Skateboobs Is Redefining Skate Culture for the Girls, the Gays and the Theys
“Having a group of non-men to skate with is what kept me skating, and we wanted more people to have that: a community where they can truly be themselves.”
Back in 2019, six skaters – Felix Ritchie, Eli Campbell, Greta Marzetti, Nancy Hankin, Meg Wriggles and Cassie McGregor– crossed paths at a local Edinburgh skatepark. What started as casual skate sessions grew into shared jokes, a funny Instagram account and a greater purpose: to shift skate culture. Tired of seeing women, queer people and non-binary skaters pushed to the margins of a male-dominated scene, they set out to create the kind of representation and community they never had. And with that, Skateboobs was born.
The group committed itself to reshaping skateboarding into a space where everyone – regardless of identity, ability or age – feels welcome. Through inclusive meetups, beginner-friendly sessions and community-focused events, the collective works to empower young women and LGBTQIA+ skaters while fostering safer, more supportive environments, while also promoting mental health and wellbeing. In 2020, they designed T-shirts to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!, working with local screenprinters to merge creativity with activism.
We caught up with members of the collective to talk about their journeys, their impact and the future of Skateboobs.
On Their Skateboarding Journeys
Felix Ritchie (They/Them): As a kid growing up in a small town, there were limited places to hang out after school. I began riding a scooter at 12, but always looked up to the boys who skateboarded. I got a super inexpensive skateboard with my pocket money and just had fun with it.
Eli Campbell (They/Them): Growing up, skateboarding media showed men skateboarding and women modelling for brands, but I just knew I wanted to do it, even if it was a “boys’ sport.”
Greta Marzetti (She/Her): I’d experimented with it, cruising around my block with an old, cranky skateboard and never really put the effort in. I didn’t have any representation or guidance, so I left it until I moved to Edinburgh and met Skateboobs.
Nancy Hankin (She/Her): Growing up in a slightly rural part of Scotland, there wasn’t much to do. There was a wee skatepark and I spent a lot of time down there on my scooter. I would watch some of the older kids on skateboards, but I didn’t really take it up properly until I moved to Edinburgh.
Meg Wriggles (She/Her): Growing up I just didn’t even think about skateboarding as an option. I got into it when I was 18, after my partner’s eight-year-old niece started skating. I thought, “If she can do it, then I definitely can too!” and gave it a go. A couple of months later, I moved up to Scotland and started with Skateboobs.
Hannah Schuller
On the Name ‘Skateboobs’ and Its Beginnings
Wriggles: The name came from the movie Skate Kitchen, which we all loved. We were putting random words after “skate” one day and Skateboobs just stuck.
Ritchie: The name explains how “seriously” we took what Skateboobs was in the early days. We were just a bunch of new friends, making silly skate videos, re-living pure childhood joy.
Kristian Yeomans
On Inclusivity and Empowerment
Wriggles: Inclusivity and representation are why we do what we do. Having a group of non-men to skate with is what kept me skating, and we wanted more people to have that: a community where they can truly be themselves. We host a range of different events, from skate nights, gigs, craft sessions, girls’ skate lessons and club nights to art exhibitions, and each one is different.
Marzetti: People just wanted to feel welcome and accepted, so no matter where I’m skating, I always try and approach new people to say hi and share some tips. It is a scary sport – physically and mentally – so a friendly face can make the difference.
Ritchie: At the core, we do it by simply showing up: creating representation and holding space in areas that need it.
Eli
On Keeping It Fun
Campbell: Everybody skates for different reasons, but skateboarding can be super creative and silly, and there can be rules, or you can do whatever you want! We are not trying to go pro or compete; we just love to share the benefits of skateboarding for your mental health and personal growth.
Ritchie: Fun and playfulness are so organically nurtured within Skateboobs, which is why it’s beautiful. We scope in on the core values and interests of the collective and channel this into art, media and creativity. Having fun is easy when you love what you do.
Angus Trinder
On How Skateboarding Has Changed in Recent Years
Ritchie: The skateboarding scene has changed radically. Negative stigmas and stereotypes are far down the track of being broken. I feel so proud and confident to skate around the city now. 10 years ago, you could expect heckles or even dirty looks, but nowadays the skill of skateboarding is (mostly) celebrated.
Campbell: I think skateboarding in the Olympics has been good for the recognition of the sport, but I prefer the creative non-rule side to skating, personally. I’m also enjoying the rise in queer and female expression in skating. I find that I’m more likely to enjoy a skate park or edit where the skaters have their own expression in both their skate style and appearance. I think things are much more progressive than they used to be. Hate is lame.
Wriggles: I feel like the skate scene is unrecognisable compared to when I started. I think a clear indicator of this is when I was teaching seven-year-old girls a couple of weeks ago, and they were asking me why I only started skating when I was 18. They couldn’t understand what I meant when I said that mainly boys did it when I was growing up.
Lewis Baillie
On the Future of Skateboobs
Campbell: Honestly, at the moment, just continuing to show up, trying to put on more events. We have a collab with Friday Skate Club to secure an indoor location for the winter so that the community can skate for free during the cold months. I’d love to one day run a skate retreat somewhere: camping in a forest, bonfires, mini-ramp, what more could you want?
Wriggles: A lot of the Boobs have left Edinburgh, so we don’t hang out as a big group like we used to, but we’ve been running weekly sessions for a group of seven to 10-year-old girls at a mini ramp, and that’s been really rewarding. I hope we keep making things (clothes, events, etc) but most of all, I hope we all keep skating.
For more sports communities to follow, read about how Recess Kickball League built a bicoastal family.
