Don’t be afraid to hop on-board

SKATEBOARDING is a sport that, since its inception, has been predominantly male and perceived as an exclusively male sport. But for girls and women, who have long been excluded from the sport, skateboarding has become popular among their gender in countries and cities across the world. Women have carved out their place in the skating world by forming organisations that encourage and teach girls how to fine-tune their skills, and creating spaces where girls and women can compete and create skating careers for themselves. In a four-part series, Berea Mail will explore how girls and women from Durban have used skateboarding to change their lives, create new opportunities for themselves and perform foot-plank and grind tricks with effortless elegance.

GIRLS Skate Durban founder Bexx Sneddon started the Durban sector of the already national organisation in 2018 to reduce the feeling of intimidation encountered by females in the male-dominated sport. Sneddon joined forces with Girls Skate South Africa, which is a community organisation operating throughout South Africa, with headquarters in the thriving Johannesburg Metropolis. Girls Skate South Africa was founded in 2015 by Sharne Jacobs. Girls Skate hosts events nationwide, providing boards and safety gear at all sessions.

“Girls Skate Durban, more so than anything, helped bring the Durban skate scene together, which helped me find a group of people I could progress with and just have fun and creative sessions with. I would not have progressed to where I am without this initiative,” said Sneddon.

Thirty-year-old Sneddon started skateboarding when they were younger but says they really got back into it in 2013. “I love so many things about skateboarding. I love the freedom to express yourself – no rules, no specific format – it’s like an art form, to be honest. I also cannot fail to mention all the friendships I have made through this piece of wood with four wheels,” said Sneddon.

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The skateboarder says the most memorable skate moment was the first big event they attended in 2014. “It was the Kimberley Diamond Cup – a massive event, with loads of local and international skateboarders, including a bunch of femme skaters I had looked up to since childhood. What an incredible experience – one that will not be forgotten,” they said.

Sneddon says they recently competed at the Skate Vision Summer Slam Skate Contest on December 28, where they placed first, and had a lot of competition getting there. “Prior to that, I was invited to skate the Street Lines Skate Tournament in Pretoria, where I got to skate up against South Africa’s top skaters, including Olympic skateboarder Boipelo Awuah. I didn’t make the finals, but I was extremely proud of my run and how far these old legs took me,” said Sneddon.

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Their advice to women who want to get into skating: “I would tell them to not be afraid to pursue skateboarding. I know it can be somewhat daunting at first, especially if you haven’t been involved in the scene. The skate park will always have someone who is willing to give advice and help you out. Helmets and wrist guards are lifesavers. When in doubt, give Girl Skate Durban a shout. Also, it’s not as scary as it seems,” said Sneddon.

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