Meet the two Canberra women heading to the World Skate Games for Slalom skateboarding
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You’ve no doubt heard of Slalom skiing during the winter Olympics, but have you heard of Slalom skateboarding? Two Canberran women are heading to the World Skate Games next month to represent Australia in the sport.
A quick crash course for those who haven’t heard of it: there are several versions of the sport, but it’s mostly you against the clock. The winner is whoever gets to the bottom of the hill in the quickest amount of time and without banging into too many obstacles along the way—much like the skiing version of the sport.
For Imogen McMillan, it has been a sport she has been involved in since she was a child; whilst Ayesha Pang first jumped on board earlier this year. Both are stoked to be heading to Argentina and representing Australia, as Slalom skateboarding makes its debut at the World Skate Games.
“My dad got me into it, so it’s a real family thing for me. After skating with the same group of people for 15 years now, and to go and represent Australia and to know that I’m representing them is a huge emotional thing for me,” Imogen says.
Training two to three times a week, the duo mostly call Stromlo Forest Park home using the natural slope to their advantage—and whilst the sport might only just be making the headlines, Ayesha says it is one of the purest forms of skateboarding.
“It’s one of the OG disciplines of skateboarding, right back to California, when people would have roller skate trucks and just pieces of wood. There’s one of the first things they did, they went down hills, and they weaved. So, it’s sort of taking it and coming full circle with the fact that it is now a world race,” Ayesha says.
The pair are also hoping that taking to the global competition stage will encourage others to try out the sport.
“Slalom skateboarding really isn’t that big in Australia, and it’s a really unique type of skateboarding. It would be really great to see it grow in Australia and to see some grassroots really take place because we’re at the pinnacle of skateboarding coming in a different way that people have ever known,” Imogen says.
Want to try it out yourself? There is no better time or age limit to jump on board with Slalom skateboarding.
“The majority of people that do it are actually a lot older. It’s fantastic exercise, it’s great for the core, it’s great for balance, it’s great for spatial awareness. It’s overall a fantastic sport, it’s outdoors and it’s social, which is also a really positive aspect of it,” Ayesha says.
“We do what’s called the Nationals in March every year, here on the long weekend. People are always really encouraged to come down and have a look. Everyone’s more than happy to lend boards out and let people have a go,” Imogen says.
If you don’t want to wait until March to see what all the fuss is about then you can follow the girls as they share their skating tricks here and also reach out if you would like to get your roll on.
Feature image by Dave Pang.
