We are thrilled to share an exclusive conversation with the amazing members ofWe Skate Soton. This energetic group has been making waves in the skateboarding scene in Southampton, sparking enthusiasm for the sport and fostering an inclusive community for skaters at all levels. Join us as we explore their inspiring journey, delve into their experiences, and discover their vision for a lively skateboarding culture in their city.
Could you please introduce yourself and the group to us?
Emily: Hi! I'm Emily, and I co-founded We Skate Soton with Amy in 2021. We welcome everyone of all abilities and all types of wheels, and we're known for being the loudest cheer squad at the park! Our team consists of skateboarders, longboarders, roller skaters, and inline skaters. We organise 'official' meet-ups every month, but we've all become really close and often skate in smaller groups each weekend. Our goal is to make skateparks and skate spots feel safe and welcoming. We aim to have fun, learn together, and support each other in skating.
Amy: I’m Amy, one of the leaders of We Skate Soton! A skate crew from Southampton dedicated to making skateparks more welcoming to people who might find them intimidating places to skate.
How did both of you first get into skateboarding?
Emily:I used to hang out with skaters as a teenager and loved watching them skate, but it never occurred to me that I could try it. I think it was because I had only seen boys skating, so I assumed it wasn't for girls. Fast forward 20 years, and a friend invited me to join a skateboard lesson with her. I agreed and immediately fell in love with it! The feeling after that lesson was incredible... I was thrilled!
Amy: I found a penny boardabandoned by my studio, I started using it to commute to work, which then inspired a friend of mine to get himself a board, prompting me to get myself a 'proper' board as well! I used to skate around my neighbourhood as a child but never tried any tricks beyond a pancake flip and a 0.7-second manual.
What or who has inspired you in skateboarding?
Emily:Watching my friends skate and overcome mental barriers to learn new tricks makes me incredibly happy! That's what motivates me to push myself and be courageous.
Amy: Tony Hawk, I know it's a cliché, but I grew up with the PS and PS2 games... I'm also quite obsessed with women who skate in skirts and dresses. I genuinely love it, as it takes something traditionally seen as a 'boys' thing and turns it on its head. My true inspirations, though, are my skate friends who continuously teach me new and exciting things!
What is the skate scene like in Southampton?
Emily: It's pretty good! Guildhall Square in the city centre is always bustling with skaters, so I feel like skating is really a part of the city. Most people we've met have been friendly and are genuinely excited to see more people discovering skating.
Amy: Overall, it's good. It has improved, with more skaters and a greater variety of styles. Back in 2019, I was yelled at by another woman for 'mall grabbing,' which ironically put me off the scene back then! I think my confidence in skating (and in general) has helped me break into the scene and overcome the fear of being mocked for being a woman in skating. Most people I meet now are friendly, kind, and enthusiastic about skating!
Can you tell us about the increase in female skateboarders in and around the Southampton area? How has the scene developed, and when did you start noticing a change?
Emily:When I first started skating almost two years ago, I was actively looking for more women to skate with... and couldn't find many! But now there are so many! Every week we receive a message from a new skater wanting to join us, which is fantastic, and whenever we see women at skate parks, we always chat with them. I think having the We Skate crew around has helped people stick with skating. Maybe they would have tried it and then stopped, but having a group to skate with keeps you motivated.
Amy:It's been crazy! I rarely saw anyone other than men skating when I started out four years ago. I think the lockdown boom in skating really helped; although I don't fondly remember COVID, it gave some people the time to pause and try new things like skating.
So, how did the idea of We Skate Soton come about? Could you tell us a bit about its origin and how it has positively influenced your local scene?
Amy:So, the story begins when I started skating, posted a few clips online, and an ex co-worker who was already part ofskate Southampton. He asked if I wanted to join and potentially run some beginner skate lessons. After a few meetings, Skate Southampton asked if I wanted to organise some meetups for girls and women, acknowledging that they were mostly men and felt it wasn't their place to start such an initiative. That's how I started @GirlsSkateSoton, our original handle. I struggled to get it going initially, with COVID concerns and worries about numbers at meetups. As life got busier, I found it hard to find time to skate and became anxious about it all. I reached out for help and met Anisainitially, who promoted the Instagram account as she frequently skated at the square. She got four girls involved in the M3 Trophy and while Winchester won the men's event, the girls brought victory home for Southampton. Unfortunately, Anisa left for university, so I needed more help! I'm terrible at organising!! I met with a few people and finally met the amazing Emily, my partner in skate crime.
On the first night we met, we discussed how to make what we're doing more inclusive, as we thought there might be non-binary people who identify with women that might feel excluded by 'girls'. That's where We Skate came from. From the start, it was a women-led group rooted in women's skating. Our aim is to encourage primarily women, girls, and those who identify with women to join us for fun skating adventures! As the community grew, we realised that to be truly inclusive (as was our goal), men should be a part of it. I firmly believe that skating with everyone benefits everyone, as we learn so much from each other. Drawing lines between genders is beneficial in some cases, such as girls and gender minority skate nights, which are important spaces for many people to feel comfortable skating and free to be themselves away from the male gaze, escaping the classic skateboard machismo that many skate parks can have. There are some parks I simply won't visit unless it's a women's event because of this.
We continue to be women-led and love to encourage women and non-binary people; we welcome anyone who respects these values. I strongly believe that we can all work together in this mission. Therefore, our online presence is intentionally focused on women and LGBT+ individuals, as a way to counter the general preference for cis-straight-male skaters online, while celebrating all levels of skating. We particularly enjoy watching beginners progress! The barriers to skating can be the intimidation of this skilled sport, as well as the gender divide created by stereotypes of 'who' can be a skater.
