Inclusive skate club empowers girls and women skateboarders in Edmonton
Posted June 19, 2022 11:45 am.
Last Updated June 19, 2022 11:49 am.
It took Teagan Cayanga two years before working up the nerve to hit Edmonton’s skate parks.
Cayanga, 14, was much more comfortable backyard skateboarding.
As a young girl – a minority at the city’s skate parks – it was not uncommon for her to prefer keeping away from the crowds.
“But I only went to the skate park this year because I finally got one of my friends to come with me,” said Cayanga. “I used to have so (many) nerves about it.”
Cayanga competed in the women’s open Saturday in a national skate competition at Callingwood Skate Plaza in west Edmonton – and she did some serious shredding.
Young girl skateboarder in Edmonton on June 18, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Sarah Chew)
The Edmonton teenager is a member of Tigers Skate Club, an inclusive women-and-girls skate club in Edmonton.
“It takes a lot of mental energy and preparedness to even feel the comfort to come out here,” said Denise Biziaev, a founding member of the group.
“So we want to build that helpful environment – that encouraging, empowering environment for girls and women, and those identifying as, to come and enjoy and break down more barriers alongside us.”
Biziaev said the pandemic actually increased their club membership. They now have members as young as four years old to over 40.
“And knowing you had to distance yourself, being on a skateboard, you can just skate away,” said Biziaev. “And you can naturally keep that distance. I think in so many ways it welcomed people to the sport.”
Young woman skateboarder in Edmonton on June 18, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Sarah Chew)
Maddy Kuss is also a member of Tigers Skate Club. The 23-year-old competed in the women’s open of the Slurpee Canada Skateboard Open.
“I’ve been snowboarding for a while, and kind of between sports my dad introduced me to skating and the skatepark,” said Kuss. “And three years ago I committed to skating and have been skating ever since.”
Kuss shared words of advice for hesitant women or girl skaters.
“Go early in the morning,” advised Kuss. “And just know that most of the time, everyone had to start somewhere. So we were all in the same boat once.”
