Bristol Girl SKATE

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Great to catch up with you Mae, thank you for sitting down with us virtually from New Zealand!

 

Firstly, let's get down to the basics. How old are you, where are you from and when did you first start skating? 

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Hi! Haha, that’s okay, I’m excited! So, I’m 21, and I’m from a tiny village in Cambridgeshire. I first started skating about 4 years ago, in the second or third lockdown I think it was. I feel like loads of people had the same idea haha!

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Then he never caught me. So, I went straight onto the grass and slammed on my back. So yeah, thanks for that dad haha! Didn’t get back on a board till I was 17 and I’m allergic to hill bombs now. Wonder why…

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We all know getting those first few tricks down can be daunting, can you remember your experience learning to drop in and if you have any tips for any beginners? 

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Haha yes! I actually strapped a pillow to my waist like a loser. It worked though, helped me get over the fear of falling. I think, for me, it was all in my head, and there was a time I could only drop in from a 50-50 because I had spooked myself with the direct drop-ins.

 

I would just say to really commit and believe in yourself. If you’re giving 50% you won’t manage it, so just fully send it! Keep telling yourself that you can do it, because dropping in isn’t a very physically demanding trick, just a mentally difficult one for sure.

 

And now we see you on the team for Gratitude which is amazing, how did you get involved with them? 

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I know! Honestly, it’s like a dream come true to ride for a shop, especially one as cool as Gratitude. Ben (Haizelden) asked me if I would like to join the team at one of the old events at Daveside, and then gave me a beer which was the icing on the cake haha!

 

Also, it was like 3 days after my 20th birthday as well, best birthday present ever. It has been amazing though, everyone on the team are really good fun, I feel like I haven’t seen anybody for such a long time, talking about it is making me miss Bristol so much. 

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About a year ago Gratitude did a trip to Cornwall and even though the weather was absolutely shocking, it was really good fun, so I’m looking forward to be skating with the guys again.

                                                                                     

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​​​Filming is always really fun I find. Usually, I succumb to the pressure of the camera, so it takes loads of tries to get a clip. I think that’s why I love to self-film my Instagram clips and stuff, I just find it more relaxed, but if I’m going for something specific, then I love having people filming because it gives me an actual incentive to do shit, because I give up way too easily, it’s my guilty trait.  

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My favourite photo has either got do be my back smith with my toes up at Dean Lane or my front feeble at the Daveside bowl, both taken by Ginge. Love the colours in both of them, and they are probably my two favourite transition tricks, as well as front-slash-fakie. The holy trinity for real. 

 

My favourite clip…gotta be a little insta edit that I did at Flo Skatepark in Nottingham. I learnt so many new things and just got in the zone, so I ended up landing things that I was not expecting! I love those skates. I came out at the end of the session with a smile on my face that lated the whole 2-hour drive home. And of course, all my Brunel Way Mini clips have a special place in my heart too because I pratically lived down there hehe. 

 

Daveside has been a staple location for skating throughout the years, can you talk to us about your involvement with it and the mini? 

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The Brunel Way Mini is the place I learnt almost all my tricks. I stumbled upon because I got lost on the way to one of my first lectures, which is a very happy accident! George (Hider) and the crew down there are the most-friendly people, I think Daveside and the mini-ramps are the most welcoming and chilled place to skate, I’ve made so many friends there, I feel like I have, like, 50 older brothers down there haha! The space wouldn’t exist without that community.

 

I think DIYs are so important, because they are a way for skateboarders to express how they want to skate as individuals. The crew down there let me squeeze in to help build and paint the mid-sized ramp which was a very wholesome day, even when I struggled with the drill. I think it was a drill. I don’t even know. They do great stuff, so keep donating to Brunel Way Mini’s Gofundme, because it goes to a brilliant cause.

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Time to talk slams! Do you have any worst ones? 

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Oh my god. You know what, I haven’t had any major crazy ones…touch wood, oh my God touch wood! But Ben (Haizelden) made a new bank to curb down at Dean Lane, and I tried board-sliding it and dropping off the end. I did it so many times and got a load of clips, then I thought ‘Okay, I’m just gonna go faster’ so I did. Big mistake. Just slammed straight onto the curb and it dug into my pelvis. I split my skin and I actually got cartilage damage on my pelvic bone.

