Stockwell Skate Park

Kool chica in London aka tongue in cheek fan bragging

~ crazyskatelady ~ 1 Comment

Time to break the silence on this site with the breaking news. Yours truly has been skating with Tony Alva! Yes, OMG OMG OMG. Breathing in, and sharing  pics with you of Crazy Skate Lady’s week in London.

(Of course, when something actually is happening, my phone memory was full, and was not able to take much pictures.)

For at once, I was in a right place at the right time. My hopes having a quiet morning skate session at ‘Brixton Beach’ turned out to be a session to remember, as when arrived to Stockwell, there was a skate legend Tony Alva himself.  So, not only have I been pictured with Mr Alva, I’ve been skating with him – or at least this is how I like to see that session 😀

 

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Tony Alva and me at Stockwell skate park 21.11.2017

 

 

 

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Captured from skateboardmuseum’s Insta. Have a look on a next pic…

 

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Tony Alva called me Kool chica. I am seriously considering to take that to be my official name 😉

Tony Alva turned 60 earlier this autumn. To celebrate his birthday, and to showcase Alvas new skate film made with the filmmaker Mayol (Alex Baret), House of Vans threw a private party for London skaters and Vans Europe professional skaters. I was a lucky one to get my name on the guest list, thanks to Jürgen / Skateboard museum, who were skating with Alva on that Tuesday morning at Stockwell. What an amazing evening it was, especially for a skateboard newbie like myself. And the best bit of it all: Alva came to greet me with a hug, and we shared a few words about ‘our session’ on the other day. I must add I was very nervous and kind of lost my words. Before meeting Alva I only thought Skid Row or Nirvana is something that could make me shaky.

 

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With a shaky hands asked an autograph for this board I got
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House of Vans London
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Alva’s Q&A

 

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Here’s a link to Sidewalk Skatemagazine’s interview of Alva and notions of a younger skater about the evening:

https://sidewalkmag.com/features/tony-alva-interview-house-vans.html#e8qch3fzeC1iI783.97

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Taking the tongue out of cheek, meeting such a legend really gave motivation to keep continuing my attempts on a skateboard. It is not about the age or skills, it is all about having a good time. And those moments skateboarding has already given me plenty.

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A few other pics from my stay in London:

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It wasn’t skateboarding that took me to London, but this furry Londoner needing a cat-sitter
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Tero Juuti tattooed my knuckles for his Tattoo Dictionary project (it is ball point pen ink)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Why I learned to skateboard in my 40’s”

~ crazyskatelady ~ 1 Comment

 

Two weeks ago when was in London, was interviewed by Huffington Post UK (!), and here’s the result!

Oddly enough during the session, I was more nervous to talk (normally I am pretty talkative) than to skateboard. I was first struggling to give an answer to the question “has skateboarding changed my life?”, as it felt somehow too big to say, yes it has changed my life.  But now when I watch this video clip, I realize it is the only right answer to give. I could be critical of grammar mistakes I made, poor this and that, snotty nose…. But, no I am not. I am effing proud of myself.

 

Surfing on Brixton Beach

~ crazyskatelady ~ 3 Comments

Hello from London! A city where I used to spend a lot of time and where I did my doctoral studies, but that was before I picked up skateboarding, so this time it is like exploring the whole new city.

And so far it has been fab! I am staying in South East London with an easy acces to Brixton and Stockwell skate park. I have now had four sessions there, and it has a place in my top three (or at leat five) skateparks I’ve been skating.

Stockwell, or Brixton Beach (opened in 1978) as it is also called, is perfect for surfing and for old school tricks – excatly the ones I was swearing to learn this year. Actually, in Stockwell I see skaters doing them. The skatepark with it’s undulating design is inviting for those moves. Also, it seems there are some ‘older’ skaters around familiar with the old skool style. It is clear I am in London, and the diversity of people living here can also be seen on skatepark.

Yesterday I actually had a short introduction for the old school turn  (thank you, you nice person showing me after I asked) – I don’t know the real name – the one where you put your back hand down, ‘front’ hand grabs the board, and you’re supposed to drag your back feet back so that you kind of do the 180 degree turn. To be honest, the only clue I got about it, is that I have to be very fast. Will definitetly practise that, maybe just in bit more calmer park.

Skateboarding really is a state of mind. As I wrote in earlier posts, I have been struggling with the fear issue recently. This week in London fear seems to be mostly away. I must say, it did take some courage to enter into the crowded Stockwell park. I also got bit intimidated on my first day when was told off from corner bit, as it “too dangerous”. I am not sure was that said for my safety, for other skaters safety, or just to scare me off, as I am slow and thus probably annoying (following carefully the rules, waiting my turn and looking what others do). But I didn’t go anywhere, and went back – and last Friday was the best skate sessions since last summer. Somehow all just went together, and felt very comfortable. It probably didn’t look much different than usual, but for the first time I felt like a skateboarder.  I found the flow, my space amongst others in the park – and just rode corners, lines, managed to kick turn (on mild bank).

If this feeling stays, I will try and ride down the steep bank in Stockwell. Just like all other skateboarders.