ELISSA STEAMER | BEN RAEMERS SMILE INTERVIEWS

04 Mar ELISSA STEAMER | BEN RAEMERS SMILE INTERVIEWS

Elissa Steamer: A Life Shaped by Skateboarding

Elissa Steamer has had an incredible journey in skateboarding. She started skating after seeing punk-influenced skaters in her neighborhood. Their rebellious energy drew her in. Her father bought her a Veriflex board instead of the Powell Peralta she wanted. She covered the logo with a Powell sticker and started riding.

SMiLe Interviews: Elissa Steamer Talks Skateboarding Beginnings

The latest SMiLe Interviews episode features Elissa Steamer reflecting on her early days in skateboarding. She got back into skating after a middle school classmate asked how much air she could get. That conversation led to a lifelong friendship and deep commitment to skateboarding. By the early ’90s, she spent summers at the Tampa Skatepark. Every major team stopped there on tour, and many gave her boards.

Ben Raemers Foundation Highlights Elissa’s Career Evolution

The Ben Raemers Foundation provides mental health support in the skateboarding community. In this interview, Elissa Steamer shares how her career took off. A recommendation from Ray Barbee led her to call Lance Mountain. After that, she started getting boards from The Firm and later from Real. Eventually, the Toy Machine team insisted she join them. That decision shaped her career.

Elissa Steamer on Welcome to Hell and Skate Culture

Elissa Steamer filmed for Toy Machine’s Welcome to Hell video while staying at Jamie Thomas’s house. When the video dropped, everything changed. Before it, people looked at her suspiciously at demos. Afterward, they wanted autographs. Skateboarding had always been her life, but Welcome to Hell put her in the spotlight. She traveled constantly, skating and partying with her crew.

SMiLe Interviews: Struggles with Substance Use

Elissa Steamer enjoyed the freedom of skate life, but it came with struggles. Drinking and smoking were common in the scene. Over two decades, those habits led to isolation and depression. Despite warnings from friends, she didn’t acknowledge the problem. Eventually, a therapist told her to stop drinking. That moment became a turning point.

Ben Raemers Foundation: Spreading Awareness Through Stories

The Ben Raemers Foundation shares stories like Elissa’s to highlight mental health struggles in skateboarding. She stopped drinking 17 years ago and now advocates for a healthier lifestyle. She acknowledges that skateboarding and drinking often go hand in hand. But she emphasizes that skating alone provides a much healthier escape. Her journey shows that change is possible, even after years of struggle.