Girlz Rock and Skate at Ladyfest
By Mary Dee
The first week in August brought a noticeable increase in the familiar sound of wheels grinding down sidewalks of Olympia, Washington. With one difference. These riders were girls...
"Welcome to OHHH-LEEEE!" yelled someone in the crowd in front of the
Capital Theater.
The town's many espresso shops were total chaos as attendees spilled out of doorways into the streets. Purple hair was as common as nose rings, and girls with spiked
hair clad in leather, and girls wearing 1960s polka-dot skirts and army boots took over downtown.
The six-day event featured musical performances by Sleater-Kinney, Bangs, Holly GoLightly, The Butchies, and Cat Power, and many many others. In addition to the bands, all-girl workshops included Guitar Basics, Drum Basics, and Bass Basics, as well as an
Open Mic and How to Use a P.A. System. Other activities included an appearance by performance artist Penny Arcade, and film and video screenings by women filmmakers.
An hour later, the group arrived at Olympia's skate park, to the groans of the guys who were already there. The organizers had reserved the park for an all-girl skateboarding clinic. Braegen, one of those guys, said he wasn't sure if it was "really right for the guys to have to leave." But then he added, "it's kind of cool they're here skating. Before they started, that little girl over there was the only girl skating with us guys. She was probably
intimidated before all these other girls showed up."
That little girl was 12-year old Erica, a local at the skate park. Erica' who's only
been riding for four months, thinks it's is "awesome!" What about the
whole skateboard culture being a guy thing? "Some guys are really nice, but
some of them are kinda mean." When they're mean, she said, she just
walks away.
Live and Let Ride
Some of the coolest respect for not dropping in right in front of others was happening when we got there, but that mood quickly changed. Although the entire park had been reserved, the organizers announced that the guys could keep riding the bowls, but
that the all-girl clinic would be happening over on the other side.
Still, it took a while for some of the guys to show the same respect to
the girls that they had just been showing to the other guys, and more
over to the bowls.
That kind of intimidation is what keeps most girls
from riding. Helen, one of the volunteers for the clinic, said the event
was for girls "who want to learn to ride. We just wanted to explain how
to put together a board, and talk about what boards are good for
certain kinds of riding." It isn't about segregating - it's about not being
intimidated.
Fleur, one of the organizers, said it's common for girls
to feel like they're not supposed to ride. "Look at the skateboard
magazines - it's all guys. If you do see a girl, she's standing by the side
in a bathing suit." But that's starting to change, thanks to an
increasing interest from corporate sponsors. Sponsors for the Olympia event
were enthusiastic about getting involved, and even donated prizes.
For more info on girl surf, board and snow, check out wahinemagazine.com. The
organizers of the Olympia event can be reached at
pippi_long_socks@hotmail.com.
Tara Cooper, producer of the history of girls in skateboarding video "Live and
Let Ride," can be reached at taranight@hotmail.com.
So started "Ladyfest", a four-day long celebration held the first week of August in Olympia, Washington. Billed as an alternative celebration
of women, the event brought in men and women from New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Florida, California, Oregon, and EVERYWHERE else, as well as a legion of reporters and photographers.
Inspired by the Ladyfest activities, a group of more than 40 girls got together on Friday at Olympia World News to view a video by Tara Cooper. "Live and Let Ride," which chronicles the history of girl skateboarders through interviews and classic footage, got the group psyched. "It's all about having fun," said one of the viewers. It's all about having fun...
The all-girl skateboarding clinic during Ladyfest was organized at the last
minute, and not part of the official activities because of liability
concerns. However, it was part of the activities in spirit,
well-attended, and very successful. What's the best advice for organizing your own
event? "Start early," says Fleur. "We only had two weeks to plan this,
and although it's going great, we could've used more time."