Happy International Women’s Day! Two years ago today, I launched the website and Instagram account, and it’s been another awesome year. I have to say the highlight as of late was going to the Slow Impact festival / conference in Tempe, AZ as well as securing a book deal with ECW Press as mentioned in my year end reflection… (will be starting edits on the manuscript soon).
Here’s a few photos with wonderful folks like OG legend, Jean Rusen and Jessie Frietze-Armenta who is behind the super cool sustainable skate company called “Shred Cycle,” and were supportive during my talk! There was a fun group huddle at the Mess Mag launch which included an exhibit of Marbie Miller’s artwork (me, Jean, Romina Palmero and Isa Ostos Campo of Tutifruti who presented on collective trauma healing in skateboarding communities, Jessie, Rose Archie of Nations Skate Youth, who courageously presented during the “Sober Skaters” panel hosted by Kristin Ebeling, and badass, Natalie Krishna Das).
And there was a mini-reunion of BC skaters with Jessie Van Roechoudt of Rookie fame, Rose, and myself. Crazy thing is that back in 2008, I stayed with Jessie in San Francisco while I was doing my library practicum at the SF Public Library, and I hadn’t seen her since! So much fun to connect.
On the old Instagram, there were lots of stories and even snippets of the presentation in people’s posts. Eek! And, I was really excited to finally meet Kevin Marks of LookBack Library and John Freeborn of Tails of…Skateboarding zine, who I’ve bantered with online forever. Also made tons of new friends, including a super rad artist / graphic novelist named Sophie Yanow who sketched out the panelists (wow!) and when my taxi failed to show up, the loveliest skater named Tayler Krabbenhoft whisked me off to the airport. I love skaters!
Also kind of blown away that Jim Thiebaud of Deluxe was so stoked on the presentation… he shared that, back in the day, he was teammates on Santa Monica Airlines with KZ Zapata!! How rad is that?
The only frustrating part of the weekend was that just prior, on Valentine’s Day, I had gone to my local skatepark (after three weeks of being sick with COVID), to get a proper skate session in before Tempe. One half of the skatepark was still in shade, and I discovered was covered in thin film of ice. I managed to bail twice and twisted my knee, leaving me all hobbled and unable to skate. I don’t think it’s torn, but still prevented a proper Slow Impact experience considering how much fun everyone was having. Sigh. Will have to go back next year!
A special shout out to the Slow Impact organizers, Ryan Lay, Kyle Beachy and Maurice Crandall for making the weekend so memorable! All of the sessions, presenters, and special events were amazing.
As well, in celebration of IWD a quick reminder to try doing a search by country in the website to discover someone new! So far, within the 1960s-1990s I’ve found representation from many countries outside of North America, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland!
Featured in these collages are: Corina ‘Go Go’ Spreiter, Japanese mystery crew, Antonella Ferrero, Eli Meyers, MaryAnne Uyemura, Ianire Elorriaga, Karen Schirm, and Beatriz Saens (in the middle).
And here we have Michelle Ticktin, Pam Judge, Nathalie Richter, Skirtboarders crew, Sussi Berglund, Patiane Freitas, and Sheenagh Burdell (in the middle).
Thanks again everyone for the support over the last year, and to all the attentive members of the audience at Slow Impact who asked questions and engaged, and those who introduced themselves afterwards. It was a joy!
Womxn Skateboard History 