![]() "It's a bit of an escape from being trapped on social media or working." Get out of your comfort zone But when you're in a crew you know that people have got your back. "Girls skateboarding is still quite underground, so a lot of girls are intimidated. "I've never known another community like it," she says. Now she sees Rollin' with the Girls as family. Even with that experience, she stopped skateboarding when she moved to Leeds because she couldn't find other girls to skate with. ![]() Jess Winter is one of the more established members of the Rollin' with the Girls crew, with 10 years of sharpening her shredding skills. That's because we show the learning process - not just people who are already good at skating." It's an outlet and a community, it gives you something to do that's exciting - Jess Winter "We've only been going about five months and we already have over 1,000 followers. Jess wants girls to think anything's possible and uses Instagram to arrange meet-ups and post clips of girls practising, often failing at tricks.īut it's not about being the best, she says, it's about learning: "So many girls are supporting and encouraging each other online. Jess Melia founded Rollin' with the Girls external-link - a skate crew in Leeds - after taking up the sport earlier this year. Social media has driven the increased visibility of women skating and Instagram is the perfect platform for skaters to forge communities. We're much more open to a helping hand (literally) and I think this is why girls' nights have such a lovely atmosphere - Jess Melia Music and art go hand in hand with skating, it's a subculture." Females learn differently from men. It's not just about skating but it's also a style and a fashion thing as well. It's a little community," Charlotte says. "Skating isn't just a sport, it's a lifestyle, it's about friendship and supporting each other, creativity. Her book Concrete Girls external-link documents the different personalities in the emerging female skate scene. ![]() This blend of culture and sport is what makes skating appealing to people who typically don't think of themselves as 'sporty'.Ĭharlotte Thomas sees skating as a form of self-expression. Girls' skate nights are growing - with events from Glasgow to London and Newcastle to Cardiff - and they are attracting a crowd that's not just there for the sport.Ī typical night, like that at House of Vans in London, features live music, yoga sessions and film screenings, and the atmosphere is more reminiscent of a night out than a night of sport. Girls' nights make it a little easier to take that first step." I don't really know another hobby that allows you to travel and socialise in the same way - Charlotte Thomas "Lots of sports - especially extreme sports - are really male-dominated and it can be scary if you're going to be the only girl there. "Girls' nights make the sport feel more accessible," says Carissa Thorne. Long gone are the days of skateboarding being regarded as a baggy-jeaned boys' club.Īlthough there are only 23 pro-female skaters compared to 150+ male professionals, girls' skate nights are popping up all over the country, and they're changing the face of skating in the UK. I end up really out of breath and my muscles will hurt afterwards, but it doesn't feel like exercise, it's more like a skill - Pip (right), with Carissa (left) & Emily (centre)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |