Shredding norms in skateboarding

Mary Sullivan, a recent graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Fine Arts program, is breaking barriers in skateboarding. The owner of Girls Skate Denver is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for women and queer skaters, challenging the male-dominated norms of the sport.

“Women and queer skateboarding is one of the last true rebellions,” Sullivan said. “We embody the ethos of the sport. There aren’t supposed to be rules or hierarchy — that was never what skateboarding was about.”

Sullivan’s trailblazing mindset was shaped by her education at MSU Denver, where her senior thesis, a photography project called “Take Up Space,” highlighted women and queer skaters. Her time at the University broadened her perspective, influencing her approach to inclusivity in the skate community.

But the changemaker’s passion for skating started years earlier. Sullivan, who grew up in Greenwood Village, was a lonely kid. Her life path did a 180 when she found her brother’s VHS copy of “Welcome to Hell,” the first video to feature a woman skater. Fired up, Sullivan borrowed her brother’s board and headed to the skate park.

“There was a lot of harassment and belittlement,” Sullivan said, recalling her early experiences in those parks. “If I were a different person, it might have broken my spirits, but I knew I wasn’t going to take any of that from those dudes.”

So she kept showing up. She taught herself to skate and took up space. Eventually, the skateboarding community took notice — Sullivan wanted change, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Sullivan ultimately found her community. In 2019, she attended a Ladies Skate Night event and got involved with the organization responsible for it, eventually teaching clinics and lessons. When its leader left, Sullivan took over ownership of the organization, changed its name to Girls Skate Denver and expanded its offerings. Her vision is to empower women and queer people of all ages to feel more confident through representation.

Sullivan’s work has inspired others, such as Charli Alexander, founder of Queer Skate Denver. “Skate parks have always been ‘for the boys,’” Alexander said. “The second I stepped into my first class with Girls Skate Denver, Mary immediately felt like she’d become a best buddy and had my back.”

As skateboarding gains popularity, Sullivan is excited to expand Girls Skate Denver, bringing a more inclusive approach to the sport. “Women and queer people just bring a different kind of hype to a skate session that is so pure and joyous,” she said. “Once I had that, I knew I could do anything.”