Auckland Women's Skateboarding Festival aims to reduce barriers in a male dominated sport

The Women’s Skateboarding Festival in Auckland attracted between 130 and 150 people to Wynyard Quarter on Sunday.

The event aimed to create a more inclusive space for women and girls of all ages in skateboarding.

Hosted at Base Spaces in Silo Park, the festival involved workshops and community skate sessions to help support beginners and skaters of all levels.

According to Skateboarding New Zealand, skateboarding in New Zealand remains dominated by men with only 15 per cent of the participants being female.

Festival Co-founder Xinyu Jiang said that the event was inspired by her personal feelings of being excluded when she moved to New Zealand.

“I imagined the skateboarding environment would be more friendly here, but it turned out most of them were not.”

She added that skateboarding may seem inaccessible to a beginner especially to girls and women.

Xinyu said creating a women-focused space was important to encourage more participation.

“It just doesn't feel good everyone criticizing you and I'm feeling I was excluded,” she said.

The event featured beginner workshops and informal skate sessions to separate the skill levels and reduce intimidation of the newcomers.

The participants reported that the space was much more approachable than other skateparks, especially first-time skaters.

Sage Price, a volunteer at the festival, said the event helped connect communities.

“It builds a community… it’s a good way for kids to learn skateboarding who might not have otherwise,” she said.

Founder of Wellness Riders, Sarinah Hurford, said that the focus was on reducing the barriers for beginners, women especially, and the youth.

“What a buzz it was seeing so many girls and women coming together to give skating a go and cheer each other on.”

Wellness Riders, a non-profit skate community, offered coaching, equipment, and safety gear at the event.

Sarinah said that women especially might feel they do not belong in skateparks because the sport has a male dominated culture.

“It’s really important that girls and women are given the opportunity to feel like they

belong in the skate park”

Nida Shahab, a parent who came with her children, said that events such as this were vital in terms of accessibility.

“They are guiding the kids very well, especially with safety, and they are taking care of the kids age as well. Like my daughter, she's very young. So, they have guided her in a different way.”

Danielle Gardner, another attendee, said these events help normalise women and older beginners in skateboarding.

“I am 40 and still beginning, and we're learning alongside girls who are like five,” she said.

A senior placemaking representative from Auckland Council, Ariane Craig-Smith said skateboarding activity is still predominantly male and women and girls can find it quite intimidating to learn.

Auckland Council and Wellness Riders believe that community-led, inclusive initiatives such as this festival are one way of making the public spaces friendlier.

----- 

AI was not used in the creation of this story.