Phoenix Welcomes Kiara Meade

The Phoenix Team just got a little bit bigger, by picking up a rider whos a little bit smaller than most of their riders. Kiara Meade is the latest rider to hit Phoenix, and I believe their first and only female rider. For a while now a lot of people have believed Kiara to be the best female rider in the sport. Gotta be real, most female riders lovee doing flyout..Well Kiara boosts boxes at TIC like it's no big deal, and her trick list has vastly improved which you can see in her edit below. Dan Barrett and Myself also caught up with Kiara to get a little interview in which you can read below.

For the people who don't know you that much, let us know a little bit more about yourself.

I'm Kiara Meade, live in NJ, I'm 13 years old and have been riding for about 4 years now.

So you've gotten on the Phoenix AM team, how did this happen? How did you get on?

Well, I was thinking it was about time to move on from Razor, but don't get me wrong, they did treat me very well! So i started talking to Dan a little more about Phoenix and he brought the idea to Tom, and he was stoked about the idea of me being a part of the team, and I took a stop on AM. So Dan is how got on the team.

Besides Phoenix giving you the spot on their AM team, what other reasons bring you to be apart of Phoenix?

A big reason is Dan and Jon. We have been close since we all used to be on a shop team called FSP, but then we all split apart from them. I think it is amazing we have all of us together again. i really like the other team riders as well. Also, I had always liked Phoenix parts. My past 2 setups both had Phoenix decks on them!

Any hard feelings between you and Razor that you made the switch?

Not at all! I had informed them in the nicest way possible, and they where completely understanding, which was very awesome of everyone!

What made you want to ride for Phoenix, as opposed to say... the Madd Girls Team?

To be honest, I don't really like the MADD products. I like to ride with what I feel comfortable with. Also, I would rather ride with everyone on one team, because I don't like the idea of being on a different team and kind-of being separated from the guys based on gender.

Do you ever get some of the guys at TIC, or male riders in general talking down on you because you're a girl?

To be honest, not very often. My close friends are super cool about it and don't have anything against it. But, there are some people that don't know enough about me and assume I can't do it. Hopefully, I change their mind when they see me ride.

You have any love for street riding?

Im not the biggest fan of it as you can see haha, but sometimes if im at a good spot with friends, its super fun. I just don't like to film it because im not the greatest at it, and it just isn't my type of riding.

Most of the guys on the Pro team have signature decks, would you ever want a signature deck? If so what would it look like?

I would really like to have a signature deck one day! If i were to have one it would probably be purple with some type of NJ logo on it with Casino Pier, what my local amusement park on Seaside Board walk used to look like before the hurricane destroyed it.

How's it feel to be so young and have so much opportunity? (Traveling, being sponsored, having people look up to you)

It is amazing! I really can't even explain! I am so grateful for what I have. Not many people have the opportunity to do what I do, so I really need to be thankful, and I am. But it didn't come from nothing. I worked hard for where i am today.Barking Spider and Phoenix are also helping me very much, always making sure i have an awesome scooter to ride!. I really want to thank my dad for everything he has done for me throughout my career, because if it wasn't for him, i wouldn't be who i am today.

Do you eventually see yourself getting on the Phoenix Pro team??

One day i think it will happen i know it! But i always have to keep pushing myself harder and harder and keep improving my riding every day. If you really want something, you have to work for it.

Is there any riders you look up to?

I really look up to Joey Aria. He always has his head up no matter what! He has one of the most unique/sickest styles i have ever seen, and i love the way he rides and his awesome personality. He is such a good influence and is for sure a person any young rider should look up to, also.

Is it weird going against the riders you look up to in competitions?

I don't think so at all. We are all just friends having fun. But at the same time, it's crazy that i used to be so little always wanting to be like them, and now im going up against people i always used to want to be like.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

In the future, i would like to continue riding, but when i become older, i would like to own some type of scooter shop or a scooter company.

There is a good amount of girl scooter riders out there, is there any advice you would like to give to them?

Don't let any of the guys bring you down, because you can do it. Just because we are girls doesn't mean we can't be as good as them, it's just their excuse. Look how far i have came, if i can do it, anyone else can too. You just need to work hard at what you want, and sooner or later it will come.