Most of my co-workers think I’m crazy, but they’re happy that I’ve found something I love to do. Early on I fell hard off a ramp while learning to drop in and ended up with a bruised face. Most of my colleagues immediately understood what had happened, but I think some people assumed that my husband had beaten me! I started beginning each conversation with “as you can see, I had a skateboarding accident last night.” Skating has definitely helped me become a better lawyer. Now I compare each lawyering challenge to the challenge of skateboarding and think, “if I can learn to drop in, I can be a strong advocate for the government in this case even though it will be difficult work.” I also think my opponents understand that they face a tough adversary when they learn that I skate.
7. Tell us a little about the event on Aug. 13th. What are you most looking forward to that day?
Most of the Skateboard Moms are on the west coast, and those of us on the east coast are fairly spread out. We rarely get a chance to skate together but, on August 13, the east coast Skateboard Moms are getting together at the Wakefield skate park in Fairfax County, Virginia. Many of us know each other only through the internet, and it will be our first time meeting in person. I can’t wait to give Barb and the other skaters who’ve been so inspirational to me a big hug! Newcomers to the sport and the group are welcome, and we’ll have an instructor there to teach them. After we skate, we’ll grab something to eat and then head to an Alexandria neighborhood to roll around on our boards and hand out books to kids who need them as part of a Skateboard Mom program called “Rolling for Reading.”
8. What do your husband and daughter say about your skateboarding?
My husband is very supportive of me because he wants me to be happy, but he’s also concerned about injury. Falling is part of learning, and I sometimes come home with some pretty big bruises, but it’s nothing more serious than that. My 6-year-old daughter thinks I’m “awesome!”
9. Do you have any inspirations in the sport?
The pro-skateboarder Shaun White is my biggest inspiration. I decided I wanted to try skateboarding after watching him stomp the competition at the Olympics in Torino. His snowboarding seemed so graceful to me, and I really dug the way he seemed to have so much fun even though he was facing the stiffest competition of his life. I admire many other skateboarders, but I still turn back to the Flying Tomato when I want to remind myself of how important it is to have fun doing whatever you’re doing. In my book, if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.
10. Is there anything else you'd like to say--to the average skater out there, or to the other women who have yet to give skateboarding a try?
Go for it! It you want to skate, find a way to work it into your life. Once you do, you’ll realize that the rewards are well worth the sacrifices. I’ll see you at the skate park!
