Overview

The experiences of heroic older women have traditionally been dismissed or buried in history books, and the skateboarding industry has mirrored this trend. Female skateboarders rarely get mentioned beyond a token paragraph, and stories of their contributions and barrier-breaking have almost never been told. Until now. With enthusiasm and empathy, Girl Gangs, Zines, and Powerslides celebrates the relentless participation of women in skateboarding from the 1960s onward who defied a hostile industry to carve out their own space through underground networks. Skater librarian Natalie Porter presents interviews and meticulous research, including the DIY zines created by female and nonbinary skaters to expose this unacknowledged story while offering a personal narrative about the importance of community-building and validation. This book disrupts the image of skateboarding as an exclusive male domain, offering historical context for the seemingly rapid progress of female skaters today seen competing on the Olympic stage. Discover how the collective action of a grassroots movement in the 1980s established meaningful change, building a foundation that has led to greater inclusion and diversity, which has inspired women, girls, and nonbinary youth worldwide to skateboard for the first time and, sometimes, return to this passion as an adult.

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Natalie Porter lives in Powell River on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin First Nation, began skateboarding in 1995, and works for the British Columbia Library Association. She is the founder of @womxnsk8history on Instagram and the online archive Womxn Skateboard History and is a subject expert for the Smithsonian's skateboarding advisory board. Moniqua Plante is an award-winning TV, film, and theater actor, with a BA in literature and theater (making audiobook narration a match made in heaven). Her sultry, strong, playful, textured voice will take you on an action-packed adventure with the badass-beautiful heroine or give you a sneaky peek into a sweeping and steamy romance. Her low tones can conjure a magical coven of witches or creep you out with a cool confident killer, then ease you into mindfulness with a soulful meditation. Give her all the adventure, magic, mystery, romance, and self-help-and you'll be in business! She's been a series regular on Amazon Prime's hit comedy series Dirty Cues and a fan favorite with her juicy season-long storyline on ABC's Emmy-nominated show Nashville. She's guest-starred on notable shows such as Alan Ball's original series Banshee, John Well's Southland, Drop Dead Diva, Gilmore Girls, and the pulp anthology series Femme Fatales. Moniqua is also an award-winning independent film producer who has accumulated fourteen film festival wins, including Breakout Action Star and four Best Actress awards. Moniqua is also a certified health and life coach with Moniqua Plante Wellness, dedicated to helping actors and creative professionals take real care of themselves, feel good in their own skin-and crazy confident in everything they do. It is truly her belief that your health and wellness can directly affect everything else you do in life, especially as a creative. Her path to wellness began with her rectifying those challenging areas in her own life so they wouldn't show up in her work. And her training as a coach makes self-help books a total no-brainer. When she's not performing or coaching, Moniqua loves to travel and pretty much everything outdoors. She's worked in action sports for the ESPN X-Games. She's lived in Spain and traveled through Europe-from snowboarding in Chamonix, France, to exploring the ocean caves of Croatia. Her other favorite pastimes include blissing out beachside, practicing yoga, hiking, snowboarding, curling up with a good book, and/or sharing good food and good wine with friends and family. She currently lives, loves, and works in Los Angeles, California.

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