Picking up skateboarding was something I didn't expect to do.
Sure, I wanted to be a professional athlete at some point in my life, but things past high school became different. I became softer and more in tune with my femininity. Learning how to do an extreme sport is a shocking phenomenon to those who know me and even to those who have seen me during a skating session.
Despite not having a board yet, I have been going to private skating sessions twice a week since the year started. I have learned a few things: the parts of a skateboard, getting comfortable with the board, how to fall, kick-turns, and tick-tacks. I am still trying to master the basics, though.
I wanted to document my journey in skateboarding so far, but first, let me introduce you to this world.
What is Skateboarding?
Skateboarding is an extreme sport where one uses a board with four wheels to cruise around or perform tricks as a form of enjoyment. Also known as "sidewalk surfing", it originated in California by surfers who wanted to have some fun when the swell was too low to surf.
Skateboarding is kind of a sub-culture among young people, as I have come to see. There's a certain way skaters dress, which tends to be baggy clothes that allow room for easy movement. With that comes different ways of self-expression through fashion.
Self-expression is also seen through how skaters decorate their skateboards.
Skateboarding in Nairobi
I have been a resident of Nairobi for about seven years now, and I hadn't been aware of an existing community of skateboarders. It might be because of my interests and the company I keep.
In-line skating is quite popular here, with the CBD full of people learning how to skate on Sundays. However, there has been a growing community of skateboarders here, who are mostly guys. My first time seeing them was during the Nairobi Festival, an annual event by the Nairobi City County focused on celebrating what the city has to offer.
Thankfully, I came across a community of girl skaters called Girl Skate Nairobi, which I joined. It was founded in late 2023 by Antoinette and Jelimo, two skater girls who wanted to make skateboarding popular among girls in the country.
It was from there that I found my current trainer and friend. She is super cool and is great at skateboarding. Finding this community was such a blessing for me because skateboarding is a male-dominated sport. It's just so cool to have a community of like-minded people.
Skating Spots in the Nairobi
My trainer has been putting me on to the various skating spots in Nairobi. I'm proud to say that I have been to all of them, courtesy of her.
One place would be at The Mall rooftop in Westlands. From what I have seen, there are ramps and other skating equipment that advanced skaters can use for tricks. Skating hours are from four p.m. to seven p.m. on weekdays and from noon on weekends. I think it is quite a popular spot because I tend to find a lot of skateboarders there.
Another would be the area opposite Ban of India in the CBD on Sundays. Alongside activities like street photography, there tends to be a community of skateboarders who skate along that road and perform tricks for everyone to see.
Last but not least, there's Shangilia Skatepark near Loresho. It is a skate park within a school that is pretty nice for skating. To access it, one must pay a membership fee which helps maintain the facility. Despite it being a little too far for my liking, I love Shangilia because it has a smooth surface, making skating easier for me compared to skating on a concrete rooftop.
Conclusion
Finding a community of skateboarders in Nairobi and joining it wasn't something I thought I would ever do. I'm glad to have gained insight into this sub-culture and I hope this reaches any girl who would like to pick up skateboarding. You could help make that happen by sharing this with your friends.
This such a beautiful piece. We are so glad you found skateboarding through GirlSkate Community and you're enthusiastic about continuing to learn. We are proud of you! Keep pushingā¤ļø