You’d be hard-pressed to overestimate the influence Girl Skate U.K. has had on the British scene, and beyond. When Danni Gallacher first set up a website back in 2014, hoping to provide a place to list the different girl jams and comps happening in the U.K., little did she know how much it would grow and impact our whole ecosystem, from beginners to long-timers, parks, shops, brands, media and more. It’s been amazing following Danni’s journey with Girl Skate U.K., and it’s long overdue for a mag to sit down with her and chat through it in a bit more detail.
I was hoping to uncover the good, the bad and the ugly of running one of the most influential skate organisations in the country, but it turned out to be a lot more about the good, the rad and the beauty. Despite the odd frustrations, lack of support from parts of the industry, and the sheer challenge of building a national platform on little-to-no-budget, Danni and the Girl Skate U.K. crew’s ever positive, relentless dedication shines through. We’re only at the beginning of the journey when it comes to supporting and promoting the womxn and non-binary skate community, and we all have a part to play. But we can certainly be thankful to have Danni and Girl Skate U.K. as a guiding light.
Intro and interview by Claire Alleaume - Photography by Rob Whiston (unless stated)
Danni, just to briefly take us back to the beginning. How did you first come across skating? How much were you aware of other girls skating at the time, and the womxn’s scene in the U.K.?
I came across skateboarding in 2001 or 2002, when I was about 14 or 15. All of the boys in my group of friends had skateboards and encouraged me to have a go. We lived at the top of a hill in Strood, but skated in the next town over, at Rochester coach park. I learnt how to ride down hills so I could keep up with my mates. I’d never seen a girl skate before and I didn’t really give much thought to trying any tricks. Then I was at my friend Oli’s house one evening and we were all watching PJ Ladd’s Wonderful, Horrible Life. I saw Alexis Sablone’s part and was awestruck. It was that that gave me the inspiration to start learning how to ollie, do nosestalls on kerbs, stuff like that. I think like most girls at the time, I didn’t stick at it for very long. I loved it when we were skating car parks and jumping fences into schools, but I really hated all the attention from the public to and from the spots. It was always negative.
Skateboarders in general were given a hard time back then, but as one of just a few female skaters in Kent, I stood out like a sore thumb. It made me feel really self-conscious and a bit unsafe at times, to be honest.
Sometime later when I was at university, a friend sent me a video or a picture of Lucy Adams skating Crawley. It was the first time I’d ever seen another girl skater in the U.K., so I started researching and came across Rogue Skateboards. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that they had an open tour - the Mega Mission Tour - coming up the following week at Harlow skatepark, and I begged my friends to come with me so I could meet them. I remember Jenna (Selby) filming me do an ollie rock to fakie; she put it in their edit and I was super stoked!
That’s amazing! Jenna was such a driving force in raising exposure. So how did the idea to form something like Girl Skate U.K. first come together? What was it from your own experience or what you could see in the scene that made you feel it would be helpful or necessary?
There was a really good blog for female skateboarding that I used to write for in 2008-2010, run by Geoff, Greg and Lottie from Rubicon. Imke Leerink from Girls Shred and Stef Nurding also wrote for the website, and we had a lot of great opportunities travelling Europe to document female skateboarding. As the website grew, it started to include other sports, and I think the U.K. girls just lost touch with it a little. For a long time afterwards, I was still getting calls and messages from girls to find out when the next competition was on, or where the next jam was being held. It became clear that a space dedicated to the U.K. scene was not only needed, but really wanted. I just thought it would be easier to have a one-page website that had details of events and stuff, so I made girlskateuk.com and then an Instagram account to tell people about the website.
It's been great to watch Girl Skate U.K. develop from being a few friends skating together, to a powerful force driving diversity and acceptance in skating. - Rob Bannister, The House Skatepark
Who was involved in those early days?
From the start it’s been really important to me to get insight from others in the scene, so I’ve always called on my friends, skaters and businesses for their opinions or advice. In the early days I had a number of people write for the website and contribute to the Instagram, including Charlotte Thomas, Natasher Beecher, Jenna Selby and Lucy Adams.
