Barbados
“Basically, we are a skateboarding paradise destination.”
Jade Niccolls
Executive Officer
Skateboarding Association of Barbados
&
Founder
Girls Skate Barbados
June 2023
Tell us something about Barbados people do not know?
Barbados has one of the best skateparks in the Caribbean and it is always summer, so it feels like you are on vacation every day. Basically, we are a skateboarding paradise destination.
Tell us something about yourself?
I am the first competitive female skateboarder and certified skateboard instructor/facilitator from Barbados. I’ve taught my mother who is blind how to skateboard at 58 years old. Also, I spent 6 years doing a bachelor’s degree in graphic design just so that I could start Girls Skate Barbados.
How big is the skate community in Barbados?
The skate community has been growing tremendously, we now have 300 skateboarders on the island and it’s growing every day. The COVID-19 pandemic in my opinion really helped the skate scene to grow a lot more because parents wanted to find something constructive for their children to do.Skateboarding is a non-contact sport, so it made it easier for kids to access it whilst gyms etc were closed.
What are some of the best skate spots in Barbados?
The street spots in Barbados are very limited but we have a world class skatepark that was built in 2019 and funded by the Maria Holder Trust. It is called the Kaitif skatepark but I’m hoping we can build many more in the future.
Any talented local kids that are making a name for themselves?
There are definitely a lot of kids coming up for example: Tarryn Alleyne, Erin Stanley and a twin Amy and Hayley Godson.
“I do however think that it would be a great idea for us to have a Caribbean skate tour one day.”
How close is the relationship between the different Caribbean nations amongst the skate community?
We have a very good relationship with Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia, and Jamaica as they’ve attended a few of our regional events over the years.
Comparing to all other Caribbean Islands, where is Barbados ranked in terms of skateboarding maturity (community, parks, shops)?
Barbados has definitely come a long way and I’d say we are currently one of the islands on top but there is still a lot of work to be done. We have 300 skateboarders (200 boys and 100 girls), 5 skate shops and 1 skatepark.
Is there anything from the other islands, that you like to have for your own? If so, what would it be and why?
Each island has something unique to offer and I wouldn’t change anything that we have but I do however think that it would be a great idea for us to have a Caribbean skate tour one day. The surf community has done so before and I think it would be an amazing venture to pursue.
You are the Executive Officer of ‘Skateboard Association of Barbados’. What projects are you working on now?
At the moment, we are working on creating a Barbados team for the Olympics and hope to send them to events as well as skate camps in the near future.
You also promote local girls to skate. Have you experienced an increase of female skaters since the Olympics?
Of course! I’d say the Olympics has helped a lot, but I think the fact that they’ve seen other girls skate on the Girls Skate Barbados platform and their brothers skating has definitely sparked an interest.
What are some of the challenges people face in Barbados every day?
Some of the challenges include the high cost of living which can make it difficult for the average Barbadian to be able to purchase the correct skateboard equipment and skateboards.
Last question: If you could interview a person, who would it be and why? What would you ask?
I’d like to interview Beatrice Domond because she’s done a lot for black girl skateboarders. We were in contact years ago but lost contact because I ghosted on Facebook for a while and sadly forgot my Facebook password. Therefore, I lost a lot of great contacts that I had previously. Would be great to reconnect. Honestly, there are so many female skateboarders that I’d love to connect with. Growing up I was always too shy to make the initial contact but now I have become more outspoken and a lot more confident. I’d also interview Yasmeen Wilkerson because she has Barbadian roots. I would ask her what the skate scene is like around the world then invite her to Barbados to compare her experience here.
“I’d like to interview Beatrice Domond because she’s done a lot for black girl skateboarders.”
