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[Editors Note: This article is part two of a series that focuses on female athletes in sports that are not generally covered by the traditional news media. Part I is available here and features Wheelchair basketball athlete Gabby Roberts-Winter.]

Last month I did a quick post and shared a video about the Longboard Girls Crew. The post was one of the most popular on this blog in June so I decided to reach out to the Longboard Girls for an interview as part of our athlete interview series. These girls are more than just athletes, however, as they are working hard to grow a community.






Question 1: Who are the founders of the Longboard Girls Crew and how/where did you meet?
We are a group of girls that longboard in Madrid, Spain. We met in Madrid’s usual longboarding spots. Jacky Madenfrost came up with the idea of the Facebook fan page and contacted me (Valeria Kechichian) to start spreading the idea together. Soon, Monica Madenfrost, Carlota Martín Torrent & Jesús Asensio joined. That's the current staff.


Question 2: Why did you decide to found the Longboard Girls Crew?
We were tired of being the only girls in mostly boy’s crews, so we decided to get together and create the Facebook group to meet, hang out and skate together. We realized the energy around was different when the riders were only girls.
The original idea was to make a call to the female community and prove once and for all that us girls not only skate but, when we do it, we have a blast.


Question 3: How long has the Longboard Girls Crew existed and how has the Crew evolved overtime to add new initiatives?
We started the group in August 2010, so it hasn’t even been a year! In the beginning we contacted everyone we knew (and everyone we didn’t know, ha) and ask them to join the group. After some weeks we came up with the idea of a girls-only video and asked Juan Rayos to shoot it. The ‘Girls Can Ride’ video was a huge push for the group, the number of fans grew fast and girls from all over the world started sending their pictures to become part of the different teams in more than 40 countries.
Nowadays, not only Madrid’s staff comes out with new initiatives but all the LGC ambassadors around the world, we have built a strong platform which is in constant growth.. it’s amazing.


Question 4: What do you hope to accomplish through the Longboard Girls Crew? Any big goals?
As we mentioned before, the original idea was to make a call to the female community and get together doing something we love. We are still working to standardize female longboarding. We have tons of goals, and we achieved more than we could have ever thought.

Question 5: The Longboard Girls Crew website is awesome and very professionally done, as are your videos. How do you raise money for the Longboard Girls Crew?
We don’t. We make a huge effort to make all our initiatives happen. We look for sponsors for individual events but still, it’s very difficult. Besides, we all work and do other things, so it’s not only the financial effort we are doing. We recently launched our new on-line store, so we hope that helps us a little!
As far as the videos go, let’s blame it on Juan Rayos, he’s the master.

Question 6: Do you have any advice for groups similar to yours in other sports that are just starting out?
Get together! We underestimate the power of people when they get together. And work hard in what you believe.

Question 7: As women that participate in a sport that is still dominated by men, for the most part, how do you feel as a "minority" member of the sport? Are the men welcoming?
Men are usually welcoming, but there is still a gender barrier. That’s our main goal: equality.

Question 8: How did your family members react when you started seriously pursing skating as a passion? How have they reacted to the establishment of the Longboard Girls Crew?
Our friends and families are very supportive with everything concerning LGC, except when we have a bad fall… that’s when our mothers beg us to stop!

Question 9: What is next for the Longboard Girls Crew? Do you have any new videos or events to announce?
We have tons of plans for this summer. We’re doing a RoadTrip Documentary around Spain. It’s a 15 day trip around the country, with some of us from Spain and Amanda Powell and Marisa Nuñez coming from USA to join the whole trip. Juan Rayos is in charge of the documentary, so we are absolutely thrilled. In September we are organizing a Surf & Longboard Camp with the biggest Surf Camp in Spain, and in October we are doing the Benicasim Freeride Festival: three days full of Longboard, downhill, concerts and camping… we’re going to have a blast!

Question 10: How can female skaters that want to get involved in the Longboard Girls Crew and events contact you?
Through the Facebook page or via email: [email protected]
Every girl who longboards is part of the Longboard Girls Crew.

Thanks to the Longboard Girls Crew for taking the time to do this great interview and best of luck continuing to grow the group! You are certainly an inspiration.

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