TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I’m an inline skater from Essex, UK but I’m currently based in Japan! I’ve been skating for 6 years. I’ve been quite active in sports growing up: athletics, netball and going to the gym but nothing quite scratched the itch for me. I love travelling, I try my hand at photography sometimes, I have a degree in Physics, I’m working in technology and I also like snowboarding.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR CRAFT

I grew up in a town with a roller disco and went there a couple of times with my family when I was growing up, so I already knew the joy of skating. It wasn’t until I bought my own skates towards the end of 2018 that I really started considering skating as something I would like to commit to.

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHEN LEARNING TO SKATE

Starting out was tough. At university, I had no community to lean on, and even my housemates laughed when I bought my first pair of skates. But on a sunny day, instead of revising, I took my skates to a park’s kids’ cycling area, strapped them on, and pushed forward—literally! YouTube tutorials became my lifeline, with creators like TiagoInlineSkater and Naomi Grigg inspiring me, alongside my favorite freestyle skating video, I Love Freestyle Skating by Strikefishingman. Progress was slow; I relied on recording myself for feedback, comparing my moves to tutorials. Everything changed when I moved to London, found the incredible skate community, and joined LondonSkateLife (LSL) classes—special thanks to my first instructor, German, for guiding me to new heights. Now, my focus is on creating content that inspires black women and girls to skate and embrace the journey, just as I did.

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME FEAR WHEN TRYING NEW TRICKS

Fear is the body’s natural response for self-preservation and a feeling you just have to get used to. With time and courage, a passionate skater can develop the mental fortitude to control or overcome that fear and try anyway.

HOW DOES ROLLER SKATING IMPACT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

It’s hard to describe the feeling I get when I skate; all I can say is that my worries disappear, and I feel completely free. As a homebody, it’s only because of skating that I have seen so much of London (on wheels) and explored more of the outdoors. Just getting out, moving a bit, and feeling the sun on my face is enough to change my mood completely. Naturally, there are days when I don’t want to do anything, but then I go for a skate, and I’m always glad I did. I’ve never regretted a skate.

WHAT’S A MEMORABLE SKATING EXPERIENCE

My first trip with London Skate Life to Paris. That was the first time I took my skates abroad and saw first-hand a huge community outside of London. It’s such a privilege to be able to travel and skate around a city, taking a tour with the locals. We didn’t know each other, but we were all connected and brought together by the same passion. Since then, I’ve enjoyed trips to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Nigeria, and I’ve always received such a warm welcome from local skaters.

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR SOCIETY AFFECTS YOUR CRAFT

It’s improving over the years, but extreme and urban sports are generally looked down upon and disapproved of. We don’t have spaces built for us; we are kicked off private land, chased by police, recorded without permission, stared at, and berated by parents at skateparks, etc. However, the positivity and benefits of skating—both physically and mentally—outweigh the negatives.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THE ROLLER-SKATING COMMUNITY

The boring answer would be the general friendliness and the way newcomers are welcomed with open arms. But what I really enjoy is watching other skaters do their thing. Everyone has their own style, tricks, and flow. We learn from and are inspired by each other, but those distinct mannerisms and styles can’t be replicated.

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF WHAT YOU DO

For me, it’s seeing how creative I can be. I’m more of a logical thinker, and skating is one of the few ways I can achieve authentic expression and showcase my creativity.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE SCARED TO TRY SKATING

Buy the skates and put them on. So many people approach me asking me to teach them, but ultimately, they never take the step to actually buy a pair of skates. There are affordable entry-level skates out there, or even second-hand options. Just commit to trying. For support, you can look for other skaters near you, online, or convince some friends to learn together. The worst thing to do with fear is to let it stop you from trying.