I met Kirsty (Tonner) through the Girl Skate U.K. Instagram in 2015; she was the first female skater I met in Sheffield, and quickly became the person I bounced my ideas off of; Kirsty is my more sociable wingwoman. She would do the interviews when I was feeling anxious, she’s the MC at every event, chief skatepark driver, and always first to tell me if an idea is sh*t. She’s also very good at nollie flips.
What or who have been your inspirations, in or outside of skating, when developing Girl Skate U.K.?
When I was first getting into skating, The Side Project (now Girl Skate Network) was my bible. I think it was the first online skate website ran by a woman (Lisa Whitaker), and I used to log on every day to check for updates. It was inspiring to see other girls skating, and there wasn’t much else showcasing it. Looking back, that was obviously a huge inspiration for starting Girl Skate U.K.
You have clearly dedicated a huge amount of time, money and energy into building Girl Skate U.K. Are you able to sustain yourself financially through Girl Skate U.K., or is it still a side hustle?
No, unfortunately I haven’t cracked the code yet. I don’t manage to break even some years, if I’m honest. Sure, there have been a couple of good years where we’ve done a few pop-ups at festivals, or I’ve brought out a graphic that’s sold really well. I did get a nice camera and fisheye one year, that I used to film the events with, for example, but mostly, all the money we do raise is used for the events we host throughout the year. We always dress the park up, stock up on beer, order the pizzas in and get a couple of hotel rooms for people to stay in if they’re travelling. Even small things like posting giveaway prizes and getting promo materials printed all eats into the pot.
People are often surprised when I tell them that it isn’t my job. It’s always just been something I’ve done on the side, as homework, so to speak. But to be totally honest, I think in previous years I’ve also not had the confidence to take it further. That’s due to a combination of lack of knowledge on funding routes, very little outside support, as well as a lack of time to commit whilst I was working a regular job. There was also probably a bit of imposter syndrome at play, and unease at the prospect of taking funds that could potentially go back into events or directly into community projects. I think as skateboarders, we have grown up to do things ‘for the love of skateboarding’, but there does obviously come a time when that’s no longer financially or emotionally viable. I’ve learnt so much in the past couple of years and feel ready to level things up a bit.
I’m really lucky now to be able make a living from my skate coaching and freelance garden and brand work. I was working 40 to 50 hour weeks at a screen printers before I was made redundant last March, which was a blessing in disguise really, because it gave me the time I needed to commit to Girl Skate U.K., The Skate Retreat, and my allotment.
The DIY extension of Devonshire Green gets the front rock treatment from Danni and her borrowed steed.
You’ve had some pretty cool partnerships and coverage for Girl Skate U.K. over the years, from mainstream media to events with Facebook. What have been some of the most unexpected happenings through Girl Skate U.K.?
I’ve been super lucky, yeah. As you say, the Facebook thing was pretty unexpected. Girl Skate U.K. was chosen as one of Europe’s leading community platforms, and a film crew was sent over from the States to make a short film about Girl Skate U.K. and the impact our social media presence has had on the female skate scene. Kirsty and I were invited to the Facebook Communities Summit. We got to attend a bunch of interesting talks and classes over the weekend, and our film was chosen as the opening act at the evening event, which I couldn’t have been more surprised at! Last year I was also asked to take part in Schuh’s International Women’s Day: Inspiring Women project. The campaign ended up being featured across U.K. Schuh storefronts, with the video played on huge screen walls inside the stores, which was pretty cool too!
I genuinely don’t think the girl scene in the U.K. would be where it is today without them.
- Alice Smith, Brum Girl Skate
It’s crazy how much the scene has grown in the last 10, or even five years. It’s probably hard for kids these days to realise how few womxn skated back when we started! What do you think has unlocked it, and where do you see it in five years from now?
