An Interview with Faith Doudna

Photo by Bailey Walker.

In this interview we chat with Faith Doudna about growing up in Selah, WA, getting sponsored, filming video parts, making the move to Portland and who she’s inspired by.

I appreciate you taking some time to chat with us! So, I know you spent some time in AZ when you were young, but moved to Eastern Washington later on as a kid. 

Yeah I lived there until I was like 4 and visited to see my pops a bunch. I’d say that Selah, Washington is where I planted my roots for sure. 

What was it like growing up out there in Selah? And how did you find skateboarding there?

Selah was a rad, mellow type of vibe. Nothing but orchards, sports, fishing, and books. My brother had a board he would never use so I’d snag it from under his bed and skate off into the night, it felt very sacred to me. My teacher Ms.Hussell had Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and I’d finish my work early just to play. I was just a fiend for real haha.

Hell yeah, I was THPS kid myself. Were there any specific influences or local skaters in that zone who inspired you early on?

Yeah, for sure shout out Vito Luppino, Josh Mohs, John Erickson, Simon Jensen, Eric Denier, Kristin Ebeling, Sebastian Lopez, Marcus Lopez, Maxwell Briskey, Nathan and Cristian Navarro and Gilberto Barajas.

They’re so rad and their style and individuality meant so much to me. So inspiring, making something out of nothing in the valley. Taught me how to persevere.

How did your first sponsorship with the Space Program come about, and what did that opportunity mean to you?

Space Program hit me up on insta after seeing my clips to flow me and I was so down! In the middle of nowhere, an opportunity like that was a lifeline. It meant so much to me to have someone believe in me and my skating and artistic vision. So wild, I’m so grateful for Sebastian, he changed my life.

So sick. And then I believe after the Space Program you got on the Tactics team? How did that happen?

Yeah that was insane, everything happened so quickly it was like Space Program and then Tactics. I’d been shopping there since I was so young, I was geeked. Like bro, no way is this my life right now. So grateful. God is so good!

How is it going on trips and being on a stacked squad like that?

Going on trips with those dudes is insane. I’m just in awe of their talent. Makes me want to push myself to the limit. Like bro is for real hitting every spot, I’m trying to be like you my boy. It’s crazy. Shoutout to all the Tactics homies they inspire me every day. 

Love it, the motivation is real. So while we’re on sponsors, you’re currently riding for a pretty rad group of other brands as well like Adidas, Slappy Trucks, Orbs, and Pocha World.

Dude the fact that I have the opportunity to ride for Adidas is insane. Talk about dream company! I’ve been rocking Adidas forever. I can’t believe the opportunity I’ve been blessed with, like seriously. I’m so thankful they believe in me. 

Mike Sinclair hit me up to ride for Slappy and I was so down, not to mention I’ve landed and learned so many tricks on these trucks. Shoutout Mike he’s out here doing the Lord’s work! 

Orbs is so sick, I’ve been rocking the 99a 54mm Hale’s murked out and they’ve been doing me right. I love them. 

Pocha World deserves its own moment as a women owned business. The homie Mo created this sick glitter grip company in L.A. and bro obviously I’m down. Glitter. Grip. Hot chicks. SIGN. ME. UP. Like for real if you don’t already know, run it up baby. 

Such a stacked line up. You’re killing it. So coming up in Selah, what motivated your move to Portland?

I moved to Portland to get away from everything I grew up in. Tons of drugs and gangs and poverty. My family was always wrapped up in it, and I just couldn’t move forward if that was my everyday life I think. I needed more out of life than what I’d seen growing up. Just wanted to skate and create, and be my lil hippie self. 

Photo by Bailer Walker.

Respect for having the wisdom to see that and picking a different path. That shit is not always easy to do. How are you enjoying being in Portland now?

Dude I love Portland. Is it a little fried? Yes. But the opportunity! Oh my goodness, like wow. The friends I’ve met , the spots I’ve skated, and the people I’ve been able to film with! I mean that sunset reflecting off the OMSI building when you’re driving home is enough to make you fall in love. Feels like I’m in a movie sometimes.

It really is so damn pretty there. Let's talk a bit about your last part in the Space Program video 'Blue Marble'. You really skated your ass off in that part. You got any good stories from filming that one?

