This Female Skateboarder From India Is Encouraging Girls To Shatter Stereotypes

Canada Goose Jackets The 24 year old was raised in Bangalore,a place where, she told HuffPost, there are uk canada goose strong gender roles in place. For instance, young girls aren’t necessarily encouraged to go outside and play like boys, and may even get shamed for coming home canada goose clearance with a tan or bruises. Canada Goose Jackets

canada goose coats After being a part of the skateboarding scene for Canada Goose Coats On Sale a while, Verghese told HuffPost she “realized that there were new canada goose store people starting to skate all the time and as the scene started growing bigger, I started to notice most of these people were dudes.”She said she found it strange to see girls starting to skateboard but “not sticking to it.” canada goose coats

canada goose deals In 2015, Verghese started Girl Skate India, which she described as an online platform “to feature, connect and grow the number of female skaters by inspiring each other.” buy canada goose jacket cheap She started doing classes, clinics and tours, she said, trying her best to get the word out. canada goose deals

Canada Goose Outlet “I wanted cheap canada goose uk more buy canada goose jacket girls to be a part of this amazing cheap Canada Goose time of the beginning of Canada Goose sale a skateboard culture Canada Goose Online in India,” she said. Canada Goose Outlet

Canada Goose Parka Through her work canada goose uk outlet with Girl Skate canada goose outlet India, including a tour across the countrythat was documented on film, Verghese became known internationally and eventually joined the Vans India canada goose coats on sale team, making her the team’s first member. Canada Goose Parka

cheap Canada Goose “It shocked Canada Goose online me more than it shocks anyone else because I don’t think in the history of skateboarding that any company like Vans put a chick in as their first team rider,” she said. “I take it as a sign for the change that is coming, and it’s a wave that’s going international.” cheap Canada Goose

buy canada goose jacket When asked why it was important to her to create a space for girls to be able to skateboard, she emphasized the importance for kids to “feel likethey have a canada goose space they can go to where people are supportive of each other and there’s no judgements being made.” buy canada goose jacket

buy canada goose jacket cheap “I feel like in a place like India, we have all these strict cultural beliefs of not letting girls out on the streets to play, keeping them at home and shaming them if they get bruised and tanned, and the famous ‘What will the neighbors think?'” she told HuffPost. “So if they had a space sheltered off from the prying eyes of society where they’re allowed and encouraged to be kids and play, have fun and express themselves free of any of the exterior expectations, it could be a magical step in the evolution in these girls’ lives.” buy canada goose jacket cheap

Canada Goose sale Verghese said she herself didn’t really have such a space or mentors to encourage her the way she is trying to encourage others. Canada Goose sale

“I’ve never really felt like it meant anything different to me as a female. Everyone empowers canada goose coats themselves when they start to skateboard,” she said.

canada goose [It’s]amazing for them to have that resource and have someone help you along the way,” Armanto told HuffPost, adding that Verghese “is uk canada goose outlet just http://www.canadagoosesalesus.com killing it at life.” canada goose

canada goose black friday sale Armanto shared canada goose clearance sale stories about the workshop and the young girls who participated. One in particular, an 8 year old named Kamali (pictured below), really left an impression on her. canada goose black friday sale

canada goose clearance “It was crazy because it seemed like it was [maybe] the highlight of her year to go out the skate park and skate with all the girls,” Armanto said. “She learned how to drop in on this big quarter pipe. She’s really small. She would go up there and crawl across the deck because she was scared to stand up, then she’d get to the corner and eventually, with help, she dropped in. By the end of the session, she was doing it by herself. It was so cool to watch.” canada goose clearance

canada goose clearance sale “I feel like skateboarding can do so canada goose uk shop well[in India],” Armanto, a Santa Monica, California native, added. “I’m excited. I think even a year from now, it’s going to be so different.” canada goose clearance sale

canada goose store Both Verghese and Armanto are two of a growing group of women who are changing the skateboarding landscape. All female crews, like canada goose factory sale the The Canada Goose Jackets Skate Kitchen, Brujas, The Skate Witches and Nefarious Creware out there making waves in the skate community and promoting girl Canada Goose Parka power and inclusivity along the way. canada goose store

canadian goose jacket The future of women in skateboarding definitely canada goose black friday sale looks Canada Goose Outlet bright. And if there’s one thing Verghese wants women to know about the sport, it’s this: “It’s amazing and[everyone] should skate a little bit if they are able to because it’s just fun!” canadian goose jacket

canada goose coats on sale CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Verghese is a professional skater. She is a sponsored skater (by Vans)and was both Vans India’s first skate team member and first female skateboarder for the Vans India team canada goose coats on sale.