Skate Like A Girl

Roughly 250 miles from Los Angeles and far removed from any cell service resides the iconic YMCA Skate Camp. A skate park dropped into the dense and hallowed forest of Sequoia National Park and butting up to Sequoia Lake’s pristine shore, this spot is the stuff of dreams for most skateboarders. And for those lucky enough to send it on the legendary lake jump, their memories become just that. For over 30 years it has exclusively hosted youth summer camps. But in August of 2021, it saw its first-ever camp for adults.

At Skate Like A Girl’s Women and/or Trans Adult Retreat, accessibility, inclusion, and community were the fundamental inspirations: Ages ranged from 18 to over 50, with skill levels from pro to complete novice. All skate-inclined adults welcome. Cabins were assigned by hometown proximity to help establish skate communities post camp. And thanks to sponsors, scholarships and gear were distributed to make it an attainable experience for all.

Late that summer, 80 strangers gathered in the woods for five days and four nights. They practiced wilderness skills with Skate Wild, held morning and afternoon skate lessons, and settled into the cool relief of the lake and the camaraderie around the nightly fire. Most showed up for the love of standing sideways. Some were drawn in by the idyllic location and the opportunity to connect with others. A handful of moms saw it as a chance to do something for themselves that year. Two skaters decided it would serve as their honeymoon. Whatever the initial pull, the overwhelming takeaway for seasoned skaters as well as beginners was how world-changing it was to experience judgment-free support within skateboarding. To be comfortably vulnerable in a learning space was a cultural reset and the ultimate illustration of Skate Like A Girl’s inclusive intentions.

Even though skateboarding is widely considered an incredibly accessible sport, with requirements of only shoes, pavement, and a skateboard, it can quickly become psychologically challenging. While all action sports are based on self-expression, skateboarding poses a whole different predicament. In skiing and snowboarding, fundamental structures like lessons and beginner runs create a designated space for novices. In skateboarding, skate parks serve as the bunny hill as well as the black diamond slopes. It’s a heady task for a beginner to drop into a space that is also occupied by veterans.

Add to this equation the historically lower percentage of women skateboarders, and you get to the heart of Skate Like A Girl’s mission: to break down mental barriers and build inclusion and community within skateboarding. Their weekly youth programs, social media, and YouTube channel work to help up-and-coming women and/or trans skateboarders find their footing within the sport. But they are not the only players bringing about change.

While cultural shifts don’t happen overnight, skateboarding has gone through a transformation in the last few years. Due to its sheer increase in popularity as well as the innate diversity brought to the table, it is becoming more mentally accessible. The Skatepark Project is readily building new skate parks across the country. The Summer Olympics in 2021 saw 13-year-old girls taking the podium. Thrasher Magazine recently feature female Olympian and pro skateboarder Samarria Brevard on their cover. And organizations like Skate Like A Girl continue their regular lessons and retreats. Factor in the pandemic, along with the subsequent push to get outside, and this growth is compounded even further. Thanks to this cultural-turned-generational shift, skateboarding’s future is brighter and more diverse than ever.

Skate Like A Girl is a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive communities by promoting confidence, leadership, and social justice through skateboarding. YETI is proud to support this organization.