Leticia Bufoni with a helmet and GoPro on preparing to sky dive from a plane

From the streets of São Paulo to the grand stages of the X Games — it’s safe to say that Leticia Bufoni’s life has been a wild ride so far. Leticia is one of the most iconic and beloved female skateboarders of our time. She has six X Games gold medals under her belt. She also boasts a string of other groundbreaking achievements. This includes the world record for the highest skateboard grind out the back of a flying aircraft (yes, you read that right).

Resilient and relentless in her pursuit of excellence, Leticia is equal parts badass and inspirational, making her a perfect fit to be the host of The Team Ignition Show podcast, a video series that showcases extraordinary people from around the world who share a mindset for adventure; who push themselves to their very limits.

Speaking to fellow risk-takers from all walks of life, Leticia seeks to find out what drives them to break boundaries, while stepping outside of her own comfort zone to experience what they do. Here are some highlights from season one:

Background: Humble Beginnings in Brazil

Born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1993, Leticia began skateboarding at only nine years old. According to her, it was one of the only forms of entertainment for kids in her city.

“I grew up in the street playing sports all the time. We didn’t have computers, no smartphones,” she said in an interview with Thrasher in 2019. “All of the kids started skating so I did, too.”

Although her dad was resistant to her skating interest — so much so he actually snapped her board in half — Leticia persisted. Eventually, after seeing how much she adored the sport, he relented and became her number one supporter.

In 2007, at the age of 14, Leticia relocated to the United States, a temporary trip that turned into a permanent stay. Though she might not have known it at the time, it was the first step in Leticia’s out-of-this-world career trajectory.

Career: The Female Skater of a Generation

Leticia had traveled to Los Angeles, California in 2007 to compete in her very first X Games. Despite her undeniable skill, she came in last place. But did it deter her? Not a chance. Leticia knew she had more to prove. She knew she needed to stay and show the world what she was capable of.

After pleading with her father to let her stay in the U.S., she eventually got his blessing and stayed behind in LA with older friends.

After two years of training, Leticia competed again in the Maloof Money Cup. At just 16 years old, she claimed first place and the $25,000 prize that came along with it. From then on, she was known as one to watch in the world of competitive skateboarding. She was making a name for herself — an opportunity she had no intention of wasting.

In the time since, Leticia has collected various awards, including 12 X Games medals (six of which are gold). This is the most medals ever held by a female skater in the history of the X Games. She also holds four World Skateboarding Championship medals, three silver and one gold.

But the accolades don’t end with medals. Leticia has also been recognized by global organizations for her accomplishments. She was named the #1 women’s street skateboarder by the World Cup of Skateboarding four years in a row, from 2010–2013. This achievement also earned her a Guinness World Record for the most wins in the World Cup Skateboarding World Rankings (Street, female). In 2018, she secured the #25 spot in Forbes’ list of The Most Powerful Women In International Sports for 2018. That same year, she was also named in Brazilian Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list.

We could go on and on about Leticia’s achievements and accolades all day. But the gist is this: with over two decades of skating experience under her belt, Leticia Bufoni is now one of the most recognized and accomplished female skaters in the world.

Leticia Bufoni in a racing suit and cap, sitting on a race car, arms crossed and smiling, with a racetrack in the background

Newest Projects: Passing on the Olympics to Explore New Avenues

Although her fans were excited to see Leticia compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she announced in 2023 that after 20 years, she wouldn’t be competing. While the decision was an incredibly difficult, she ultimately said that her passion for other projects outweighed her desire to compete.

“I would love to go to the next [Olympic Games], but I’m still very focused on my projects,” she said, speaking to Brazilian ESPN. “So, if I decide to enter this race, I’ll need to put all my projects aside… it’s not my time, and I want to stay on those projects.” She was however, in attendance as a spectator and commentator.

So, what are some of these new and exciting projects?

Well, in March 2024, Leticia announced that she would be switching gears. She is making her car-racing debut in the Porsche Cup Brazil, competing with the Mobil 1 racing team.

In an undeniably impressive debut, Leticia showed off some incredible racecraft and even placed sixth in the Trophy class during her second weekend of competition.

And if her schedule is not jam-packed enough, she continues to compete in Nitrocross, the off-road racing series founded by racing legend Travis Pastrana, which she joined in 2023.

Another exciting new project for Leticia is hosting none other than the Team Ignition Show, our dedicated platform to discuss everything about the Ignition lifestyle. Listeners will travel around the States with Leticia as their host, as she interviews extreme sports athletes just like her.

Fun Facts: What You Don’t Know About Leticia Bufoni

  • Leticia holds the Guinness World Record for the highest skateboard grind out the back of a flying aircraft (from 9,000 feet in the sky!).
  • Her grandmother bought her very first skateboard when she was 11 years old.
  • Leticia stands at just five-foot-three — small but mighty!
  • In April 2021, Leticia became an American citizen.
  • Leticia is a playable character in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 video game. She also appears in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.
  • Leticia appeared in the music video for the song “Snapback” by Old Dominion.

Keep Up with Leticia Bufoni

Eager to stay up to date on Leticia’s latest pursuits? We can’t say we blame you.

Keep your eyes peeled here on the Team Ignition website for upcoming episodes of the Team Ignition Show, hosted by Leticia.

Follow Leticia on social media: