Women Only: Skateboarding progression sessions
Lina Zuccarelli

BY MAKAELA EGAN

Skateboarding could be considered an intimidating sport to leap into, but for Melbourne women that is now changing.

Riverslide Skate Park’s girls progression sessions have opened the doors to skateboarding for women – young and old – who are looking to take up the sport.

The sessions teach women of all abilities anything from the basics of skating to more advanced tricks.

Riverslide Skate Park is welcoming girls of all ages to come to its progression sessions. PHOTO: Makaela Egan

Nils Ryan led the sessions pre-COVID and enjoyed teaching the women how to step out of their comfort zones. 

“The challenge with skateboarding is that it isn’t a team sport, so you really have to set your own challenges,” Mr Ryan said. 

“There’s a whole gradient of how much people challenge themselves, a weigh-in of risk and reward, this is really what I see at the sessions.”

Jaqueline Geihe has been skating for a year and said she has improved after plenty of progression sessions and encouragement to set her own challenges.

“Skateboarding is something where I can push myself, where I can work on myself, and the success after landing a trick is just such a good feeling,” Ms Geihe said.

“My first and favourite trick was the pop shuvit and I nearly cried when I got it.”

Riverslide Skate Park is getting girls, no matter their skill level, involved in skateboarding. PHOTO: Instagram

Skateboarding has been a sport dominated by males but, while Ms Geihe said initial intimidation was her greatest barrier to starting skateboarding, she now feels comfortable at Riverslide Skate Park. 

“Before I rocked up to the first session I was pretty intimidated by the guys, because they are so good,” Ms Geihe said.

“I know that a lot of girls start in their garage because they are scared to rock up to the skate park.”

“For me, I’m less bothered now because I can do some more tricks and I love to be there.”

While COVID-19 has temporarily closed the park, Riverslide Skate Park manager Ryan Harbottle is confident the park can bounce back from the pandemic when it reopens.

“There has been a lot of community demand for the return of night sessions and the progression sessions,” Mr Harbottle said.

“We have two passionate female staff that will lead the sessions, so I’m keen to see it develop further over the coming 12 months.”