Today, we're having a chat with Bristol Girls Longboard, where both founders Georgia and Danielle, along with a few members of their team, join us. The Bristol Girls Longboarding crew was established during the 2020 lockdown. Recently, they have been highlighted byBBC and Best of Bristol..
Could you please introduce yourself and the group for us?
Georgia:Hello, I'm Georgia, and I co-foundedBristol Girls Longboardwith Danielle. It began with a very small group and has grown into what it is now, nearly two years old and impressively over 60 members strong. We are a tight-knit group and regularly skate with our friends. The Bristol Longboard Crew organises mixed sessions and travels together to different cities; we've created a space for strangers to meet, fail together, learn about each other, and explore the various longboarding styles. It's been quite a journey!
Danielle:My name is Danielle Davis, and I'm the co-founder of Bristol Girls Longboard, a women's longboarding community aiming to break down barriers for girls entering the skate scene, fostering friendships, and spreading love and laughter through longboarding across Bristol!
How did you each first discover longboarding?
Georgia:I didn't start skating until I was 25. I don't recall seeing many female skaters; there was only one professional in my small hometown (shout out to Ellis Frost).
Instagram has been a significant source of inspiration for me. I enjoy watching amazing carving videos on streets lined with palm trees, with skies reminiscent of Madrid and California, and connecting with various longboarding communities worldwide.
Danielle:I spontaneously bought a skateboard one day while at university in Exeter, taught myself via YouTube in a parking lot, and then quickly, as we say in our group, "got cocky and ate it" (meaning I broke my arm). Later, I came across some guys during Freshers Week with longer boards and thought, "surely that’s safer"... I quickly joined the crew, got hooked, and never looked back!
Yes! Falling off is part of skateboarding/longboarding. So, what inspired you to step onto a board for the first time?
Danielle: It's hard to say, something seemed to guide me the day I bought a board. I don't think I had much choice in the matter.
Georgia:I found a second-hand board in a Brighton charity shop in early 2020 and watched tutorials by Natalie Pluto, Hans Wouters, and Giu Alfeo, to name a few. I've since fallen in love with the thrill of being challenged by a new combo or trick and the flow of dancing!
Who or what has been your inspiration in skateboarding/longboarding?
Georgia:Valeria Kechichian co-founded the Longboarding Girls Crew a decade ago, now led by the equally inspiring Isabella Motta. It has become an incredible network of over 100 ambassadors in cities globally and a safe space to connect with others, travel, and share advice. They are constantly advocating for better visibility and conditions for women in the sport.
Danielle:I agree, definitely Valeria Kechichian. Also, Valeriya Gogunskaya, who taught me longboard dancing at the longboard camp in Portugal.
Georgia:I'm also inspired by my teammates. I'm fortunate to be sponsored by Luca Longboards and Slide Perfect; my teammates motivate me to improve.
What is the Bristol skate scene like?
Danielle:It's incredibly supportive! It's rare to encounter anyone unpleasant in Bristol; people are always chatting with us.
Georgia:We share spaces frequently, and recently, while skating at Lloyds, a group of skateboarders was thrilled to see me perform a one-foot manual. People are simply happy to see anyone on wheels.
Could you tell us about the increase in female skateboarders in and around the Bristol area? How has the scene evolved, and when did you begin to notice a change?
Danielle:I believe COVID and the lockdown played a major role! Like Georgia and me, people needed a way to be outdoors and learn something new. Increasing numbers of Instagram reels were showcasing female riders worldwide, and people wanted to give it a go! We grew very organically; friends brought friends to sessions, and as I moved around the city, if I saw a girl with a longboard, I'd immediately approach and ask if she wanted to skate with us.
We started to gain attention across the city and were recognised nationwide as one of the largest groups of female longboarders in the UK. We loved organising sessions in collaboration with the surf skate girls and the surf girls - girls interested in one discipline often enjoy another as well!
Georgia:Since we began, Campus Pool has established girls' nights on Wednesdays. Regular jams are organised by our skateboarding friends BrisGirlsSkate at the M32 and Dean Lane. We frequently skate in the centre at Lloyds Amphitheatre and meet people on all types of boards. Also, when we visit the Brunel Way Pump Track, it's now much more common to see women confidently skating there than I recall from before.
So, how did the idea of Bristol Girls Longboard come about? Could you tell us a bit about where the concept originated and how it has positively impacted your local scene?
Danielle:One day, Georgia, my sister Ash, our friend Ellie, and I met up in Millennium Square to skate together, and then I decided it would be fun to make some videos of our progress! Within a few weeks, we thought more girls might be interested in skating with us, so we hosted a session!
Georgia:We noticed a few women around the city and wanted to see if a separate space would boost girls' confidence to skate with the guys. It does!
The ultimate goal is always for everyone to skate together.
As the awareness and visibility of non-binary individuals grow within the skateboarding community, is Bristol Girl Longboard exclusive to 'girls'?
Georgia:Not at all! If you disregard the name, we're simply a crew that loves this sport. The group is filled with welcoming, kind, and inclusive individuals.
Danielle:There is also an amazing mixed Bristol longboard group that we are best friends with, for anyone who identifies as male.
Your group has received quite a bit of media attention recently. What have been some of the most unexpected outcomes from it?
Georgia:Absolutely! From Best of Bristol to the front page.BBC OnlineSeveral drone videographers have contacted us, and more media outlets as well. It's thrilling to be featured on SkateHut!
