The evolution of a scene starts with a place.
Marginal Way is Seattle’s renowned DIY skatepark, tucked in the cavernous industrial maze of Seattle’s SODO district. Like it’s predecessor, Burnside, the park started out with a transition and a pump bump, which I first witnessed about 20 years ago with Jim Ratzman on one hell-ride roadtrip or another. Today it is a world-class DIY that has expanded into huge, connected areas of massive transition, a cradle, and a sick kidney where the majority of this event happened.
Next step: people.
Skate Like a Girl receives the majority of attention in She-attle, in the realm of women’s/non-trad skateboarding. But it turns out, a thriving scene exists here, tucked underground. The females that showed up to skate at this event ranged about 5-decades in age and brought a spectrum of abilities.
Third, what time?
Run to the hills on Saturday noon-dusk to shred with the homies. This is why Abby Penfold, creator of Crete Creeper, and others like her work hard to create local events. You could go to the skatepark every day at noon, and never meet the coffee and croissant crowd or the late night can crushers. Here, there is a time, place, and motivation to rip. Which they did. Everyone that showed up was skating hard and having fun. There were bands on the deck, a barbecue on the street, and a good time had by all. Big thanks to Abby and all the sponsors and people that helped make this happen! –Migzy
