Nike SB x Skate Like A Girl

On a slightly damp and overcast Monday in October a crew of skateboarders met up at Saughton skatepark in Edinburgh to try out the Nike SB x Skate Like A Girl Dunk, have a skate and hang out.

We posed a few questions to everyone there that day which you can read below. 

All photos by Graham Tait. 

Thanks to Rudi & Mac, Leah, Lara, Cassie & Rachel. 

Link to enter the raffle is here. Usual rules apply.
Lara Janiurek Q&A
What does skateboarding mean to you?
It sounds cliche but skateboarding means everything to me. I feel at home in the skateboarding community and it is a huge part of my life. Skating is about challenging and expressing yourself and it makes you look at everything differently. I think to pick up a dangerous and individual sport like skating, you have to be a bit off your nut, but that's what I love about skaters! I have travelled to so many cool places and met some of my closest friends through skating.

Who is your skate inspiration?
 
I'm definitely inspired by Mark Gonzales because I love his creativity with skateboarding and his outlook on skateboarding and life in general. I love when you can see someone's sense of humour and personality through their skateboarding, and he definitely embodies that for me. 
 
Do you feel like skateboarding is changing?
 
I think skateboarding is changing for sure. It probably has more exposure now than it ever has, and even over the time that I've been skating, I've seen a massive rise in the number of girls picking it up. It's cool to see skateboarding growing and evolving due to a more diverse community.  I think it's really important for people to learn about skate history and the roots of the sport. Change is a really positive thing and I think it's important to understand and respect where is started and how it has evolved.  
 
What does the phrase, ‘Skate Like a Girl’ mean to you?
 
To me, skate like a girls means go out and skate! Skate like a girl means go and send it. Hurt yourself and get back up and do it again. To me, it means skate exactly how you want to skate and don't pay attention to what anyone else is saying or doing. Just have fun and push yourself.  
 
Where is your favourite place to skate?
 
My favourite place was the red curb at the transport museum but now it's been destroyed (RIP red curb). Now, I like to skate Kingston DIY or the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. 
 
What is your best advice to someone thinking about trying skateboarding for the first time?
 
I'd say just go and skate and don't care at all about what other people are doing. Learn in your own time, in your own way and there's no right way to skateboard. You are definitely going to hurt yourself, but you'll be fine. Always expect to land the trick and practise makes perfect. Just go and speak to people and have a fun time!

What do you love about skating the most?
 
I love everything about skating! The community, the feeling of cruising around on my board, exploring new parks and spots. I love everything it brings into my life. I love learning about skate history and iconic spots. It's really cool to watch a crazy trick in a part and then go and check out the spot in real life. The sense of achievement you feel when you learn a new trick is so rewarding and at the end of the day we all do it because its just really fun. Even slamming is fun for me because it's all a part of the process. When I'm old and decrepit and can't stand on a board anymore, skating will still be a huge part of my life because I love it so much. 
 
What lessons does skateboarding teach you that help with other aspects of your life?

Right now, I'm doing a PhD in quantum computing and it's really comparable to skating. You work for hours and days to try and land a trick and eventually you get it and it's the best feeling. But then you have to keep doing it and get the trick cleaner or grind it longer. It's really the same as physics and computing when you work for so long to solve a problem and finally you break through and solve it and it's the same feeling. But then you have to keep going and make the solution better and more elegant. I think that's really transferable between the two and helps a lot with persaverence. 
 
What is the most memorable experience you’ve had through skateboarding so far?
 
My most memorable experience was when I just moved to Glasgow and went to skate at the transport museum for the first time. It was really sunny and everyone taking turns skating the red curb. There were complete beginners trying their first 5050s and really experienced skaters who I'd looked up to, doing insane trick combos. But everyone was cheering each other on and filming each other, no matter what they were trying and I though wow, this is true love for skating. It didn't matter what everyone was doing, they were all hyped because they loved skating and seeing crazy stuff and other people's progression. I thought that was so cool to see that genuine love and passion. 

Cassie McGregor Q&A

What does skateboarding mean to you?
 
Skateboarding has had a huge impact on my life. It means more than I could probably put into words. It’s given me something to always push myself with and to strive to get better at, it gets me out the house and keeps me active and is a great release for whenever I’m feeling down or in my head. 
 
How does it feel to learn to skate in a traditional skate environment?
 
I think for most people learning to skate is very intimidating in the traditional skate environment. I first started by just practicing in my street by myself until I felt confident enough to go to my local park and skate at peak times. I know I have as much of a right to be there as anyone else so it doesn’t phase me much anymore skating in a busy setting with loads of guys. I’m there for the same reason and love and appreciate skating as the next shredder. 
 
Who is your skate inspiration?
 
My skate inspiration always change as I’m always meeting new people and discovering new skaters online but who I’m inspired by personally is Marième Corlett. I remember I had my first ever skate lesson with her at transgression and just felt so inspired to keep up with it and progress and seeing her clips always get me fired up ready to skate. I feel like most of my skating is inspired by a lot of old school and transition skating, nothing I love more than a mini ramp. 
 
Describe your best skate day?

Probably at my local park, In the sunshine with my homies just having a good time.
 
Do you feel like skateboarding is changing?

