In today’s interview, we meet Sophie.

Sophie is the founder of Whitetail Skateboards, the one-woman-show skateboard label based in Bromont, Canada. We learn how leaving the city paved the way for her to start her own business, how Sophie's personal skateboarding journey led to her working principle of “form follows function,” and why, according to her, building skateboard decks should be a labor of love for the work to feel fulfilling. And, of course, we also talk about wild animals. Enjoy the interview!

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You just arrived back from Toronto, how was your trip with the Whitetail Canadian Team?

It was an absolute blast! I went in with no expectations, just the intention to support my team—making sure everyone had fun, reached their skate goals, and got filmed. Once all that was settled, I got to skate too. Everything flowed so organically between us, and I feel lucky to have such a great crew.

Mark, Vickie, and David skated like pros, we captured some epic footage, and had such a great time shredding downtown Toronto like carefree teens. Check out the awesome Instagram reel and the YouTube "Rewind" on Mark the Landlocked Surfer's channel!

How did you get into skateboarding anyways?

I started skateboarding in 2004, so this year marks 20 years on a skateboard! It all began as a way to relive the feeling of snowboarding during the summer. I live in Canada, so snow is part of our lives half of the year.

I started snowboarding in 1997, and it quickly became the center of my universe. When I discovered how longboard downhill felt like snowboarding, I was instantly hooked. Slalom soon became my main focus as I enjoyed the responsiveness and tight carving, until I found surfskating around 2012.

A few years later, I got into street skating but only started skateparks at 38 years old. I guess it’s never too late! That's when I started to combine both surfskating with regular skateboarding to create what's now this hybrid type of riding, unique and distinctive to Whitetail.

You are today living in the countryside. What’s your favorite thing about your hometown Bromont? Is there a local skate scene?

I grew up in the city and, while I loved it, I was yearning for the solitude, peacefulness, and beauty of living in nature. In the city, the opportunities to party were plenty, and I was partying real hard; I had a lot of fun, but I wanted more out of life. I felt that moving to the countryside would provide a better framework for discipline to focus on my career and become the better version of myself. Back then, I had a snowboard clothing company named Jackalop, and was also working as a professional artist. Moving alone, away from everyone I knew, was isolating but tremendously beneficial for my health and career.

The skate scene here isn’t strong, as the town is centred around biking and skiing, but I make use of indoor facilities like the wooden bike park and pump track. Although I'm often the outsider on four wheels among two-wheeled riders, it's okay. Plus, I'm less than an hour from Montreal, so I can easily access amazing outdoor parks.

How and why did you decide to produce your own decks eventually?

Shaping has always been a crucial part of my life. As a kid, I was into arts, woodworking, sculpting, and creating purposeful objects. I loved brainstorming new ideas to engineer something useful in an artistic way. I started shaping my own surfskate decks because I couldn't find any that met my needs. I tried various decks and gear like footstops, but nothing could take my skateboarding to the level I wanted. I grew up being told: if you want something, do it yourself - and I am not the style to wait for anyone - so I just did it.

What is different about Whitetail compared to other skateboard and surfskate brands?

Of course, Whitetail is a boutique, 100% female skater-owned and operated brand, but that's not the key point in my opinion.

Many companies focus on building unique trucks paired with cute looking boards but often overlook that physics, geometry, and engineering apply to the deck too.

I take the opposite approach. I shape my decks with precision, considering physics and geometry first, and aesthetics come later as the cherry on top.

It would be dishonest to claim that Whitetail is for everyone. I don’t shape for the masses because that market is already saturated. I find no challenge or interest in making something that already exists, and the market is packed with one-size-fits-all boards where looks seem to be the main point.

My focus is on riders who stand out and want to push the boundaries —the outcasts, the black swans.

Another point that sets Whitetail apart is that I don’t compete with other brands. I focus all my energy on skaters' real needs and aspirations, rather than trying to outdo the competition and worry about trends.

My priority is creating something new and solving skaters' issues.

In fact, if Whitetail isn't the right fit for someone, I’ll happily recommend another brand, as many customers can confirm.

I'm not a businessperson or salesperson, I’m a skater and an artist, and that vibe is embedded in Whitetail’s DNA. I enter the market from a completely different mindset.

From the feedback I’ve received, it seems that those who choose Whitetail feel this difference at its core.

What is the reason behind the name Whitetail?

It started as an homage to my skateboards/snowboard clothing brand, Jackalop. I was the first in Canada to register that name back in 2005. The Canadian Jackalop is an imaginary animal born from the Whitetail Deer and the Eastern Cottontail. They are both native to Canada, and both share the same cute white tail.

Even when the name became more popular and taken by other brands, I continued using it as my artist’s name, eventually adding 'Whitetail,' so for a while, it was Jackalop Whitetail.

I later shortened my brand name to Whitetail. The fact that a skateboard has a 'tail' made this name stand out among other options I had considered.

What’s is your motivation?

I feel fortunate and empowered by my ability to shape, design, and fine-tune decks that deliver the exact sensations I'm dreaming of.

While not everyone has this opportunity, I believe everyone deserves access to well-designed, high-performance skates to make their skate goals a reality. By sharing my craft and staying connected to the skate community, I hope to pass on these experiences of sheer freedom.

I'm grateful for my natural understanding of 3D shapes and how they perform, it's a gift worth sharing, and using those skills to the benefit of others makes it even more meaningful.

Skateboarding has shaped my lifestyle. When nothing else makes sense, skating always does. I can't imagine separating who I am now from skateboarding.

Any advice for enthusiasts who want to build a business from scratch? Would you do it again, especially in the current climate of social media and economical challenges?

I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and I even regret not daring to do it earlier. My snowboard & skateboard clothing brand, Jackalop, was great, and my career as a professional artist was too, but I truly began piecing it all together with Whitetail.

My advice for anyone considering taking the leap: do it with passion and purpose. That’s what will keep you going during tough times and industry downturns. If you're in it just for the money, I'd suggest another path—honestly, even being a barista at Starbucks might be more lucrative, especially if you clock-in the hours of labor.

What is next for you and Whitetail?

I don’t want to jinx it or spoil the surprise, but there’s another deck in progress from the Cats Series—the FeralCat’s little brother, and he’s even fiercer than his older sibling.

I occasionally drop hints on my personal Instagram @sophiebsamson, so my followers will be the first to know what the future holds for Whitetail.