The Board List: Who are You?
Are our interests our identity? What happens when we can't do them?
Are the things we do, the things we love, the things that define us?
I’m increasingly thinking the answer is YES. And maybe it’s only when these very things are taken away from you that you realise how much.
I took myself off to the skatepark for a lesson this week, the first one I’d had since breaking my wrist in February. Yes, I wanted to get over my fears. Yes, I wanted to get back to doing something fun. But more than that, I wanted to get back to feeling like myself.
Maybe it’s when you pick up these sports later in life that they really hit hard. I hear so many stories of women who have felt lost and then embraced these sports. Lonely amongst busy lives filled with work, ‘co-parenting’ marriages where you blur past each other in a fog of admin, and school whatsapp groups that explode the sanity of even the most capable human being. And then these sports arrive in their life. An electric jolt of joy and a release from the mental load.
Coming back to skateboarding was bloody lovely. I was terrified, but my instructor held my hands, I built my confidence, and it was amazing how much I’d remembered. What I want out of skating is changing as a result. I’m just happy to be doing it, my achievements, my rate of progression is no longer the key thing, I just feel lucky to be doing it at all.
So here’s to feeling like yourself, in whatever way works for you. Find it, get out there as much as you can and do it, and keep it close x
Don’t be Board:
Listen to this: The latest Finisterre Podcast Episode with Colin Butfield
Colin is co-director of Ocean with David Attenborough, one of my favourite films this year. Colin has a 20 year career of shedding light on the climate crisis and inspiring action globally.
Read this: Women Travel Solo - featuring Sam Haddad
A collection of 30 personal essays from women who have travelled the globe on their own terms. Features the excellent Sam Haddad, who we have previously interviewed for the podcast (and surfs my local breaks). Check out Sams Substack too, well worth a read.
Discover this: 30 things women over 40 want you to know @theothersambaker
Sam is the creator of The Shift podcast, one of the few podcasts addressing midlife that doesn’t make me want to scream. I liked this post full of advice.
Check Out this: Jacinda Ardern - A Different Kind of Power
In a week of disturbing but humorous coverage of the fall out between Trump and Musk, it feels fitting that the coverage of a more measured approach to leadership is now getting coverage. Looking forward to reading this book, and checking out the documentary released on 13th June.
Support this: Good Shout for girls, a new charity by Amy Kean
Amy’s organisation Good Shout helps women find their voice. She’s recognised that the feeling that we don’t have anything to add can start incredibly early, and has launched this brilliant charity to help girls from a young age. She’s crowdfunding now, so do get behind this brilliant charity.
Get on Board:
The Confidence Sessions: Just Move It
We’ve got our next online workshop coming up, and this one is an interactive one! Every wondered how best to move your body to support your board sports journey? This session features three experts in board sports and movement, from fitness and movement and how to set your body up to be ready for board sports (Emily from @moceanfit); to a specialist session on legs from an osteopath and movement specialist (Lizzie from @lizziebirdmoves) to specialist yoga moves for recovery (Louise from @louise_beyondthemat).
The workshop features 3 interactive mini sessions, Q&A with each of our experts, and then a panel at the end. What better way to spend an evening? Sign up now. If you sign up as a Board Women paid member, you get one of these free every month x
How do I enter the line up - by @aweekawake
A great guide to being at the beginning of your surf journey, and how you infiltrate the heady world of ‘out back’. Brilliant practical tips from @aweekawake
Off grid skater (blows my mind)
As someone who still looks at my feet and checks they are lined up before rolling off (a habit I need to drop) @offgridskater literally blows my mind. Get ready to get lost in this instagram account.
The Aunty Skates guide to coming off curbs
Simple, practical advice to finally cracking those little leaps off edges.
The Pro Slab Skateclub: first meet up 14th June
Love skating and climbing? The brilliant Sarah from Yellowhat Skate School (and coach on many of our events) has launched The Pro Slab Skate Club to bring together two of her passions, and this is her first event. Go support!
Wild Women Skate - Learn to Pump Wednesday 11th June Falmouth
Always wanted to try a pump track, or need to improve your technique? This is the session for you from the lovely @wildwomenskate crew.
