Poppy Starr
Success in skateboarding is as much about ripping as it is about being genuinely cool, so it’s no wonder Poppy Starr is finding a lot of success.
Boasting one of the more outlandish, unexpected bag of tricks in skating at the moment, the Worble/Vans/Dickies/RideSTG skater is fun to watch. A skater, a painter, a drawer, a filmer, an animator, Poppy is a bit of a polymath. As such, Poppy’s a rising Starr (get it?). Happy to have you, Poppy. Thank you for suffering our puns.
Who are you?
My name is Poppy.
What do you do?
I like to skateboard, draw, play music, animate, film etc. Feel like I find something every day I want to do.
How long have you been doing that?
I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil, my mum has a painting I did when I was eighteen months old. I got my first skateboard when I was eight.
What is your favourite song right now and why?
My favourite song at the moment is ‘Super Freaky Girl’ by Nikki Minaj. I just have a hype playlist on my phone I play in the car and this song just gets me going.
If you weren’t skating what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t skating I’d want to try out acting haha or be a skate filmer and make videos of my friends.
Some slang you catch yourself saying? (Ie. That slaps)
Yeah Big Doggy & Mami.
What do you do outside of skating and how does that thing influence or affect your craft?
I think art is my next thing, when it comes to actually skating, maybe it makes me see some things differently to other people I’m not sure! When I’m driving I always look out the window and imagine all sorts of crazy tricks to try off urban obstacles.
The best/worst thing about the skating industry?
The best for me has been finding a loving community and friends. Plus getting opportunities to skate and express my creativity in all the other fields of the industry. Skating, drawing, filming etc! - The worst part is the toxic people and parents that are training kids, taking the joy away from skating.
Something you’re most proud of?
I just actually went Pro for Worble, which was so amazing. I don’t get proud of myself that much but seeing my name on a board was pretty special. And the Olympics was pretty awesome too haha!
“Just to be kind. You never know what someone is going through, a small compliment can go a long way. ”
Biggest lesson learned about your craft so far?
90% of the time it’s all in your head.
Something anyone can do today to make the world a better place?
Just to be kind. You never know what someone is going through, a small compliment can go a long way.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far in your industry?
Probably the competition side of things. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m so lucky but it’s also had a lot of barriers that haven’t been easy to get through.
What was surprisingly easy to do?
I remember I always loved to just go down little ramps, that was the best haha.
What advice might you give to you from five years ago? Ten years ago?
I think I’d say ‘Be stupid, don’t take life too seriously, go on adventures and try and see fun and beauty in each day.’
What is your hidden talent or thing you are good at that is completely unrelated to the thing we are interviewing you about?
On a good day I can hand stand for like twenty seconds.
Who do you think is doing it the best/coolest in your industry right now?
Maite Steenhoudt is having the most fun and doing everything right.
Are you seeing more girls at the skatepark these days?
Definitely, I was the only local girl at my skatepark for years and now there’s heaps of girls everywhere. They’re swarmin.
What has been the craziest trick you’ve landed?
Probably a one footed hand plant, haven’t done that in a little while.
What’s the best thing about being on Worble?
That they’re all a bunch of kind hearted goofs. Everyone has so much fun and doesn’t care about the stupid stuff. They all make everyday skating so much fun.
What’s your best advice be to someone who is just starting out skating?
To try and have as much fun as you can. Find your people that make you feel good and are supportive. There are no rules so try anything! Also don’t be scared to ask for advice, everyone started somewhere.
