Giant slalom courses set the stage for some gnarly wipeouts, she says. At one world championship competition, she broke her arm and tore up her hip. “I had to go to the hospital to get pieced back together,” she says.

As a professional skateboarder, Sasha travels across the country for competitions in a sport where many people keep the motto, “Live fast. Die young.” At some skateboarding contests, Sasha has been offered beer or cigarettes, but she refuses.

“It seems all the people on the round are partiers,” Sasha says. “Many of the guys have really big egos, and they hate girl skaters. It’s really hard to behave like I’m supposed to in that atmosphere.”

Feeling Alone
Skateboard judging is filled with politics and subjectivity, Sasha says. Although this has caused some heartache for her over the years, Sasha feels good regardless of how she places when she does her best. “I almost gave up competitive skating due to the stress of it all,” she says. “But with much prayer, I persevered and reminded myself that God’s in control.”

Sasha has met few Christian skateboarders and is virtually alone in the girls’ skate world. “Christians need to stick together in this industry because skateboarding is a very dark industry. I wish we were all lifting each other up in prayer because we’re on the forefront of a battlefield,” she says.

Reflecting Christ
A person’s image is important in skateboarding. Sasha often feels pressured to perform her best because people are watching and talking. “I always have to look good because I represent companies who want me to be a good spokeswoman for them,” she says. “I have this squeaky clean yet punk image to maintain, but that’s OK because that’s how I really am.”

For more than a year, Sasha has tried joining some Christian skateboard demo teams such as Manna or King of Kings, but so far it hasn’t worked out. “I tend to not be very patient because I’m always active, on the go,” she says. “I’ve always lived that kind of lifestyle. But God has been showing me to slow down, focus and wait for His timing in everything.”

Staying Committed
Sasha’s family and friends in Santa Rosa, Calif., encourage her in the hard times. She and her mom pray together a lot. “We’ve been through some weird things over the years, and God has kept us safe and provided for us through it all,” Sasha says. “We have Bible verses taped all over the walls of our house, and all my close friends go to my church.”

Sasha attends Santa Rose Alliance Church, where she plays the guitar, bass and drums for the youth group worship team. “It’s easy for me to remain committed to God because I see how other skaters live and the emptiness in their lives,” she says. “I can’t imagine living that way with no hope.”

Top Reasons Why Sasha Loves Her Mom
• “She not only lets but also helps me follow my dreams.”
• “She travels everywhere with me.”
• “She motivates me to practice when I don’t want to get out of bed.”
• “She spends time with me at skate parks.”
• “She spends hours on the computer looking for upcoming skate events.”
• “She takes all my photos for magazines and Web sites.”
• “Most importantly, she prays for me and with me.”