I think it’s definitely being put more on the map and is becoming more accessible for marginalised groups and I think it’s great. Social media is probably a big factor in that. From when I first started skating to now, the scene has bloomed with so many great skaters and it makes me so happy to see that people of all genders and minorities are picking up boards and having fun with it. 
 
What does the phrase, ‘Skate Like a Girl’ mean to you?

To me, it’s more like a reclaiming of the phase. I think to be told that you do something “like a girl” was very much more of an insult where as if someone is female, non binary or trans skater, it has really no impact on their ability. Gender has nothing to do with it and I think it’s becoming such a level playing field out there. 
 
What inspired you to start skateboarding?

Skateboarding itself inspired me, I always wanted to try it, I got a board for Christmas one year and I never looked back.
 
Where is your favourite place to skate?

Saughton skatepark in Edinburgh always! 
 
How can people make sure everyone feels included and welcomed into the skateboarding community? 

I think there is a lot of work to be done with this, it’s getting a lot better out there with a lot of inclusive nights and making spaces available for marginalised genders, but  I think there needs to be a lot more room made for these spaces. 
 
What is your best advice to someone thinking about trying skateboarding for the first time?

Just gotta go out and do it, don’t be afraid of what anyone thinks of you, go and have fun, skating is what you make it.
 
What do you love about skating the most?

So much, the friends, the landing a trick you’ve been trying for ages, the freeing feeling of cruising on your board, there’s not just one thing I could say I love most.
 
What lessons does skateboarding teach you that help with other aspects of your life?

Resilience. Skateboarding is always about challenging yourself and getting back up no matter how many times you fall and I think it’s a great thing that can be put in most life settings. 

Leah Moodie Q&A

How does it feel to learn in a traditional skate environment?

It was really daunting at first because when I started skating (almost five years ago now) I felt like the odd one out. I hope that now this isn't the case for beginners. There's been so much progress in skateboarding and park etiquette being more inclusive. Now feel like I belong in the scene.

How can people make sure everyone feels included and welcomed into the skateboarding community?

In a park environment I think the easiest way is to be respectful of others, everyone deserves to use the space as much as anyone else, no matter their level of ability. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure everyone has the opportunity to have their turn.

What is your best advice to someone thinking about trying skateboarding for the first time?

Just to have as much fun as possible with it. It’s easy to get caught up in progression and worry that you’re not improving fast enough - but remind yourself that everyone learns at a different pace. Don’t compare yourself to others but instead be inspired by them and focus on finding your own style of skating. I think being creative with how you skate is the most important thing. (Also always bend your knees and shoulder positioning is key).

What does the phrase ‘Skate Like a Girl’ mean to you?

To always be your authentic self and to not feel that you have to change because of anyone else’s opinions.

Rachel Campbell Q&A

Who is your skate inspiration?

I feel most inspired by the skaters around me, seeing people try or land a new trick definitely makes me want to try new things

Where is your favourite place to skate? 

The transport museum in Glasgow has to be my favourite, everyone is welcoming and the sessions are always a good laugh

What is your best advice to someone thinking about trying skateboarding for the first time?

 Head to your local skatepark or get in touch with a skate group in your area, finding other skaters is a great way to learn and have fun at the same time

How can people make sure everyone feels included and welcomed into the skateboarding community? 

If there is someone skating on their own at the park you can ask them to skate together or join the session, most of the time they will say yes 

What do you love about skating the most?

Having a session with friends and other skaters is the best, you feel a real sense of community when everyone comes together to skate and hype each other up 

Describe your best skate day  

It has to be cruising around Athens in Greece. Skating with new people in a new place was super fun, we went to a spot called Gotham in the city centre and played a couple games of skate with the locals, everyone I met was lovely.

Rudi & Mac Q&A

What does skateboarding mean to you?

Rudi - it just makes me feel alive, when I’m skating I’m in the zone. we have been so lucky to have so many opportunities out of skateboarding, so many places we wouldn’t have been, meeting new people and friends for ever.

How does it feel to learn to skate in a traditional skate environment?

Mac - I love it, everyone has helped us learn how to skate and make us feel welcome from the start.

Who is your skate inspiration?

Rudi and Mac - Baillie.

Describe your best skate day?

 Rudi and Mac - at the the skatepark, all our best friends are about, its warm, heeps of iron bru, loads of food and music, no scooters and just skate until we can’t anymore! 

 Where is your favourite place to skate?

 Rudi and mac - loading bay in Glasgow, everyone is welcoming and we always feel supported.

 What is your best advice to someone thinking about trying skateboarding for the first time?

 

Rudi - just dae it!

Mac - S**te bag if yi dinnae.

What do you love about skating the most?

Rudi - learning tricks, pushing myself, the meet ups and spending time with my sister and friends.

Mac - I love being around all my friends, meeting new people and learning new stuff from everyone.

What lessons does skateboarding teach you that help with other aspects of your life?

 Rudi and Mac - confidence in our selves, never giving up, being committed and looking after our selves, also taking slams.

 Mac - I also learned to put my head up my hoodie sleeve.

 What is the most memorable experience you’ve had through skateboarding so far?

 

Rudi and Mac - we have had so many amazing experiences, skating with Focus has been unreal, meeting Tony Hawk on a Skype call was insane and getting to hang out with Jamie Foy at our local was amazing. But meeting some of our best friends through skateboarding has to be the best thing.