Transkaters retreat at Camp Corve / Canopy Skate Park: August 29th
I heard such good things about this retreat from the @transkaters crew last year. I can’t make this date, but I highly recommend the crew at Camp Corve and Canopy Skate park, my family and I stayed in their cabin last year and had a skate lesson everyday with Hamish, and it was fab. Beautiful skate park too. They are also running a women’s retreat 15th-17th August.
The Board Crew:
This weeks Board Women crew members is Claudine, part of the The Board Mums Club and regular skater in the South-West of England.
When and how did you get into board sports?
I didn’t do any board sports as a child; I grew up in the countryside with only rolling hills and cows in sight. My first experience was a snowboarding holiday with friends in my early 20’s - I was instantly hooked. I did ski seasons after Uni, and nearly moved to the Alps, but ended up moving to Cornwall and learning to surf in my late 20’s. I didn’t quite get the bug for surfing - turns out I’m not a fan of being cold and wet. I surfed now and again in the summers, and got into Roller Derby for a bit, but it all came to an end once I fell pregnant with my first child.
When I was 35, we were on holiday in France with our toddler. The surf was flat so we ended up at a skatepark, and my husband got me on his skateboard. I learnt to pump on a half pipe that day, and I loved it! Back home he bought me a board, but with a toddler and a full time job, it was hard to find the time - and then I fell pregnant again.
When our baby was 5 months old we moved to a new village and found a little skatepark. In the mornings I used to go up there with the pram and my toddler while I was on maternity leave and pump on the mini ramp, and I gradually learnt to kick turn. I wanted to drop in, but I was far too terrified to try. I didn’t have Instagram back then; I wasn’t aware of other tricks I could be working on.
As the kids got older, I would be entertaining or helping them at the skatepark, and occasionally I would have a very self-conscious roll around if it was quiet. I never saw any women skating. My husband encouraged me to try dropping in, but I felt foolish and fearful holding his hand, trying to learn at 40 years old. Eventually I got bored of my slow little lines and lack of progress and stopped skating altogether. I figured I’d missed the boat.
Then last May I saw a viral reel of @auntyskates dropping into a bowl at 46 – the same age as I was. I was stunned, and it gave me hope. My algorithm started showing me other women learning to skate. My husband said he’d seen some women at the skatepark recently. I knew that it was now or never. My kids no longer needed me at the skatepark and I was up for a challenge. I immediately called my local skatepark and booked a lesson. By the end of that lesson I was dropping in on my own, and the next month they started @theboardmumsclub. It was perfect timing. I now have an awesome group of women who I skate with regularly. I go to the skatepark every Thursday night with my husband and kids. I go to skateparks on my own. We’ve just built a mini ramp in our driveway. I can’t believe it took me this long to learn to skate, but I will always be thankful that I booked that lesson and gave myself another chance.
What do you love about them?
I just love that feeling of freedom, of speed, of flow, of adrenaline, of mindfulness. You can’t think about anything else while you are doing it. You can’t beat it. If I’ve had a crappy workday, then 20 minutes on my skateboard will totally reset my mood.
Describe how it feels when you’re on a board
It feels like being a kid again. That sense of play, of silliness, of fun. It’s not about a score, or a result, its about how it makes you feel. You’ve moved your body in a new and exciting way, that you didn’t know you were capable of. And sometimes, you unlock a new skill and it’s such a euphoric feeling!
What would you say to anyone considering trying?
Just step on a board. It doesn’t matter how far you get or how wobbly you are. It will be a thrill like no other and you will feel so proud of yourself. Everyone deserves this kind of fun and you might even surprise yourself!
Thanks for reading! We’re building this community bit by bit, and the future holds so much more: we are looking at a board sports based fitness app for 30+ riders, we’re going to be expanding our online events and support groups, merch and products are launching imminently. Signing up for paid membership will get you discounts on all of the above, and you get the online events for free as part of your membership. Please do share & join! Have a fab week,
Caroline x
Board Women Founder