I know; it’s so cool to have seen this new era of female skateboarding evolve! It’s mad to think that we could literally count the number of girl skaters at any given event on our fingers 10 years ago, and now it’s so commonplace to see a few girls tearing up any skatepark.
There is that saying, “you can’t be it if you can’t see it”, and I really do believe that exposure and having a voice is paramount not just for inspiration, but also confidence and motivation. We used to have to rely on skate mags to print our photos, and that’s if you were lucky enough to have been invited on a trip; photographers or content creators simply didn’t go out of their way to document female skateboarding.
Before we were powerless to create noise that wasn’t filtered or censored by mainstream platforms run by men. Now we have a voice and an immediate way of connecting and communicating with one another. I know some of the older generation of skaters feel a bit of animosity towards social media and its role in shaping the current face of skateboarding, but there’s no denying that it has been one of, if not the most powerful, tool for underrepresented sub-communities in skateboarding.
We are starting to see lots and lots of new skateboarders of all ages and from all backgrounds, and obviously since lockdown it has become a much more normalised sport, and that means an inevitable continual growth for the foreseeable. I think the aftermath of this will be a boom in talent over the next few years. We are already starting to see girls really upping their game; the standard between female skaters now and 10 years ago is insane, and the average age is getting much younger. 10 years ago it was pretty rare to see anyone under the age of 21 competing really, whereas I think at the National Champs earlier this year, around 80% of the skaters were still teenagers.
Kirsty Tonner, Danni's trusted GSUK wingwoman, comes forth with the shapes on a riverside backside flip.
As awareness and visibility of people who identify as non-binary grows within the skateboarding community, what role do you think Girl Skate U.K. has to play? Is Girl Skate U.K… just for ’girls’?
Everyone, no matter who or what they may identify as, have always been welcome at Girl Skate U.K. However, I realise it’s not enough to simply say, “hey, you’re welcome here”. We need to be saying, “hey, would you like to join us?” and this is something we have been working on more and more with our marketing, communications and in-house projects.
I’ve always tried to ensure that Girl Skate U.K. is above all inclusive. I know I don’t always get it right, and there’s so much more that can be done. I’m trying to listen, learn and make changes as we go so that we are able to make our community as welcoming as possible to anyone who wishes to be a part of it.
Events have always been a core part of Girl Skate U.K.’s impact and community building. What have been the most rewarding, and why?
This is always such a tough question because they’ve all been so good! I love the events, they are such hard work and completely drain me for about two days after, but it’s always so worth it to see everyone having such a good time with each other. The best part about Girl Skate U.K. events is that they bring people together from all over the country. It’s always properly heartwarming to see Instagram friends meet for the first time. Obviously it’s rad to see lots of new faces at each event, but for me it’s even lovelier to see skaters coming year after year, really getting to know each other, and become friends with the people in our community.
There are hundreds of groups from all over the country that will have been motivated by Girl Skate U.K. It’s phenomenal! - Lucy Adams
There has sometimes been controversy from skaters of all genders around girls-only events and sessions. I believe Girl Skate U.K. events have been open to everyone, but what are your thoughts on this in general? Do you think having sessions exclusively for womxn is helpful or polarising?
This is something I often discuss, because I do at times worry that the movement we have created around the need for safe spaces can sometimes overshadow the main goal, and ultimately that’s inclusion in skateboarding.
It concerns me when I see skaters only feeling comfortable enough to attend these women-only nights. Clearly, more can be done from all of us to make female and non-binary skaters feel more welcome in our parks, our events, and in our community as a whole.
Whilst it’s wildly clear that the safe spaces we are creating are very much needed because they are fostering confidence and instilling a sense of belonging in the community, personally, I believe that fixing the issues that affect women in sports and beyond require the commitment and dedication of everyone.
Opening up our main events and parties to all genders is important to me because we need more support, and for that we need more allies. Gender inequality should be everyone’s issue, so to me, it just makes sense to get everyone involved, hyped, and on the same team.
