She Zoomed to the Top

As girls and young women increasingly hit the pavement, female skate stars are now being born. Cara-Beth Burnside may still rule the ramps after almost two decades (she took home $1,000 from the Jam on Sunday), but other skating women are now demanding their own props. Meet the sport’s new queen of the streets (who claimed her own $1,000 from the street course):

Athlete: Elissa Steamer.

Specialty: street skateboarding (as opposed to ramp).

Age: 23--and not too hung up to reveal that fact.

Origins: Fort Meyers, Fla.

Current Rest Stop: Huntington Beach.

Sponsors: Toy Machine (she has a signature pro model deck), Etnies (her signature shoe will debut in spring 2000), TSA and World Market.

Skate History: started at age 13; competing since age 21.

Bragging Rights: the only female skater featured in Tony Hawk’s skateboarding video.

Skate Hero: Tom Petty (yes, the rockin’ Tom Petty).