectations of gender, talent, physical ability, and mental capacity to fight the status quo: Alana as the first openly nonbinary athlete in Olympic history; Vanessa as a record breaking runaway; Marbie as an accidental boundary-breaking trans icon; and Victoria as the skate rookie turned social media sensation. Drop In spotlights their paths from rebellious outsiders to recognized pioneers on the historic stage of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where skateboarding made its debut. Their experiences reveal a side of skateboarding that’s never been recorded, amplifying voices that have, for too long, gone unheard.
About the Author :
Deborah Stoll is a journalist, lyricist, writer and animator. Her work has appeared in The Economist, Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Portland Mercury, San Francisco Chronicle, Punch Drink, Buzz Bands, Ignite and White Hot Magazine. Her short stories have appeared in Slake, Swivel, and Fresh Yarn. Her band, Hot As Sun, has opened for Phantogram, Gotye, and Foster the People, been featured on TV shows like Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Glee, and CSI: Miami and in the movie For a Good Time, Call and the upcoming, Space Cadet. Her first book, Unvarnished, was co-written with Eric Alperin. Drop In is her first book as a solo author.
This is her website: Bubbemaisse.com
Review :
“With deep dives into sports history, gender studies and social justice, Drop In offers a fresh perspective on skateboarding, celebrating the courage and resilience that have shaped the sport today.” — Glorious Sport
“Stoll’s reporting, combined with her passion for storytelling and social justice, make Drop In a groundbreaking addition to sports literature, pop culture and gender studies.” — Dallas Voice
“This is a stunning collection of stories … it’s time to shut up and read.” — Thrasher
“I fist-pumped the air and muttered “f*ck yessss” throughout the reading of Drop In… I especially appreciated the unfiltered critique of some of the more toxic aspects of skateboarding culture, learning about the impact it has had on queer and trans skaters, and the focus on joy, community and inclusion.” — Natalie Porter, founder of Womxn Skateboard History and member of the Smithsonian Museum's skateboarding advisory board
“I hope the younger generation reads these stories and finds lessons and tools to make the future bright. I hope the older generation reads these stories and finds healing. I know I have.” — Jessie Frietze-Armenta, competitive skateboarder and founder of Shred Cycle
“Descriptive, accessible, energetic, and at times scathing and unfiltered ... This title is a worthy addition for your own library, providing evidence for how skateboarding is evolving to become a more inclusive community and some of the epic battles and adversity that non-traditional skaters have faced and overcome.” — Skate Book Club
“This book will appeal to anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong and will give hope to aspiring skaters.” — Booklist
“Exhilarating...Deborah Stoll introduces readers to the 'gender rebels' who have blazed a trail in the male-dominated world of skateboarding all the way to the Olympics...a must read. — Tag24
"…Stoll’s finely observed portraits will have readers rooting for the four skaters as they reshape the sport in their own image. This sticks the landing with flair and poise." — Publishers Weekly
"Drop In is a must-read for anyone dedicated to fighting for equality; it’s a cultural road map about refusing to accept the status quo, no matter your gender, identity, or race." — Billie Jean King, Sports Icon and Champion of Equality
