Olympics gives sick boost to women's skateboarding
The debut of skateboarding at the 2020 Games is inspiring the next generation of young girls
When 14-year-old Sophia of Toronto saw British skateboarding star, 13-year-old Sky Brown, win a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic games, she needed to get on her own board.
This was the first time skateboarding was included in the Olympics, with multiple teenage stars taking home medals.
"Sky Brown is, like, one of my icons," said Sophia, as she worked on her tricks at the Beach Skateboard Park near Ashbridges Bay.
"Seeing her really warmed my heart and inspired me way more to skate and get into skateboarding more."
Stephanie Battieste told The Current's guest host Laura Lynch that it's a growing trend across Canada. Battieste teaches young girls how to skateboard through her Toronto-based women's skate collective, Babes Brigade.
She has found more girls are trying the sport since the Olympics finished.
"It's super inspiring," said Battieste. "I think that's why I'm getting so many of the younger kids requesting from their parents, who are awesome and put them into the classes, and they're supportive of it."
Improved visibility
Battieste started skateboarding when she found a forgotten skateboard in her garage and started learning the sport.
But she says she didn't have the same opportunities girls have now. She didn't have a skate park close to her house, there weren't any YouTube videos to watch, and she wasn't able to see women showcasing their talent at the Olympics.
When she started 15 years ago, it was rare to see another girl at the skatepark. She said it could be intimidating for girls to go to a park, especially when they just started to learn.
That's why she founded the skateboarding group Babes Brigade. It started as a Facebook group to let other girls know when she was going to be at a park.
"It was more like kind of a safe space, so other girls that wanted to come out would know that I'd be there," said Battieste.
The next star
Battieste is seeing girls of all ages show up to learn, from four-year-olds to people in their 50s. And the more girls come out to skate, the more other girls feel comfortable. That's how Sophia feels.
"I was really intimidated to come because it's just boys, but now I'm more OK with coming more because there's more girls that are coming into skateboarding," said the young skater.
And Battieste says there is still room for the sport to grow. As women start to work for skateboard companies or magazines in increasing numbers, the more representation there will be.
Canada has its own stars, too.
Annie Guglia of Montreal represented Canada in that Olympic skateboarding debut, and Battieste believes as more women get the spotlight, there will be new top skateboarders here.
Like 11-year-old Fay Ebert of Toronto.
"She's extremely good and competing. It's really inspiring to a lot of people, not just kids," said Battieste.
So while Canada didn't come away with a medal at the 2020 Games, with the sport's increased popularity, and more women giving it a try, it may just be a matter of time before Canada has its own Sky Brown.
Written by Philip Drost. Produced by Samraweet Yohannes.