 

Basically, nearly got credit carded by a curb. Don’t know how the fuck that happens. It hurt so bad that I just laughed manically and said ‘I’m fine! I’m fine!’ while limping away and lying straight down in the daisies to heavy breathe haha!! Then I had to cycle home on a rock solid seat and go ice my vagina…. would not recommend girls. 
 

It seems like the women and LGBTQ+ scene is starting to get bigger and more recognition, why do you think that is? 

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It is, and I love it! Skating roots are in rebellion and counter-culture, so it has always had an element of defying the ‘normal’, but for ages, it has been so unwelcoming to skaters outside the straight male demographic. Women’s skateboarding being including in the Olympics played a big role in inspiring young girls, rather than girls and women around my age. I’ve found posting skateboarding on social media, especially TikTok, is always met with sexist based hate. It sucks.

 

I’ve actually found it really difficult to balance my femininity alongside skateboarding. I always find myself struggling to have both things co-exist easily. I’m not sure if anyone else has this issue, but I certainly do.

 

I love being girly, which to me is; dressing in skirts/dresses, using makeup and being connected to my emotions and my sensitivity; but I find it very difficult to do that as a skater. I see so much hate towards women and non-binary people who express that feminine side while skating, so I think it has subconsciously affected my connection between the two things. 

 

Also, I love posting outfit videos alongside skating; I think it’s so fun and just makes me feel good about myself. Why would I not want to combine my favourite hobby with fashion, you know? If I post an outfit check with a skateboard, I’ll often be called a poser, but if I was holding a paint brush or a football, I’m sure the comments would be very different. Like, who cares? I never understand why people take it so personally.

 

But skateboarding can be cliquey and judgmental, so we definitely have a long way to go towards true inclusivity. Sorry, I went so off topic there, oh my god haha!​

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How do you think the best way for us to get out clips out there and noticed by companies? 

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Oh god, I’m not sure. I’m lowkey a little social media fiend, like, I love making videos, editing and creating little movies, so I love that side of it. I haven’t really been noticed by companies, so I’m probably not the best person to ask! I think it’s cool to work with a brand that you really love, but I couldn’t think of anything worse than trying to advertise something I would never use or wear, you know? But yeah, if anyone fancies sending me shoes…I’ll love you forever. 

 

You’re traveling around NZ at the moment, how have you found the skate scene out there? 

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Weird. Good in places, but just very different. In rural areas the sexism was shocking. In the North Island, I was often the only non-man at the skatepark and I got a few comments that I was really offended by, which made me realise how great the women and LGBTQ scene is in Bristol, and in the UK. It was a weird feeling, because I know the UK scene isn’t perfect, but being in some areas of NZ it showed me how far we’ve come.

 

Down in the South Island though, I’ve met some amazing girls! Elly (Townshend) and Rose (Jenkins) are killing it! I can’t wait to skate with them again. I’ve been in Queenstown for a month or two now. Queenstown has a great skate scene, full of friendly people! There are mini-ramp events at a local bar every month, it’s so sick, I’ve witnessed some tricks that I have never seen before. Would definitely recommend!
 

Are there any favourite spots for you in NZ? 

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We skated a sick street quarter in Warkworth, I got a front feeble which I was so happy with, but I’ve been so busy with work, travelling and settling in that I havn’t been skating much, or at least I have progressed in maybe 9 months. It’s kinda tough, I felt like I’ve been losing part of my identity because I’ve stopped skating as much. Sounds so dramatic now I’m saying out loud haha! But maybe people get what I mean… I used to skate every other day at least in the UK, but that stopped around May last year. I can’t wait to get back on track though. Need a good session with my friends.

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Do you have any advice for anyone going through that block?

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I don’t know. I need advice myself really haha! But it helps to take skating less seriously, you don’t have to learn something new every time, though I always feel like that. So I’ve been learning stupid things, like one foot smiths or 360 hippy jumps, just because its fun. But yeah, if anyone else has tips and advice to overcome nearly a year long block… please give me a text!

 

Finally, do you have any shout outs!

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Just a shoutout to all my friends at home. All the Petticoat gang, the Gratitude team, the Brunel Way pookies and all of my Cambridge OG girls too. Love you all!! It’s been such a pleasure chatting to you, I’ve always got time for a quick natter hehe!! Thankyou Alex, for this interview, and for creating Brisgirlskate! You’re a legend!