I took my daughter to the X-Games girls day for a skateboard clinic; this is something she had wanted learn but after many clinics and camps over multiple years, she still did not have any confidence and often withdrew from the other kids at these events.
They were very friendly and encouraged her to keep trying, while noting what she had already learned. They were able to get her to not worry so much about how she skated and instead focused on having fun and seeing herself as a capable person. She finally let down her guard and relaxed enough to see the fun she was having. She insisted on going to their next event before the one at X-Games had even finished!
Over the next year, she gained so many friend through the Girls Riders Organization and attended every girls' skating event possible. She has so much confidence and is now entering boy's contests as well. She knows that she is may not be at top competition level but she goes anyway because now it's about having fun, seeing friends and just tacking challenges every day. She now seeks out girls at skate parks and tells them all about GRO. She sees what they have done for her and wants all girls to have this kind of support and confidence.
I came to skateboarding later in life (24), and one of the reasons I love it so much is that every moment on a skateboard represents a fear that is being conquered. I love encouraging other women to chase after their fears as well, and I feel that skateboarding is a life-changing activity. While I used to compete at other sports to try to win, I joined skateboarding contests in order to meet and skate with other women. That's when I met Courtney and her big idea to give the gift of skateboarding to girls all across the country so that the ratio of girls to boys skating might even out and change the course of so many lives. I have helped out with clinics as well as preparing the tax documents, and it is so fun to share the joy of skateboarding. Every clinic leaves a wave of friendships and new attitudes about what is possible.
I went to my first GRO meeting in may this year. i was real nervous to skate with a whole bunch of girls who were better than me. But the first 10 minutes in TNT skatepark in Georgia i just saw Courtney and realized how good she was at teaching and helping. shes awsome and inspiring.i now feel confident and will go to alll the GRO meetings i can thanks courtney!
I met Cortney ,the founder of Gro, when it was just an idea with a passion. The number of girls that have joined the group since is increasable. As a 49 year old "girl" I know the empowerment that comes with skating or snowboarding. I'm a cancer survivor that has gained back my strength with the help of my ladies on boards who have cheered me on through out it all. I'm always stoked when my son Sky (World Cup Pro Skater) and I travel to skate events and I get to meet other girls who ride and can encourage them as I have been encouraged. The number of girls entering the contests I host has grown huge and the girl specific companies sponsoring my events has doubled in recent years. I'm excited about the future of GRO and all the amazing girls riding!
The first time I went to a GRO event was in 2007. There was a mini-ramp to skate, a workshop, demos with some girl skaters who rip, some live bands, and just lots of supportive, rad fun. GRO now has an ATL chapter, and since I live over in Athens, I try to make the road trip to these events when I can. It's always fun. The best part is skating with girls standing their ground as the minority, girls who are having fun with skating despite it being a rough sport/art.
My two daughters (9 and 14)skateboard. Since the skate community is mostly male it was great to have them interact with and learn with and from other girls. There is now a local chapter of GRO in our community and my daughters look forward to their monthly sessions. It has really helped draw more females into the skate community.