In the summer of 1999, I was fortunate to pursue a semester abroad in Prague, Czechia at Charles University. My motives were not academic. I had heard of a derelict plaza covered in marble slabs where skateboarders gathered simply called “Stalin,” in reference to a monument that had been blown up, and I wanted to skate it. I had barely got over my jet lag and hadn’t even visited the famous tourist spots like Charles Bridge and the medieval astronomical clock in Old Town, before I bolted over to Stalin.
When I arrived at the skate spot, I instantly made friends with local skateboarders, including two girls named Katka (Kate) and Lucie (Sarah) Kalinová. The girls were mildly proficient in English, and I was only beginning my Czech lessons, but we easily figured out a way to communicate through gestures and help from friends. We would meet up with each other for skate sessions at Stalin and the local skatepark on Stvanice island where the annual pro contest called the Mystic Sk8 Cup was held. The park even had an indoor mini-ramp and both girls had it dialed, especially Lucie.
In fact, Lucie had just been featured in the local Czech skateboard magazine called Board in the June 1999 issue showcasing her ramp riding skills along with an interview. I was so happy to find that almost all the issues of Board have been digitized by Radek Hruška, as I had lost the few copies I owned over the years, including Lucie’s feature under her nickname “Sarah.”
With the vague help of Google translate, the interview appears to start with Lucie sharing her daily routine which included a lot of chores like washing dishes, which she enjoyed as well as making her specialty potato dumplings and apple strudel. She was born in Svitavách in 1979, had two brothers including a twin, and at the time of the interview had been skating for two years and three months and was living and studying in Prague.
Lucie purchased a used set-up from a friend and started out in mini-ramp, especially during the winter before hitting up street spots, which she came to enjoy. She gave some advice to girls, along the lines of ignoring the guys. Essentially, just do what you want and ride for yourself. I’m not clear if her parents were supportive of her skateboarding, as her mom wasn’t funding her pursuit, but perhaps her dad provided funds for Lucie to enter contests and go on roadtrips.
The interviewer made a weird comment about it being horrible when women were better than men, but maybe it was a joke or a way to compliment Lucie’s mini-ramp skills! Lucie seemed unphased about any suggestion of being treated differently as a girl and was happy to give advice to male skaters. She just wanted to have fun, although she was not a fan of being called “Xena” in reference to the Princess Warrior played by Lucy Lawless on television. Maybe that was why she preferred the nickname Sarah?
Lucie was a fan of Elissa Steamer and wished she could skate like her. Lucie also entered some contests, mentioning one in České Budějovice south of Prague in Bohemia, that she was looking forward to, but said competing against the guys was the worst. “It’s very hard to make a name for yourself among guys.” Her favourite tricks were frontside grinds and 5-0 grinds.
The interviewer was a bit hit and miss. One minute he acknowledged how Lucie was fearless, dropping in to a vert ramp a few years prior in 1997 and then asked if she was able to set up a skateboard herself, which she replied “Obviously… it’s nothing complicated.” The interviewer inquired if she was interested in romantic “skate dates,” and Lucie replied that she had a boyfriend, and he wasn’t a skater but perhaps she would give him a board to ride!
I might have misunderstood the translation, but when asked about Lucie’s interest in fashion, she replied that she only owned two pairs of shoes but preferred to wear comfortable skateboarding shoes. Lucie had hopes of earning some income upon her graduation, perhaps as a secretary even though finding work was a struggle. “When I have money, I will buy the things I always wanted. And that’s skirts, high-heeled shoes, jackets… I’ll buy them all one day.” In conclusion, Lucie acknowledged her family and said, “I salute all the girls who skate. Hang in there and ignore the jerks.”
In reading between the lines, I suspect it was not easy in Czechia in the 1990s being someone who pushed the boundaries of gender expectations and roles, and this pressure to conform to certain stereotypes of femininity. While I didn’t question the glamour shots of Lucie and if she liked the cover photo, reminiscent of how American brands like Shorty’s portrayed their team pin-up girl “Rosa,” I’ve always wondered if Lucie had a choice in the matter or if she cared?
Overall, it was awesome to have an opportunity to really connect with Czech youth, versus my fellow Canadian classmates. I think it was partly because, in the 1990s and early 2000s there seemed to be a universal code that if you met another skateboarder while traveling, you had an instant connection especially if you met another female skater.
At the end of my studies, I was invited to a family cottage in Bohemia, staying at Kate’s grandparents’ home, and had a proper exchange. We might have had a completely different background and upbringing but because of this shared passion for skateboarding, everything else was irrelevant.
Based on Facebook, it looks like Lucie pursued her love of cooking at college, has two sons, and works at a Law Office. Right on!
UPDATE! On June 12, 2024 Podcast Switch in Czechia interviewed Lucie for episode 66:
Reference:
- Radik. “Sarah.” Board 32 (June 1999): 12-14.
Womxn Skateboard History 