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In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023, We caught up with a couple of our team riders to find out more about their subjective experiences as women within skateboarding and reflect on gender equality within the industry. Amy Ram is our Pro Team Manager, living in London and riding for both the Vans and Santa Cruz European teams, whilst Emily Hicks hails from Caerphilly and has been riding for the Cardiff store since 2020.Talk to us about your first experiences with skating. How did you get into it? What were your initial impressions? How did you integrate yourself into a subculture that’s traditionally very male dominated? A: I was pretty young when I started so I was absolutely oblivious to being the only girl in the skatepark for a long time, I just skated with the boys and thought nothing of it. I would say I became pretty obsessed with it, and it quickly took over every minute of my weekends. As an 11-year-old I become very independent, going to the skatepark every Saturday and Sunday with my friend who lived on my street. Getting the bus and tube, McDonald's breakfast on route. We actually used to get to BaySixty6 early and they would let us in, and we would clean the park with free entrance as a thank you. At that time I had short hair and dressed like a boy, so I guess I just blended in - not conscious of standing out as the only girl. My initial impressions as a young kid starting skating were simply fun. It was really fun. Being able to have the freedom to spend 8 hours of the day at the skatepark with all my friends was what kids dream of.
E: My interest in skateboarding all began when my brother started watching CKY videos in the early 2000s. Instantly I was interested and got a skateboard at the age of 8. Initially, I just skated around my street, using two curbs that were opposite each other, like a mini ramp, until I eventually got to go to my first skatepark a couple of years later, when I was about 12. I dropped in pretty instantly, with absolutely no fear (how times have changed!). Although the skateparks were super male dominated throughout my childhood and teen years, as a tomboy, I managed to not be too put off by it... but any time I saw another girl in the park, it was always an excuse to make a friend. I had a very on and off relationship with skateboarding until I reached my early/mid 20s, which is when I started consistently skating and realised it was something I needed to survive, to feel free and to help me navigate adult-life. My early/mid 20s was also when I realised that the girls scene was starting to really grow, and I think that has definitely helped my consistency with skateboarding. It feels safer, more accessible and there's loads more girls to skate with than there ever has been before.
Could you impart any words of wisdom and advice for someone, male OR female, who is looking to get into skateboarding but doesn’t know where to start or lacks the self-assurance?
A: I would say hit the skatepark when its less busy. Have as much alone time with the skateboard as you can. Get to know the park and your board. The more you try and learn the more confidence you have to go to busier parks. That was my strategy. But I guess everyone is different. Find friends that skate and are at the same level. You will learn a lot when you are motivated by people around you. Hit up a skatepark with a friendly vibe. Skateparks can often be quite intimidating - but you don’t have to learn in just skateparks, all you need to get going is a place with smooth concrete.
E: I'd always say that no matter how intimidating a skatepark looks, everybody there will be super supportive of anything you try. Even some of the best skaters in the park will be so excited for you landing your first rock-to-fakie, or first ollie. That's something I love about skateboarding, it doesn't matter what level you are, people are going to be supportive and give advice no matter what. It's an amazing way to make friends as an adult, and remember: nobody cares about what you look like as much as you do! In fact, nobody cares at all.
Now we’re gonna ask you to predict the future a little bit – what do you think the future of skateboarding holds in terms of diversity and equality? How do you think we can continue to encourage more girls to pick up a skateboard, and is there anything within the industry that needs to change?
A: One thing is for sure there isn’t enough women in the industry. And there needs to be. Diversity and equality are no doubt getting better in skateboarding and overall we are seeing big brands join forces with smaller brands to welcome equality into mainstream skateboarding. There is much more inclusive than when I started, but still a lot more work to do. Equal pay is a big factor, that stems throughout skateboarding and the industry, I’m not sure if it’s quite there yet and I'm still not quite understanding how competitions are still paying out more money for the male than females divisions. This actually blows my mind as the big check is right in front of our eyes and the amounts are almost always different. My simple thought process about this is, do women pay less rent than men, so why do they deserve more?
E: I definitely think skateboarding is going to continue to get more inclusive as the years go on. The young skaters like Lola Tambling and Sky Brown are so inspiring, especially to kids their age. Nothing makes me happier than going to a skatepark and seeing more young skater girls there than skater boys. Best feeling ever! It makes me feel so proud, every single time... and it happens more and more as the time goes on.
What does skateboarding mean to you, and do you think your experience as a skateboarder has been different because of your gender? If so, do you have any examples?
A: I have been lucky in skateboarding no doubt about it, the generation before had the real struggle and were completely ignored by the industry for a long time. There was a time when £0 was invested in female skateboarding and I'm blessed that that time is long behind us. A lot of work has gone into female skateboarding to make it what it is today, and we have to respect those who endured the struggle to get it to the point it's at now. We are talking the Vanessa Torres’ / Alex Whites’ / Amy Carons' etc, that era had it tough and loved skateboarding for nothing more than skateboarding. But now the females are getting the attention they deserve, and the focus is not just on the males at all. I meet a lot of guys in skateparks who ask me all sorts of questions about the female skaters, showing interest and wanting to know who’s who and what’s what.
E: Skateboarding makes me feel free. It's an escape from work, personal life and anything else that can stress you out. After I've skated for a few hours, I feel like a different person - almost as if it has reset something in me. My anxiety is less, my stress is less, and my happiness levels definitely spike. I'm so grateful for it, and I never want to stop skating purely because of how it makes me feel. I do think my experience has been different because of my gender. When I was growing up, I hated it because as soon as you walk in the park it's all eyes on you, and you know everybody is thinking "It's a girl!" but nowadays, I don't really care. I'm proud to be a girl skater and being in a community with other girls has resulted in making loads of amazing friends which I now hang out with outside of skateboarding too. Skateboarding has massively made my confidence grow over the years. It's made my skin thicker and made me care way less about what people think.
Any final words?
A: The more female involvement throughout skateboarding the better!
E: If you're a girl thinking of starting skateboarding, honestly, do it! I promise you, you will make friends with other like-minded people, and not only will confidence in skateboarding grow, but your confidence in general life will too. Skateboarding has taught me a load of lessons that I've translated to other parts of my life - like business for example - and that's something I find invaluable with being a skateboarder. It teaches you to fail over and over again, but still never give up, because eventually, you will land that trick.
Amy Ram - BS Boardslide Photo by Raisa Abal
Emily Hicks - Blunt-to-FakiePhoto by Chester