One of the amazing things that has happened in the last few years is also the proliferation of groups and organisations across the country that are focused on promoting or helping facilitate womxn’s skating. Can you tell us about your campaign to help connect and create local groups, and what role do you think they have?
That is the thing that warms my heart the most! These localised groups are exactly what we need to continue our efforts to grow the scene; we know that one of the main reasons for quitting is simply not having others to skate with. The female skate scene seemingly grew by a few thousand overnight when I launched Girl Skate U.K. in 2014, not because there were suddenly loads of new skateboarders, but simply because they were all brought together, made visible, and given a voice.
Last year I helped to set up loads of groups with the Community Connect campaign, tracking down the cities without a digital female collective and finding skaters to start them. It was really successful, and around 30 new local groups were created as a result.
I recently helped Alice Smith with negotiating the Brum Girl Skate night at Creation, and gave Annie support setting up her Odd Girls Go Skate Hull group. There are loads of groups and individuals taking inspiration from Girl Skate U.K.’s projects and initiatives, and it’s so, so rad to see. For example, Jess from Rollin’ With The Girls (RWTG) bases her platform on Girl Skate U.K.; raising money for their events through merch sales and raffles, hosting workshops for beginners, and most recently launching their own community fund.
I have spent years building up my platform, making plenty of mistakes along the way, but ultimately creating something that has had a positive impact on the U.K. skate scene, so I couldn’t be happier when I see other groups and organisations using my template to highlight their own scenes, or reach out to me for advice.
Our DMs are always open, and I am always so happy to help answer any questions, or give any advice where needed.
Official GSUK judicator and longtime crew member Zeta Rush 5050s traditional Milton Keynes granite. Photo: Leo Sharp
You started The Skate Retreat, running skate workshops and hosting getaways in what looks like the most amazing, bucolic setting! How is that going and what are your plans with the space and business?
It’s going so well, thank you! Initially it was set to be a getaway holiday service, but COVID meant we had to cancel the actual Peak District retreat we had booked. However, come June I found myself with a garden full of food to feed 20 people for a week, and a pretty empty calendar, so decided to open up my private mini ramp for what I thought was just going to be a few lessons. Since last year went so well I’ve decided to carry on for another summer whilst the world tries to find its feet again.
Now with restrictions lifting, I am able to accommodate more guests, and I have just taken on a member of staff, Kat, to make the pizzas, so I can focus on coaching. The plan is to eventually move into a bigger space. I can’t keep up with demand in my current setting, and moving somewhere bigger would allow me to take on more guests and a couple of coaches. My problem at the moment is finding suitable land, but it’s really important to me that wherever I move into still has the same kind of spirit that I’ve worked so hard to create in my little outdoor skate paradise. It’s quite a different setting to most skate lesson offerings available right now; everyone’s always blown away when they visit, and I love seeing people’s reactions when they walk in for the first time.
Girl Skate U.K. has given a voice from within the scene where there wasn't one before, whilst also pushing people to improve their ability, raising confidence levels, and creating a strong sense of community. - Joshua Young, Vans UK
You recently launched the Girl Skate U.K. Community Fund. What was the motivation behind it? What are you hoping to achieve with the fund?
At the end of every year we host a huge raffle and use the money for our Christmas party. Since we couldn’t have our usual event in 2020, I thought I’d gift the money to a few female-run businesses that had supported Girl Skate U.K. over the year. I spoke to my partner about it, and he suggested I let people have the opportunity to apply for the money, rather than me guess who might need it. I thought that was a really nice idea, as it could become an ongoing fund to support skaters with grassroots projects, rather than a one-off festive gesture. The Community Fund is very much still in the early stages, so there are no huge plans for it right now, but it’s something I want to grow as part of the new Girl Skate U.K. Hub I’m creating for the website. That will essentially be a one-stop place for skaters to visit to find out everything they need to get started with skating, all the way from tutorials and skatepark etiquette, through to how to go about setting up your own events and initiatives, as well as advice and templates for community group leaders. This is an ongoing project that I’ve been working on since the start of 2021, and will be finalised with help from our media team over the next year.
