The documentary film Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story chronicles the life and career of Leo Baker, a professional skateboarder who has made a name for themselves in the male-dominated world of skateboarding. Directed by Philip Evans, the film tells the story of Baker's journey from their upbringing in a conservative family in Covina, California to becoming a star athlete and non-binary spokesperson in the skateboarding world.
The film features interviews with Baker's friends and family, as well as other prominent skateboarders such as Alex Olson, Jerry Hsu, and Lacey Baker (no relation). Through these interviews and archival footage, the film explores the challenges Baker faced as they navigated their gender identity and how their identity impacted their career as a skateboarder.
Baker talks candidly about the process of coming out as non-binary and the difficult decisions they had to make to align their public persona with their true self. They discuss the pressure they felt to conform to the expectations of their sponsors and the skateboarding community, and the fear of losing opportunities or sponsorship deals if they were to come out. The film also touches on Baker's activism and efforts to make skateboarding more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups.
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its intimate portrayal of Baker's life and advocacy work. The film is not only a celebration of Baker's achievements as a skateboarder but also a snapshot of the complex intersection of identity, sportsmanship, and social justice.