Girl Power - skateboarding is for girls
I've heard that skateboarding is about 80% boys right now. If you do the math then, you can figure out, after some complex formulas, that there must be 20% girls.So what's this mean for you girl skaters out there? A lot of girls feel alone and frustrated with being the only girl skater on their block. I've received several e-mails from girls who want to skate at the skatepark, but who feel nervous about it because they would be the only girl. Or even girls who feel uncomfortable skating on the street in front of their home ...
To be fair, most guys are pigs. We just are. But, I've got some advice for you girls that I think might help you along with your skating, and with your life - read I feel uncomfortable as a girl skater - what should I do? And, if you want to get better as a skater, but you want to learn in a girl-friendly environment, hit up a Girls Learn to Ride clinic this summer! They are classes taught by pro female skaters, and designed with girls and women in mind. It's like Curves, but for skateboarding. They even use and sell smaller, lighter boards with girls in mind!
Here are some other girl-power things you can check out:
- the S3 Supergirl Jam, held in California from July 25th to 27th, this all girls pro event was designed for you!
- Elissa Steamer Interview - the queen of skateboarding for several years running
- The Girls of X Games - check out pictures of some of the pro skater girls in the X Games photo gallery.
- Blind Speed - a 20 year old blind girl decides she wants to skate. If she can do it, what's stopping you?!
Comments
To all the girl skaters out there. I salute you. I am you. If you are struggling with insecurity remember that while on one hand boys can be pigs, on the other hand they all dig a girl on a skateboard. If you fall and they laugh, it’s just like the three stooges.. people always laugh when they see somebody fall and guys find it particularly amusing.
My Photos on Meet Up
Here’s a couple tips
Look for a skateboard meet up group like i did on meetup.com
Try going to the park either super early or really late if you want to get some solo time getting comfy with the park.
Ask. I learn something new everyday because I ask. Believe or not every skater can relate to the struggle.. it’s not yours alone.
Learn from another’s experience, but then ask someone else too because each skater has a whole different take on things. Don’t be over ambitious – take things one step at a time.
Learn how to cruise before you learn how to fly. There are some cool simple tricks that can be made to look extra cool with a little flare and dare.
Educate yourself – Learn everything you can so that when you speak about skateboarding you do so intelligently and confidently.
Karma – pass it along.. everything you learn you should pass on to the next skater you see struggle
Jennifer
To all the girl skaters out there. I salute you. I am you. If you are struggling with insecurity remember that while on one hand boys can be pigs, on the other hand they all dig a girl on a skateboard. If you fall and they laugh, it’s just like the three stooges.. people always laugh when they see somebody fall and guys find it particularly amusing.
Here’s a couple tips
Try going to the park either super early or really late if you want to get some solo time getting comfy with the park.
Ask. I learn something new everyday because I ask. Believe or not every skater can relate to the struggle.. it’s not yours alone.
Learn from another’s experience, but then ask someone else too because each skater has a whole different take on things. Don’t be over ambitious – take things one step at a time.
Learn how to cruise before you learn how to fly. There are some cool simple tricks that can be made to look extra cool with a little flare and dare.
Educate yourself – Learn everything you can so that when you speak about skateboarding you do so intelligently and confidently.
Karma – pass it along.. everything you learn you should pass on to the next skater you see struggle
I am a female skater (or, I used to be before I became busy with school), and it always bothered me to have guys staring. Sometimes, I guess, people just wanted to see my skills (what little I had), but that annoyed me, too. I’ve always liked skating alone, so I would scope out deserted places like the school parking lot on weekends, smooth tennis courts where no one played, and shopping center parking lots late at night. That might work for others, too, especially if they don’t care about skating obstacles like the skatepark has.
Hey well i really thank you guys for this article .. it has goven me a lot of courage to stand up to those boys who have been bugging me bout how i skateboard… you see i skateboard goofy footed and they say that i dont skateboard right so dont even try .. well i just wnted to say thanks alot
i raelly try im the first girl skater in the faimly so nobody can help but my cousin but his a pig and want help me but i tought him how to skate but he got better than me qiuk
I’m a gurl sk8r 2 (im not professional tho). I got to the VANS sk8park every weekend and yea i do get pretty nervous and uncomfortable. Like A LOT of the parents and kids [guys] stare at me half the time just cuz im a “girl sk8ing” and it kinda bugs me cuz i just wanna skate without the pressure of everyone staring at me just like everybody else in the skatepark. I have a ton of guys sk8r friends who rock at sk8ing, and sometimes i feel kinda insecure when i go sk8ig with them cyz they r soo good, hehe when im not at their level yet. But truly i luvv skating, and i hope that in the future it’ll take me far in all aspects of life.
Hey, i’m a starter skater girl. i am still mastering how to ollie and well it’s gotten amlot easier. i have a board from walmart though so I will eventually spend the money to get a quality ride but for now it will do. I prefer to skate alone, so i can get good then go out and show the boys what i’m capable of. All i have to say is try it…All guys definitely dig when they can tell you know what their saying…even though they might not express it. some of my best friends are skater guys…who know one of these days i’ll be out skating with them. give the guys time…they’ll adjust…and be yourself. Guys hate fakes and having friend who have learned from experience, they hate fake skater girls. So step out and skate out because any guy thing is just as much a girl thing.
This post is really good. Like the site a lot. Its so sick to see more and more girls skating when I go to the park.
Okay i liking skating but just need to get down the ollie i have been skating since i waz like 7 just about 8 years..but wen boys ask me if i can skate i saw i have no board but if any guy interested in teaching me talk to me on myspace (www.myspace.com/number1bitchofthesouth)thanx u for reading
Hi I’m a skater girl! Well, there was three reasons I was afraid to go the sk8park: 1. I was a girl. The skateparks here in Vegas usually are filled with teenage skater boys that are SUPER better than me. 2. I was wearing a helmet(parents made me). No explanation needed. And 3. The worst of ALL! Due to religeon I had to wear skirts! Yes even while sk8in! Well, what I did was I went to the park at like 4:00 am on weekdays so i wouldn’t miss school. I got comfortable with the mini half pipe there and i practiced some other thing, too. So finally I decided to go to the park on a Sunday at 2:00 pm. I did good to. Talked to a few teens asked a few questions. Once I was even challeged to a game of SKATE. Of course I lost but they gave me props for skating. The point is that most guys out there don’t evn care if you’re there. Just try to do some extreme stuff out there and even if you don’t land it they’ll say “wow, most girls wouldn’t even try that!” Some people said it to my face. I felt pretty good. No, I’m not as good as Ryan Sheckler, and probably never will be. I am not going to say that girls are better at skating than guys, because its not true: videos clearly show that! But I’m not and you shouldn’t be trying to compete with any one just go out there and sk8!
I am looking for a team to hire and come to my location to run a weekend skateboarding clininc/competition/event.
If anyone has a valid point of contact/idea I would appreciate it!
Jstar.