LL THIS WEEK
Female skaters are rolling to equality
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Creating a space for women at skateparks, Chicks In Bowls members Joy Rider and Sam Flammers © Gioia Dalosso Hemnell
By GIOIA DALOSSO HEMNELL
kate park skating, also known as aggressive skating, may sound scary to most but today there is a growing movement of women that are endeavouring to stake their claim in the traditionally male-dominated environment. Chicks In Bowls (also known as CIB) is an international community of roller skaters that aims to encourage women to ride the ramps in the skate park. Merseyside is no different and the local chapter has nearly 600 followers and skaters from all over the region that organise getting together to learn the tricks of the trade. The organisation, which boasts 300 chapters globally, has, since its humble beginnings in 2012, encouraged
thousands of women to meet and empower one another to enjoy the exhilarating sport. Samara Buscovic is one of the founders of the organisation. “We have always aimed to encourage women to skate in a place where usually you would only find men skating,” she said. “But more recently we have looked to expand our ideals and values to include everyone, gender diverse, non-binary, women, men, children, older skaters, every size, every ethnicity and every shape.” Merseyside boasts nearly 20 skate parks with a large majority of those being outside and free to use including ‘Evertro’, the UK’s first glow-inthe-dark skating venue. The angular
Proving girls can do it, too: Joy Rider in action
purpose-built site sitse was designed by leading South Korean artist Koo Jeong and is a prominent haunt for CIB Merseyside members to meet, lace up and roll out. Amy Basto is a 40-year-old mum of two and came to enjoy aggressive skating through a friend that plays roller derby. “I roller skated as a kid and always fancied having a go again so, during the lockdown, I bought myself a pair of skates on the internet and hit the promenade in New Brighton,” she said. “It all came back to me and I came to find I was pretty confident. “Once we were allowed to meet up with other people, I joined forces with a friend that I knew used the skate park. She told me about CIB Merseyside and how there were little gatherings of like-minded people that would encourage teach each other.” Rampworx, one of Europe’s largest indoor skate parks, is based in Aintree and hosts some of the CIB Merseyside gatherings. It offers free Friday night slots to all female skaters in a bid to encourage more women into the sport. “I’ve been going ever since and I’m starting to find a brand-new confidence I never thought I’d ever have in a place that is traditionally filled with young lads on skateboards.” Aggressive skating originated in the USA where skateboarders would empty disused pools and would ride the curves like they were surfing, but since then park and ramp skating have
primarily been men-zones. Skate parks are now changing and quickly are becoming a place for everyone. Corrina McGowen is 42 and started skating during the lockdown and has begun extending her skills to the skate park too. “As a new skater, it’s always a little intimidating to learn skills in public for all to see your fails, but it’s also an incredible feeling to show the progress of those fails that have turned into triumphs and where better to get that practice in than the skate parks,” she said. The jewellery designer, from Oxton, Wirral, feels that encouragement from your peers is a vital part of the process and it gives her a sense of community despite any insecurities. “I’m not saying all parks are totally accommodating to newbies or female skaters, as it’s always been regarded as a mainly male environment and therefore has its challenges,” she said. “Some will still say that a skate park is a boy’s playground but times are changing and woman and girls are showing their capability of equal talent either on traditional roller skates, skateboards, in-line skates, scooters or bikes. “It is getting easier for girls to enjoy the outdoor experience of skate parks. As women we totally deserve to be there as much as anyone else.”
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Some will still say that a skate park is a boy’s playground but times are changing and woman and girls are showing their capability of equal talent
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