Haha yeah I wish I was more locked in for my first part, I just had a ton going on at the time but it still feels very substantial. We filmed a ton in the PNW. I loved going to SF, it was so insane. I definitely want to go back ASAP. We skated Fort Miley and Fort Baker, it was nuts seeing the bridge in the background as we were all skating. It was so surreal. I’d never been to the bay before, I felt like I was lucid dreaming. Saw the homie Jahdy slam on the China Banks via film. That spot is so buck shoutout Maya Volpacchio and Jordan Rosales. Homie got so smoked flipping into the mosaic bank, and then he peeled himself off the pavement looking like he just hit the snooze button, rallied and landed it like a G. Also trying to find the bathroom over there is cooked. They just pee wherever. I’m trying to get a dumpling and it’s like nah you’re getting someone’s pee corner. I was like bro… Chinatown was super cool too, tons of little hole in the wall shops and I’m a big trinket girly so those were super tight. I’m excited to see how I build off of that part though because I love to skate and just exist in that realm, so I’m excited for the future and to travel more. 

Yeah, SF is such a classic skate city, so many spots and so much character. But speaking of the future, I heard you’re currently filming a new video part as well. Can you share about that?

Yeah I’ve been filming with my buddies Sebastian Lopez, Sammy Greenwood and Eric Denier. Shout out to those dudes they’ve been helping me stack. I want to really lock in and create something I’m really proud of, something I really had to sweat for you know? I’m excited to see how it turns out. 

Yes! Sammy’s videos are so dope, hyped to see what you cook up. What’s been the biggest challenge while working on the video part so far, and how are you staying motivated in winter?

Honestly the biggest roadblock has just been time and weather. It can get really crummy in the early months over here, but thankfully there’s a couple cool covered spots I can sesh. It’s been easy to stay motivated because God and trusting his plan, and the crew I’m around really stokes me out and believes in me. I feel so blessed. 

How has your skating evolved over the years, from skating in Selah to now in Portland?

My skating has evolved so much. I feel like I’ve found my style and really opened myself up to skating everything from transition to street. I’m much more ATV now. Also skating crusty spots has become a favorite pastime of mine, like sure bro we can skate this concrete blob barrier let’s get it. I love it over here, there’s a ton of diy quarters and cool looking spots I’m trying to clip up on. 

Photo by Bailer Walker.

For sure. Portland really has an aesthetic, that’s very NW. What’s been your go to spot lately?

The go to spot has been this parking garage near downtown. It’s got some sick ledges, not a bust at all, and it’s dry so that’s amazing. Hopefully going to get a sick line there in my part. 

Give me some of your biggest influences?

I’m super inspired by Nora Vasconcellos, Elissa Steamer, Marisa Dal Santo, Ariana Spencer, Mariah Duran, Jenn Soto, Sam Narvaez, Leo Baker, Marc Johnson, Deedz, Oski, Yuto, Sebo and Emile. So many more. I just love the style, bag and just overall vibe they bring around. Love playing Skate 3 too. I’m a visual learner so watching my little character skate makes me better. It’s weird but it’s true haha. 

Who are you stoked most right now in 2025? 

I’m stoked on Ariana Spencer, Shiloh Catori, Georgia Martin, Arin Lester, Yuto, Deedz always, James Alby, Javon Goodman and so many more it’s hard to say. 

Dude James is so sick. And now your teammate on Tactics too! Also, little insider info but you just might be seeing him on here soon… What are you watching for inspo?

I really love watching Fully Flared, Bag of Suck, Villa Villa Cola, From Broski 2 Proski, Uneven, Nora’s rough cut for ‘Seance’, Welcome to Hell, Deedz Deedz Deedz, Wisteria, and Yeah Right! All the classics and some new stuff, but I’ll watch anything though. I think it’s good for the soul. 

Love the variety! What have been the most rewarding moments of your skateboarding journey so far?

Everything about my skating journey has been rewarding to be honest. I think having my first legitimate premiere for ‘Blue Marble’ and having all of my friends and family there was unreal. I recognize how blessed I am and how divine this journey has been, and I’m so humbled and grateful. I mean my birthday is literally Go Skateboarding Day, it’s insanely planned and God sent.

Crazy birthday haha. Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next phase of your career, both in skateboarding and beyond?

My goals are to keep stacking, drop a part, travel and skate a ton more with friends. Build up a website for more design gigs. Finish school, go pro, get a cool job and enjoy more time in nature with family and friends. 

Yes, we’re here for all of that. Any words of wisdom for the young skaters coming up?

Find something to believe in. Stay in school. Don’t let partying become your personality. Focus on yourself and never compare your journey to anybody else’s because God has a plan specifically crafted to make you the happiest you can be. And just love one another, don’t be a hater. 

There we go! Any shout outs? Thank yous? Anything we missed?

Big shout out to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My momma Rachael for holding it down for us and inspiring me to face the odds and persevere even when they’re stacked against you. My pops Nick, rest in peace. My grandpa Mike who gave me a heart to love others and to give graciously without expectation. Thank you to God, all of my sponsors, friends, family and everyone who supports me thank you for believing in me and my dreams. You all make a huge difference in my life and no matter the struggle, I have faith and hope because of all of the love and support I receive, and I’m eternally grateful.