Danielle:I think the sheer volume of messages from people from all walks of life wanting to try it out is incredible! Parents, their children, those moving to Bristol and messaging us ahead of their move, really all sorts of people! We've had several individuals contacting us to feature in music videos or appear on panels, which is very exciting.
What's in store for this year and beyond?
Danielle:I believe it's about truly showcasing the skills and progress of the girls in the group, collaborating with other local and international groups! I would love to help younger girls get into longboarding, as we currently require everyone to be 18+. And certainly, more trips to meet women in other countries, as there are so many skate spots on my bucket list!
Georgia:I'm working on organizing a major competition in Bristol, definitely more meetups, more international travel as well. More video edits and birthdays to celebrate. Collaborating with more filmmakers and enhancing our own skills.
Now let's bring a few core group members into the discussion. Hello Sonia, Tobi, and Maggie!
What does longboarding mean to you?
Tobi:It means teaching myself that it's okay to fail, but the most important thing is to be resilient and try again. Also, it's okay to just have fun. I don't need to be the most daring or the most skilled; cruising along the harbor or on the streets is just as enjoyable, and that's perfectly fine.
Sonia:Having fun and creating memories that make me smile.
And how do you feel when you're longboarding?
Georgia:The only thing I can compare it to is the feeling of surfing, especially on smooth concrete. Skating is the best feeling in the world, and everyone should experience it.
Daniella:The sensation of skating down a road with your friends on either side is indescribable and gives you goosebumps. In Barcelona, we were 25 women from all over Europe, and you feel invincible.
Maggie:Sometimes I feel free, sometimes I'm afraid of falling, but I'm always excited to nail that trick!
What's the most rewarding aspect of being part of Bristol Girls Longboard?
Georgia:Meeting all the different personalities and identities. In Bristol, we have girls from Poland, Ukraine/Latvia, Spain, Nigeria - they are all amazing! People from all walks of life. The longboarding community in the UK and those I've met across Europe is fantastic.
Tobi:The friendship. We met as skaters but have become the best of friends, and personally, I consider them like family.
Maggie:The people and friendships that have come from this. For me, this group has become so much more than just skating. The girls have been incredibly supportive, whether it's learning a new trick on the board or dealing with something beyond skating, they've always been there for me, and I appreciate them!
Wow! That's so heartwarming to hear! Have you all traveled to different places for longboarding? If so, where was your favorite spot?
Danielle:We've been all around the UK, often to London, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and Devon. I just returned from Mexico after realizing a dream of skating with the girls there.
Georgia:We just came back from Barcelona after shooting a film with Longboard Girls Crew. It will be released later this summer. The last films were shot almost a decade ago; Endless Roads and Open. I can't wait to see more and travel more, with Madrid and Portugal on my bucket list next!
Tobi:Wales by far. It was a sort of skills exchange with a female surf and skate group, and it was so much fun. There are some similarities between surfing and skating and those communities, so it was easy to get along.
Maggie:I haven't been on many trips yet. My favorite is probably the 'Hog Hill' Downhill Racing Event in London. It was my second skate meetup (so I was a newbie to the scene), but I feel like this little getaway quickly laid a strong foundation for my friendships.
Do you feel safe within the skate community, and how?
Georgia:I trust the group immensely, and it includes some of my closest friends. We are vulnerable with each other, discuss everything we are experiencing, and celebrate every success.
Maggie:Georgia and Danielle have established an inclusive and secure community that makes participating non-intimidating. I am very thankful to them.
Do you favor freestyle or downhill longboarding?
Sonia:I have a preference for freestyle. I also enjoy downhill, but I am not doing it much at the moment.
Danielle:I adore both dancing and freeride (each offers such a unique experience that makes your heart race just as much!)
I'm on a quest to involve more women in freeride and downhill. In Europe and Asia, dancing and freestyle are more popular, while in North and South America, it's the reverse. I want more women in the UK to experience the thrill of sliding and stepping out of their comfort zone.
Georgia:Freestyle tricks, every single day!
Tobi:Downhill— I have a bit of a need for speed.
Maggie:Freestyle & Dancing.
What was the latest new trick you mastered?
Danielle:A friend and I recently introduced the Charleston on the board - a proud achievement in my longboard dancing.
Sonia:A no-comply variation whose name I don't know, but it's difficult to keep track because even if you land the trick, you continue working on it afterward to improve consistency.
Which new tricks are you currently practicing?
Georgia:I'm practicing a cross-foot shuv. It's a very stylish trick, and I would truly love to land it consistently.
Danielle: I love dancing and have been doing ballet and other dance forms since I was 3 - I wish to incorporate more of this into my longboarding, aiming for smoother pirouettes and more pirouette variations. In my freeride, I want to perfect the Coleman Slide, a basic move that will boost my confidence.
Sonia:Tail manuals, pirouettes, 540 pivots into a shuvit.
Tobi:Standies - practice leads to improvement.
Maggie:No specific tricks at the moment, but I hope to learn more freestyle tricks.
Lastly, what advice would you give to beginners starting longboarding?
Danielle:Purchase a second-hand board on Facebook Marketplace and teach yourself via YouTube. Master the basics and just cruise around! Find a group, and if there's no meetup, suggest one. Don't be afraid because this community is incredibly kind! The early years of my longboarding were just about skating to work across London Bridge and using my board for commuting while living in Madrid. Just gain confidence with the basics: carving, foot braking, etc.
Sonia:Simply enjoy yourself and have fun. And make sure to wear safety gear!
Maggie:Music makes all the difference! Initially, I found it challenging to skate confidently on my own, but music helps me get into the zone and makes me less conscious of people watching. Don't compare your skating journey to anyone else's!