Karen Schirm of Bremen, Germany was a street skater in the early 2000s and needs acknowledgment as one of the few female skaters-of-colour at that time, especially in Europe. While there was only one interview I could find of her by Chrissie Stegt, she briefly mentioned that if offered a free trip anywhere in the world, she would go to the Philippines, back to her roots. She also appreciated that skateboarding gave her freedom and independence.
A fellow skater from Bremen on Instagram named Linda said that Karen was “probably one of the first really good female German skateboarders after Steffi Weiss.” She recalled skating with Karen and heading to Hamburg for all girl’s skate sessions.
Karen was sponsored by 88 Footwear (launched by Kris Markovich), Attitude Skateshop in Bremen, and Cool Girls Skateboards. Cool Girl Skateboards was initiated by Sabine Schenk and Frank Davern in 2004. Schenk appears to be based out of Munich, Germany with Frank representing California. The company described itself as the “first skateboard label with a punk edge for girls only,” and they embraced the “girls kick ass” mantra of the era. They hosted a website with interviews, skate park reviews, upcoming events and a variety of features like “Ask a Pro” with vert legend, Holly Lyons. Franzi Stolz of Switzerland was Karen’s vert-skating teammate.
Karen appeared in a few contest results, such as the Globe World Championships in Dortmund in July 1004 where she place 9th out of 14th competitors, just behind Steffi Weiss and ahead of Kim Wibbelt and Lauren Mollica.
And then, for the Münster Championship Karen placed 3rd in October 2004 at the 4th Girls Skate Jam behind Sophie Poppe and Kim Wibbelt, and ahead of Julia Brückler and Candy Jacobs.
Photos: Chrissie Stegt captured a photo of Karen at the Münster Championship, and then, she must have traveled to California, as they next photo is of Karen with Salman Agah at the first Wicked Wahine contest in Glendale, 2004.
The following year she placed 8th in Münster and then won the 2005 Attitude Summer Jam in Bremen at her local park. There was a 2005 magazine called Sportgarten that acknowledged her skill at the contest, but unfortunately filled its pages only with male skaters.
Karen could throw down tricks like pressure flips, frontside flips, boardslides, and noseslides, which were impressive for the times. She was also a bit older than most of the competitive crew, being 23 in 2005. Her favourite spot to skate was the indoor park in Eindhoven, Netherlands called Area 51, which is still in operation. Anyone remember Karen and have more to share?
Photos: Chrissie Stegt
Womxn Skateboard History 