The Board List: Dropping In
It's our launch list! Get ready for your weekly inspiration to keep pushing..
It’s Monday morning. That time where the weekend has come to a finish, where hopefully you’ve had a shot of joy and doing your own thing, and the responsibilities of the week slap you in the face like a big cold fish.
But fret not, the Board List is here to inspire you, remind you to get the most out of every day, and to get you on a board wherever possible. We’ll explore what to see, read, hear & do (Don’t be Board, you get the pun).
We’ll give you a heads up as to how you can get more time on your board with events, retreats, and opportunities to engage with the community (Get on Board).
And we’ll be highlighting the stories of members of the community to inspire you as to what you’re capable of, in mid life & beyond (The Board Crew).
We’ll absolutely dive into the worlds of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding, but we’ll also go wider than that, looking at coverage around spending time in the great outdoors (wild swimming, time in nature), midlife and our need for change, and how we can push ourselves to do new things.
Importantly we really want to champion the women in our community, whether you’re just getting into the sport, or you’re a coach, we’d love to hear from you!
Let’s drop in..
Don’t Be Board
Watch this: Jules & Greg Wild Swim
I describe cold water swimming as the gateway drug for many women I know who have embraced board sports later in life. I started about 3 or 4 years ago, and for the first year I did it, I was one of those obsessive bores that you encounter. Espousing the benefits, going daily, talking about your kit and how you felt after. Yes, that was me. I’m a little bit more measured now, but dipping in cold water is still one of the best sensations I know, and if you haven’t tried it, I’d urge you to do so. It’s the mind over matter part that relates to board sports, the idea that you’re capable of doing hard things, but it’s also no coincidence that it’s women often in mid life, peri-menopause, looking for a greater connection to their body.
This series covers two comics, Jules and Greg as they explore the wild swimming spots of Scotland (a must do on my list for surfing too). The second series is now live, but I’ve just gone back to the first episode, and it really connected with me. A shout out to Anna Deacon of @wildswimmingstories for the recommendation.
Follow this: @hearherstories on Instagram
This account caught my eye because it covered Europe’s Women-Only Nightclubs, offering women a space to reclaim joy, dance and community without feeling any pressure, and in family friendly hours. I’ve always loved @mumsthatrave in the UK - and anything that fuels joy in women is brilliant. This insta account amplifies untold stories of women and celebrates their achievements, and I am totally here for that.
Listen to this: Dying for Sex podcast
You’ve hopefully by now watched the new series with Michelle Williams on Disney, ‘Dying for Sex’. It’s a brilliant mini series inspired by the true story of Molly, who discovers in her 40’s that she has a terminal cancer, and decides to blow up her (unhappy) marriage, and go on a journey of sexual exploration. It’s an absolutely mesmerising series (I mainlined it in a matter of days), mostly because it’s a total reframe of a woman’s perspective when it comes to what she should and shouldn’t desire.
However, it’s really worth going back to the podcast that inspired the show, because you hear first hand from Molly and her friend Nikki, and some of the stories stand out even more when you realise they were 100% her reality.
Look out for this: Sally McGee x The Board Women Podcast
We couldn’t be more excited to announce that we have Sally McGee coming on the board women podcast, the episode will go live Wednesday 23rd, so look out for it or subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it! We talk supporting women in surfing, why motherhood needs to be talked about more in the surf space, and why travel is so essential to her family existence.
Get on Board:
The weather is getting sunny, and the seasons retreats and event are in full swing. Check out some of the below & find your fellow hype crew!
The Skate Retreat’s Spring Skate Weekend
I’m a big fan of the skate retreats weekends, because who doesn’t appreciate the combination of the great outdoors and skate ramps? This one is 25th-27th April at their original site in Norfolk. You’ll have lovely vegan food, nature connection workshops, outside baths, and you’ll make great mates. Danni the founder was the founder of Girl Skate, and she’s also been on the podcast, the episode is well worth a listen.
The Wave Project x #BoardGameDay
The Wave Project are an amazing charity, supporting the mental health and wellness of young people via Surf Therapy. I’ve just started as a Board Trustee, and so you’ll be hearing more about them on here, but in May they have partnered with Dry Robe during Mental Health Awareness Week (12-19th May) to launch a series of challenges in relation to ‘Getting on Board’ (ironic that this matches our new newsletter!) to raise money for the charity. Get involved.
The Surf Girl Issue 82 Launch Party
I love Surf Girl Magazine, and particularly that they are building a strong community and opening up their launch parties. This one launches international surf films Amazigh and True Love, and two short films with Lena Kemna and Laura Crane. Tickets for the event (23rd April, Cornwall) are in the Surf Girl instagram profile here.
The Board Crew
We’re going to be celebrating a different Board Women community member each week on the newsletter. We want to hear what you’re up to! DM us if you want to be featured and we’ll send you the questions & feature you on the newsletter.
Meet Gill Clark, 51, a Longboarder and Snowboarder
When and how did you get into board sports?
Around 2002, my first was learning to windsurf when I took myself off to Grenada with Nielsen in between jobs, I was hooked! So hooked that (I lived in Scotland at the time, not near water) when I came home I kept learning in the Scottish weather on a man made loch!
Then I moved to Brighton in 2003 met my husband and we made a deal, if I taught Matt how to sail, he would teach me how to snowboard (I didn’t ski or board at he time). Again hooked!
Somewhere in there I have given surfing a try on holidays and loved that too.
Later I took up paddle boarding, and then when the tides weren’t right to get out for some me time during covid times, I needed a way to get out, even for an hour, with minimum equipment and fuss and thought, hang on, if I can do boards on water and snow, why don’t I try skateboarding, so I did!
What do you love about them?
The people, the positivity, the connections you make and the technical challenge of board sports.
I’ve met and been inspired by so many people who have decided to give board sports a try, of all ages and backgrounds, I’ve always found the communities generous with their support, making you feel really glad you turned up and are giving it a go. And people have so many stories, I find it fascinating hearing about people’s journeys and the joy they’ve found pursuing their passion.
Describe how it feels when you’re on a board?
Freedom, pure freedom and joy, even if it’s a day when the steps aren’t quite there, I always feel better for getting out, having a go and blasting my favourite music. It’s so uplifting when someone passes you and gives you a thumbs up or a smile, when you get a wave or a knowing look from other skaters. Quite often I realise I’m smiling like a Cheshire Cat without even realising it. It’s so simple, me, my board , music, and movement = happy & free
What would you say to anyone considering trying?
I would say try it! Whatever that looks like for you, give it a go, explore which type of skating might be for you, park, surf skate, longboarding, and do you.
I shared on social media a while back that when people find out I’m 51 and skateboard, they quite often think I’m mad, but all I know is that I’m mad happy on my board ❤️
That’s it from us! It’s our first week of putting this together, so we’d love to hear from you what you want from us! Any ideas for future newsletters, online events, or content generally, let us know at info@boardwomen.co
Thanks so much for reading!
Caroline x
Board Women Founder