Chicks-only skate day draws a crowd
A Chicks Only skate day might be just the start for a keen group of skateboarders in Palmerston North.
If a popular Auckland skateboarding programme is anything to go by, there might be more people taking to boards, including women on wheels.
Steve Hodges and Janet Sayers relocated from Auckland to Palmerston North after six years running a skateboarding programme in Auckland.
Their Onboard Skate company has already run open days and holiday programmes in Palmerston North, Whanganui, Levin and Tararua, and they have helped teach skateboarding to hundreds of children, young people and adults.
Most Onboard programmes are designed for everyone, but there are also special ‘‘Chicks Only’’ days, to encourage women into the sport.
At yesterday morning’s Chicks Only meet-up, about 20 women and girls from 10 years up skated along the Manawatu¯ River trail.
They shared tips, tricks and encouragement, before laying into hot pizza together.
Palmerston North Onboard instructor Jasmin Tenheuvel, 17, has been skating for two years and is happy there might be more women on wheels.
‘‘I saw the guys doing it and I thought I could do that too.
‘‘There were a couple of girls, but it was real male-dominated.’’
Eva Corkery, 10, was the smallest in yesterday’s group, and said she skated with her dad and brothers.
She was pretty excited to come along to a females event.