Skateboarding Boom Town

Most days at the Fernandina Beach Skate Park, Britni Waldo can be found with several of her six children, watching her talented progeny practice their tricks. Sometimes the kids, who are home-schooled, hit the park twice a day. What started out years ago as a fun activity for the Fernandina Beach family has turned into an athletic pursuit for several of the Waldo children.

Last month, CoralMae, called Coco, age 11, won first place in both Advanced Bowl and Intermediate Street at the Exposure Skate competition, a national competition in Encinitas, California. Siblings Taihlulah, 17, PrimRose (called Prim), 8, and Marigold (Goldie), 6, also competed.

Later in November, Coco won first place in the Super Girl Pro Skate competition’s Insta Ramp event in Jacksonville while Taihlulah took second. The competition draws skateboarders from around the country.

“They’re solely pushing themselves,” Britni says. “They wake up and they want to skate. Sometimes, they have to wait until the dew comes off the ramps.”

The Waldo children are among a growing group of talented skateboarders who call Fernandina Beach home, including Jude Reavis, 8, and Cadence Houser, 16. Several skaters, such as Coco Waldo, are attracting national attention.

Coco and other local skateboarders say they were inspired by the performance of Poe Pinson, who took 5th place at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“She has been lifting up other skaters with her tenacity and how far she got,” says Kenny Pinson, Poe’s father and vice president of the nonprofit Friends of Fernandina Skate Park. “The skaters here promote each other. They kindle the whole spirit of skateboarding.”

Coco Waldo reminds Pinson of his daughter, he says. Poe also garnered her first big victory at the Encinitas tournament, at age 10. Kenny Pinson now advises Coco.

“I’ve been schooling her a bit,” he says. “There were some technical things I thought she was ready for. When I first saw Coco skate I told her, ‘You are now training for the Olympics. Every time you get out there, seek the Olympics.’ I knew she could do it. She has surpassed all expectations.”

Having several children pursue competitive skateboarding is no easy feat for the Waldo parents. The father of the family, Benny Waldo, is a boat captain. Britni supervises skateboarding activity and schooling and drives the children to competitions in the family’s van — even across country.

“We spend time in Encinitas and Oceanside,” Britni says. “There are so many more parks to skate there. We have a skate family in California.”

After her first-place finishes in Encinitas, Coco and her parents met with USA Skateboarding coaches to discuss her training. Advanced training will be important for Coco going forward, Britni says.

“We’re excited to try that side of it. It helps you learn a trick in a week compared to a month,” she says. “It’s new for us, and it’s kind of scary because it’s always been just us.”

Coco, who is in fifth grade, is serious about the sport but skates with obvious joy.

“I like going in the air; flying and going fast,” she says on a recent sunny Sunday at the Fernandina Beach Skate Park. “It can be scary. Sometimes when I can’t land something, I skate around the park for a lap and then go back to it.”

Skateboarding began as a fun hobby that Benny and Britni enjoyed. When Goldie was a toddler, however, Britni began taking the children, including brothers Knox, 13, and Presley, 15, to the skate park.

“The older four started skating together, and it all evolved from there,” she notes. “Then they all took their different pathways.”

After a year of casual skating, Britni and Benny invested in better boards for the children.

Knox skates for fun while Presly is becoming interested in competitive skating. “He’s so helpful with the girls,” Britni says. “He’s their No. 1 helper and fan. He’s a really good big brother, and he is a really good skateboarder.”

Taihlulah says the siblings cheer each other on and make the best of long road trips to California.

“There is never a dull moment,” she says. “You’re never alone when you skate. We’re there for each other. It’s so great to see all of them progress.”

The Waldo siblings: Goldie, 6; Prim, 8; Coco, 11; Knox, 13; Presley, 15; Taihlulah, 17.

Kenny Pinson has been invaluable as a mentor to the Waldo children, Britni adds.

“Poe is amazing. And her dad was a big influence on the girls,” Britni says. “Mr. Kenny would show up at the park, and he would be there talking to the girls and encouraging them and helping them.

“Seeing Poe go to the Olympics and do all these things was a big driver. Hey, this can be a career and you can go to the Olympics and travel the world.”

The Waldos face some difficult choices as the children excel. Already, the family is spending about half the year in Southern California to access various skate parks and training facilities. “In California, you have 15 options within 10 minutes,” Britni says.

But Fernandina Beach is home and where it all began. Friends of Fernandina Skate Park aims to raise funds to improve the park. But, whatever the improvements, rising each morning to skate on the halfpipe with the sun coming up over the ocean is priceless.

“The best thing is seeing them drop in and come up the other side with smiles on their faces,” Britni says.