Olympic park skateboarding is less than a week away, so it’s time to tap in with Team USA once again for a few words from the women and men set to compete.

We caught up with the 2024 Team USA Skateboarding for the official announcement and press conference at the California Training Facility in Vista. We asked each of them a series of questions to get an idea of where their heads were at and congratulate them all.

Now, scroll down and tap in with the park skaters before watching them take on Paris 2024 next week. (You can also check out the quotes from the for Team USA Skateboarding street squads before they competed. Congratulations Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston for earning silver and bronze medals!)

Be sure to give each of the Team USA skaters a follow on Instagram. We noted their current follower count below because the Olympics has a way of boosting people’s profiles.

Words by Skyler Wilder
Photos by Chris Ortiz

Olympic Park Skateboarding Schedule

Tuesday, August 6
Women's Park Prelims: 12:30 pm local time / 3:30 am PT / 6:30 am ET
Women's Park Final: 5:30 pm local time / 8:30 am PT / 11:30 am ET

Wednesday, August 7
Men's Park Prelims: 12:30 pm local time / 3:30 am PT / 6:30 am ET
Men's Park Final: 5:30 pm local time / 8:30 am PT / 11:30 am ET

Women’s Park Skate Team

From left to right: Minna Stess, Bryce Wettstein, Ruby Lilley

Ruby Lilley, 17, Oceanside, California: @ruby_lilley (27.5K followers)

“It did not feel real. I literally cried,” confessed Ruby when asked how it felt to secure her spot on Team USA. “I’m not really emotional, so it was such a release and stress relief to realize I had officially qualified for the Olympics. I think it will fully sink in once I’m in Paris.”

“I’m super excited to skate in the Olympics! It was such a long journey to get here. I’m super honored to have such a unique opportunity to show my skateboarding on the biggest stage. 

Minna Stess, 18, Petaluma, California: @minnastess (23.9K followers)

“I was actually about to get drug tested [as part of Olympic qualifier procedure] when I found out,” recalls Mina when asked what her initial reaction to making the team was. “I was already bummed because my score didn’t do very well, then I was bummed because I still had to get a drug test. Then, my dad walked in and said, ‘congratulations, you’re an Olympian,’ and the drug testing lady gave me and my dad a group hug. It was really funny. Then I went to karaoke with skate friends.”

Bryce Wettstein, 20, Encinitas, California: @brycewettstein (53.9K followers)

“I’m excited to skateboard in the Olympics to showcase it in a way that I really want to,” said Bryce Wettstein, a returning Olympian. “Every day I’ve been taking a little bit of time to process because it’s a lot. It’s a big moment and I don’t want to rush into it.”

Men’s Park Skate Team

From left to right: Tate Carew, Tom Schaar, Gavin Bottger

Tom Schaar, 24, Cardiff, California: @tomschaar (178K followers)

“It’s a crazy honor, definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said a well-composed Tom Schaar. “If you would have told me as a little kid that I would be doing this, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s awesome.”

“It’s pretty crazy to get to say that I’m an Olympian because of skating. It is something I grew up doing for fun and I still do it for fun; and now, somehow, I’m going to the Olympics… For me, just getting to be there is going to be cool enough. Winning a medal is a whole other thing, but just getting to do this part alone is cool.”

Tate Carew, 19, San Diego, California: @tatecarew (42.9K followers)

“It’s something that we’ve all been working toward for a couple years,” reflected Tate, on his road to Paris. “Some of us missed the first cycle in Tokyo, but now to finally make it is a big deal for me and my family because they supported me along the way. I’m very grateful and excited to have made it.”

“It means a lot to all the people out there who have also been in the Olympics, to people that have served and to the country as a whole to be representing. Plus, our individual sport with an eclectic group of skaters—it’s not that it is a lot of pressure, but it is just such an honor to be part of such a small group that represents something much bigger.”

Gavin Bottger, 17, Oceanside California: @gavinbottger (190K followers)

“It’s something I never thought that I’d be able to do for skating,” said Gavin in response to being asked what about the Olympics excites him. “It’s kind of hard to show, but I want to show the world that there’s more to skating than just the contests. Hopefully people see me there and get inspired to see what skating actually is.