I can't say for certain what impact we've had on the local scene, as it's hard to see from an outside perspective, but I do hope we come across as creating a community for anyone who loves to skate or wants to try it to feel welcome!
Emily:I think Amy has covered it quite well! At first, I thought boys wouldn't want to skate with us, but we've actually seen many men interested in getting involved and hearing about our experiences as women in the skate scene. It also seems to help newcomers feel more confident if they can bring their partner along, so we didn't want to exclude anyone. As long as you share our values, We Skate is for you!
I think Amy is being a bit modest; I believe we've made a really positive impact on the local scene. Looking back and seeing how the group has grown in the last year and a half is quite astonishing! We've also received some lovely messages from people who have found us.
What's next for this year and the future?
Amy: Oh, there's so much happening! We're aiming to secure some funding to get some of our team trained as instructors, allowing us to offer proper beginner lessons. We also want to provide equipment to people (to help eliminate access barriers like cost!). Eventually, we plan to register as a formal community group to make this more official!
Our second birthday celebration will be in autumn, and we're packing the summer with skateboarding adventures! Who knows, maybe one day there will be a We Skate Soton indoor park… Emily and I often joke about it!
Emily:We have such ambitious plans! I'm absolutely passionate about building our community and dismantling barriers, and I dream of making We Skate my full-time job someday. Amy and I are planning to complete the Skateboard GB coaching qualification soon, so we can offer lessons (currently, there are no women providing skate lessons in Southampton).
We've already given some equipment to people, and we hope to continue doing this.
Next, we'll register as a constituted community group and take it from there! My ultimate goal is to establish our own indoor park, where we can offer a space for skating, lessons, and other enjoyable community-focused activities!
We're incredibly excited for a summer full of skating, because is there anything better?!
Now, let's invite a few core group members to join the conversation.
What does skateboarding mean to you?
Ida: For me, it's a chance to put everything else aside and just enjoy myself. When you're skating, it's as if nothing else matters, and you're entirely focused on the trick, line... whatever you're doing. It's the best feeling.
Ben: I got my first skateboard I started when I was 7, so it has meant various things to me over the years. Currently, it mainly represents two key things: it's my primary form of exercise, and it's how I've made most of my friends since moving to Southampton. It's the main shared interest I have with them. Over the years, it has also given me a lot of resilience and taught me that stepping out of your comfort zone and overcoming fear can be fun!
Lucy:I love being outdoors, so skateboarding is a fantastic way to spend time outside with wonderful friends. It's always inspiring to see people pushing themselves in sports, as it motivates me to push harder in my own activities.
What's the most rewarding part of being involved with We Skate Soton?
Ida:Without a doubt, the community. We Skate Soton is like the biggest cheer squad. It's a lovely, diverse mix of people from various backgrounds, skating styles, and abilities. Everyone is your biggest supporter, and it feels like one big, happy family. Being part of someone's journey, whether it's watching them drop in for the first time or helping them land a trick, is truly special.
Ben:The sense of community and being part of a team, for sure. Everyone has been absolutely wonderful, and I've made some great friends through it. It has also improved my skating; being around more experienced skaters has encouraged me to try new things, and I've probably made more progress in the last 6 or 7 months than in the previous 5 years before joining.
Lucy: The most rewarding aspect is meeting so many different people I wouldn't have encountered if We Skate Soton didn't exist.
Have you traveled to other places for skateboarding? If so, where has been your favorite?
Ida:I live a little further away than most members, so I'm frequently on trains for meetups. So far, we've taken mini trips to Bournemouth and Winchester, with many more planned. My favorites are Prevail Jr in Bournemouth and Slades Farm.
Ben:Slades Farm in Dorset! I love old 70s parks because I'm really into the quirky transitions and layouts they often have, and going as a group was fantastic. I can't wait to return!
Lucy:Last summer, we went to the Isle of Wight to skate, and a few of us cycled there. It was an incredible weekend of cycling, skating, and great vibes!
Do you feel safe in the skate community, and how?
Ida:Absolutely. Since joining We Skate, I've never felt uncomfortable, judged, or self-conscious in any way. I feel that skateboarding, in general, has made significant progress in creating safe spaces for marginalized groups, including women, people of colour, and LGBTQIA+. We definitely embody that as a group and make a concerted effort to be as inclusive as possible by going the extra mile to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe.
Ben:Personally, I've always found skaters to be incredibly pleasant and have never felt unsafe in the community. However, some skateparks definitely attract some unpleasant individuals. On my first visit to one of the city's parks, someone attempted to rob me, though they didn't try very hard! I believe that having well-lit and open skateparks would solve many issues. That said, I understand it's not the same for everyone, and it can certainly be intimidating at times.
Lucy:I feel very safe. Before We Skate, I used to feel very uncomfortable in a skate park and nervous about trying anything. The group's support has given me more confidence; now, I sometimes skate in a park alone, something I would never have done before meeting We Skate!
Finally, if you had any advice for beginners getting into skateboarding, what would it be?
Ida:It's all about having fun. Don't take yourself too seriously, and don't feel like you have to use certain gear, skate a specific way, or meet any standards. It's easy to compare ourselves to others or feel self-conscious, especially as adults. If you're not enjoying it, you're not doing it right.
Ben: Wear a helmet/padsDon't be afraid to do your own thing (because if you think it's cool, then it definitely is), and join a group of like-minded people and have fun with it!
Lucy:Practice, practice, practice! Don't worry if you feel silly, as everyone was in the same situation when they started learning!