How is it the Community Fund financed? Do you plan to seek external funding?
So far, it’s funded in-house. The first bout of funding was enabled through the Christmas raffle, and I suspect the next will be some sort of raffle or auction too. We are so lucky to have a community that supports everything we do, and we can always rely on them when it comes to our crowdfunding campaigns. The plan is to eventually get external funding from brands or businesses by way of donations and/or partnerships.
How do you make the decision regarding which projects to support? What do you look out for in particular?
Initially I read in detail all of the applications and whittled them down to a solid 10 or so. Then I sent those applications to Kirsty, Zeta (Rush) and Romy (Haynes), my official judicators before the Girl Skate U.K. team was announced, who reviewed them and made their recommendations.
To make the final decision, I looked out for which projects could potentially make the most impact on a community. We also looked at realistic expectations concerning the expenses of the project. I am keen to support overlooked areas of the country and marginalised skateboard groups, projects that aim to provide an easier access for the route into skateboarding, as well as those that could help with retention, which is an area I’m personally really keen to understand better and try to improve.
Danni crosses the cooling tower void by way of a precarious boardslide.
You also recently recruited a load of rad womxn to help run Girl Skate U.K. in regards to content, social and events. Was it simply becoming too much work, or are you also hoping to achieve other things by widening the group running the platform?
Yes, in March I took on a new team of 15 amazing female and non-binary skateboarders to help with all things media related, and it was a bit of both to be honest!
Each year it’s gotten that bit harder to keep up with the growth of the U.K. scene, but since the pandemic, it’s just gone a bit mad. Over lockdown I had the time to create a bunch of content from trick tip tutorials to weekly challenges, and we saw the account grow so much over those first six months that it made me realise the platform was a really valuable hub that needed time and resources that I wasn’t able to give alone anymore.
Not only that, but I’ve always been very conscious that I do not, and can not, speak for the entirety of female skateboarders, and whilst I’ve made every effort to read, learn and understand all aspects of community leadership, bounce ideas off as many people as I could, offer surveys at events and really try engage and communicate with our audience, I know I can’t do it all alone. I have always wanted more help but have never been in a position to really offer anything back.
I had thought before about asking but I was nervous, as I didn’t think I would get a response. So I was absolutely blown away when almost 150 people applied to volunteer. I just couldn’t believe that so many people wanted to be a part of it.
All of the roles that I was doing by myself for years suddenly had experienced people behind them. Taking on a social media manager, Hayley, has been a huge weight off my shoulders, and allowed me to focus on our projects, campaigns and other aspects of the organisation; she’s been doing an awesome job.
Having a larger team on board gives the platform a greater diversity, and with that a more legitimate representation of our scene.
Where once it was unusual for male counterparts to see a woman on a board, Girl Skate U.K. have helped make it the norm for all. - Jenna Selby
Imagine having this setting to retreat to? Danni with an exceptionally tranquil feeble fakie.
What’s next for Girl Skate U.K., this year and in the future?
Aside from organising our next couple of events, we will be continuing to work on the latest Hub section of the website, planning the next bout of community funding, and nurturing those projects who received the first payout.
This year I really want to shift the main focus from sharing other accounts to creating our own content. Since there are so many groups now sharing content from their local skaters, I think it’s a good time to work more towards researching, shooting and creating curated content for our own feed. I’ve recently given the website an overhaul, and our bloggers - Issy, Kate and Dasha - have been keeping it up to date with news, interviews and articles.
We also ventured into the world of TikTok this year, and the YouTube channel is something that we are really trying to work on.
I’m really keen to share the things I’ve learnt over the years, so maybe we’ll run some community and/or industry-based workshops or something…I don’t know. I have lots of ideas to push Girl Skate U.K. forward, and hopefully with the new team we can do some rad things!
Exciting times! We’ll wrap this up but can’t wait to see what the future holds… Thanks Danni!
Follow Girl Skate U.K. - @girlskateuk