A few days ago, Tony Hawk, the legendary former skateboarder and Birdhouse owner, shared an old black-and-white photo on Instagram. Nope, not of himself, but of a young girl skating with an umbrella on a rainy day, taken in 1973 in Fayetteville. Even though it’s from way back, the vibe is so 70s—it’s got that classic, cool energy. The girl’s dark pigtails against the gray sky, her calm, confident ride with one hand in her coat pocket, and that umbrella just perfectly adds to the moment.

Tony Hawk captioned it, calling her his “new fav mystery skater,” saying, “style, grace, confidence, and… goofy footed, in the rain!! I hope she’s still around.” The post got a ton of attention, and people in the comments started guessing who she might be. Tony Hawk wanted to track her down, and now there’s an update on the mystery skateboarder.

On November 6, Hawk took to Instagram to share a reel that feels like a time capsule, unfolding piece by piece. The first image showed the now-iconic black-and-white shot of a young girl skateboarding with an umbrella in hand, her effortless style captured in Fayetteville back in the 70s. Swipe to the next frame, and there’s a screenshot of an article with the headline: “Tony Hawk wanted to track down a mysterious skateboarder from 1979. We found her.” Then, another glimpse of nostalgia—a scan of the original newspaper clipping from The Fayetteville Observer dated back to 70s. And the best part? The next slide reveals a selfie of that very skater, all grown up, but with the same spark in her eyes.

Tony Hawk captioned the reel, “Thanks to @jmarkovich for finding Shaunda Shane, the ‘mystery’ skater from 1979 that graced the pages of @fayobserver. She sounds as lively as ever and is re-creating the photo.” When Shaunda was asked about her skating days, her response couldn’t have been more perfect: “I was free.” And so, the stage is set for her to recreate that unforgettable moment, bringing the past and present together in a timeless tribute.

Jeremy Markovich—a North Carolina-based storyteller, journalist, and podcaster—discovered the mystery surrounding Shaunda Shane, the once-unknown skater girl from Fayetteville who had, unknowingly, become a legend. Shane, who grew up in Fayetteville, raised three kids, and still calls the city home, quickly became the center of attention. In a perfect twist of nostalgia, she even recreated her iconic photo in the exact same spot, mirroring her younger self with one hand casually in her pocket, an umbrella overhead, and that signature goofy-footed stance. When Tony Hawk’s Instagram post featuring her younger self went live, Shane started receiving messages from friends saying, “This girl looks like you.”

Shane recognized herself immediately—and as a skater girl back in the day, she certainly knew who Tony Hawk was. “Oh, I sure know who Tony Hawk is,” she said, with a spark of excitement. Her 33-year-old daughter, Nashara, couldn’t contain her excitement over her mom’s sudden fame. Her sons, Raqman and Kerahn, haven’t heard the full story yet, but Kerahn might get a kick out of it; after all, he’s the one cruising around town on a board these days. Shane even gave it a try last year, borrowing her son’s board for a spin down the street—proof that some things never really fade, even after four decades. But how did Markovich track down Shane?

How Tony Hawk’s mystery skateboarder was tracked

Following Tony Hawk’s post of a “mystery skater” recently, journalist Jeremy Markovich dedicated his time to identify the girl in the picture from 1979. Beginning with leads from the Fayetteville Observer newspaper he went to local librarians, who helped him find the January ’79 issue which had a photo of Shaunda Shane, age 10, skateboarding on Dinsmore Drive.

When Jeremy tracked her down, Shaunda, now 56, recalled that rainy day well. Neighbor and photographer Steve Aldridge had seen her skating and suggested a quick photoshoot, sparking an image of freedom that would echo decades later. For Shaunda, skateboarding back then was pure independence. “I was free,” she said, describing how she’d hop on her board whenever she wanted to explore.

And now, recently, her friends began messaging her, instantly recognizing her younger self in Hawk’s post. She even gave skateboarding another try, borrowing her son’s board for a quick ride. Though these days are filled with work and responsibilities, that photo reminded her of those rain-soaked, carefree moments—and the thrill of a small but unforgettable adventure.