‘I wanted to capture women who inspire. Women who break stereotypes.’
Skate Like A Girl
Carolina Amell
Author
Skate Like A Girl
October 2024
When I first reached out about the interview, you mentioned that you don’t skate. Do you think this was an advantage or disadvantage in putting the book together ‘Skate Like A Girl’?
I’m sure if I had skated myself, the book would have been different.
What do you think would be different?
I think if I had been skateboarding, I would have known who the best skateboarders were, the ones who stood out. When working on the book I didn’t want to focus on that, I wasn’t looking for the best ones or the professionals, what was important to me was that they skateboarded, no matter what level. As they say in surfing: “There are a million ways to surf, and as long as you’re smiling, you’re doing it right.”
What triggered the idea as a non-skater to publish this book?
I wanted to celebrate the female skateboarders of the world! I wanted to capture women who inspire. Women who break stereotypes. I admire their determination, resilience, and strength of spirit. I felt the need to feature a whole group of women skaters who are making skateboarding what it is today and to show that women skaters have never been more talented and empowered than they are today. I wanted to make sure that these women’s voices could be heard and that their stories and beautiful images could inspire others!!!!
‘I want ‘like a girl’ to have nothing to do with being ashamed of from now on.’
How did you come up with the name?
The original title of the book was “Girls Skate Too”, but Julie from Prestel made me realize that this could be a patronizing title. They suggested “Skate Like a Girl”. They liked the subtle irony and how it played on an earlier “Like a girl” ad campaign in the US. It really conveyed the spirit of female empowerment and confidence that we wanted to promote with the book. My first reaction was to think it was pejorative, then I realized that “like a girl” had become an insult. After watching the video campaign and hearing a girl say: “Yes, I kick like a girl, I swim like a girl, I walk like a girl and I wake up in the morning like a girl because I am a girl”. I felt that we could no longer tolerate “like a girl” sounding like an insult. I want ‘like a girl’ to have nothing to do with being ashamed of from now on. In the campaign, a little girl is asked, “What does ‘running like a girl’ mean to you?” and she replies: “To run as fast as I can”.
How difficult was it to find all of these individuals to share their stories?
On the contrary. I assumed that a lot of women in so many countries couldn’t even think about skateboarding, and I’ve been surprised how skate is reaching more and more places. There are a lot of women around the world empowering other women and that made me very happy. We are on the right track!
You also published ‘Surf Like A Girl’. What are some of the similarities between female skaters and surfers?
I think there are a lot of similarities between female skaters and surfers: they are brave enough to listen to themselves rather than the rules of society, they have broken stereotypes and followed their dreams, even if it’s not always easy. They build community and support and empower each other, I feel there is a strong sisterhood in both surfing and skating.
Last question. If you could interview any person in the world, who would it be and why?
Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. I would like to get some tips from them on how to get the best out of someone in an interview.
‘I feel there is a strong sisterhood in both surfing and skating.’
