Welcome to Board Women. A community for those who want to challenge the narrative of what mid life and beyond looks like, and channel that adventurous spirit into board sports (skate, surf and snow).
We are a community of women (and non binary) around the world who are questioning what society has said they can and can’t do in mid life. Who have picked up a board and said f**k it when told they are ‘too old’ or not part of the culture.
But this isn’t just about board sports. It’s about a time in life when you’re looking for more. More excitement, more adventure, more time for yourself, more connection with what you really love. And life can be found wanting.
It’s about why we might not have felt these sports were for us when we were younger. Or about the restrictions we can put on ourselves that stop us taking up things that we love. Too little time. I won’t be good enough. I don’t have friends to go with. These are things we hear women say time and time again, but the truth is, life is better when you prioritise the things you love.
This is a podcast, a community, a movement for women who want to create their own set of rules for how they live their life.
Sign me up! How does it work?
All subscribers will get the fortnightly podcast, and the weekly newsletter ‘Get On Board’.
The paid community will also get a free monthly virtual event, exploring different topics through the lens of board sports (Recovery from Injury, Boardsports x Neurodivergence, BoardSports x blowing up your life), which will be ticketed events for the rest of the community. They will also receive a 10% discount on any other events, coaching, or retreats and full access to The Archive. At only £7.50 / month that’s like grabbing a coffee these days.
Founding members will get all of the above + a Confidence Session with our founder Caroline Keylock, who provides paid mentoring.
Who am I?
I’m the founder, Caroline Keylock.
I’m a 47 year old mum of two, and I started skateboarding at 45. I had always surfed a little and snowboarded a little (perpetual beginner-intermediate at both but I’m trying), but I had never seen skateboarding as something that was for me. I grew up hanging out with skaters, but no girls I know did it and I had a relatively traditional upbringing. Girls weren’t really encouraged to be rough and tumble in any way.
I remember the day I decided to start skating. We were in a skatepark with kids and their scooters. My son, Otis (then 6) wanted me and his Dad to have a go on his and head down a ramp. Ben just hopped on without thinking, and I was frozen. And it bloody annoyed me. I’ve always been fit and active, but for some reason I was afraid of what would happen. Two weeks later Otis announced he wanted to skateboard, and we suggested a lesson (we knew nothing about it).
The critical decision? I wanted to do the lesson too. I was rubbish, Otis was great, but I was hooked. I bought a skateboard that day (no skull and cross bones please, I’m 45), found various beginner groups and started learning.
The challenge was that I couldn’t find many women to go with and my friends had zero interest. Online was a different story. I could see groups cropping up all round the world with women in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond taking up these sports. Something brilliant was starting to shift, and I wanted to celebrate it.
Board Women was born.
We do talk about board sports a lot. How to finally do an ollie. How to be out back on a surfboard and not be terrified. How to finesse your carving on a mountain. But we talk about so much more than that.
Why do women lose confidence in what we can achieve later in life? Why is it that so many line ups and skate parks have so few of them, particularly older women? Why are so many women blowing up their life in later life, suddenly realising there must be more out there?
This is what our community is about. Come join us
Caroline x
Board Women Founder
