WATCH: Durban skaters ‘flip’ the script
Girls Skate Durban has no age limit and members across the spectrum from as young as teenagers aged 13 to mothers up to the age of 45.
A GROUP of skaters are flipping the script on the traditionally male dominated sport of skateboarding.
In the last few months, especially in Durban, women from various backgrounds have taken ownership of their role in the sport and having a profound impact by making skateboarding more inclusive.
This is in large part thanks to the efforts of Bexx Sneddon, Carmen Gee and Chantal Graaff, who are all part of Girls Skate Durban (GSD), who are helping the movement from the margins into the spotlight.
“I started Girls Skate Durban around two years ago in the hopes of making the sport more inclusive and creating safe spaces for skateboarding within KZN, especially for female skaters and the LGBTQIA+ community,” explained Sneddon. “When I first started skating in the early 2000s there weren’t many girls involved, I think there were around four but now we’ve grown to about 200 skaters across the province. As we got busier, Carmen and Chantal came on board to help. Since the inception of skateboarding it has always been male-dominated with a few women on the fringes but now the girls and femme skate scene has grown immensely and we are more in the spotlight.
“For me personally the growth in Girls Skate Durban has been fantastic to see a group of skaters who are family. The lockdown has actually helped us gain new skaters. Part of what is special to me and the others is we encourage each other and learn from each other all the time. There’s a family feel to our movement. I think skateboarding is also an individual sport and creativity and individuality is an art form, so everyone has their own style and techniques when skating, so there’s no right or wrong,” she said.
Sneddon with the help of Gee and Graaff also organises skating sessions across the greater Durban area to help grow the sport.
One of the up-and-coming stars in the sport who learnt so much through Girls Skate Durban is uMgeni Park resident, Taryn Smith.
“I was actually getting bored in lockdown and I’ve always wanted to skate since I was five. So I bought a board and came down to the skate park where I met Asiphe Tseeke (Molly) and another skater from Girls Skate Durban and I have never looked back.
“It’s a different experience and I feel accepted and everyone is so encouraging and helpful which has helped me gain confidence on the park. I think that’s key to succeeding in skateboarding, you have to improve your confidence, I now practice almost everyday at home and come down to the skate park when I can,” she explained.
Girls Skate Durban has no age limit and members across the spectrum from as young as teenagers aged 13 to mothers up to the age of 45.
If you would like to get involved, follow them on Facebook under ‘Girls Skate Durban’, or follow them on Instagram: @girlsskate_durban.
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