The Skateistan Story - By Tati Kolina

In  2014, I accidentally stumbled onto Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul documentary and it changed my life. The narrative begins in 2009, when Australians Oliver Percovich and Sharna Nolan brought a couple of old boards to an empty city fountain in Kabul, Afganistan. The film tells Skateistan’s story and how a group of skaters bridge ethnic-, religious and socio-economic barriers to bring hope to the children of a war-torn country – with the help of four wheels and a board. 

Afghan Girls Skateboarding

As I watched the documentary, I realized that skateboarding can be used anywhere as a medium for breaking the barriers and building communities. I decided to to start our own local organization for girls called Skate Girls Tribe  (SGT). 

Skate Girls Tribe at Go Skateboarding Day 2014 in Washington DC

SGT is an informal not-for-profit organization which supports a network of female athletes, artists, and influencers in action sports culture. SGT provides girls with an open environment for skateboarding and a community as a forum for sharing social and personal issues that they face; what it’s like being girls in the skating community to challenges they may face in school and at home.

Skateboarding at Roll Skate Shop in Olney, MD

I also wanted to show support for Skateistan and organized a series of fundraisers and film screenings of Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul documentary in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Mini cruisers painted by DC artists at silent auction in Tropicalia, DC

First fundraiser and film screening took place at Roll Skate Shop in Olney, MD. It did not bring very many people but we enjoyed watching the film, meeting new people, and skating at an old warehouse surrounded by amazing works of local artists including murals by Alex Merritt. 

Art work by Alex Merritt at silent auction in Tropicalia, DC

Second fundraiser was at Tropicalia in Washington DC. Several local artists donated their art and time and we had a great turn out. We watched the documentary, had Q&A session about Skateistan which was followed by live music, dancing, and silent auction. 

Watching Skateistan at Tropicalia, DC

We were able to raise $945 which was donated to Skateistan.

Bryan Ridgeway, Tati Kolina, Patti McGee, Di Dootson Rose, Darren Harper at Old City Farm, Washington DC 

Final film screening took place at Old City Farm in Washington DC. We had surprise visitors including Skateistan's Global Skateboarding Adviser, Bryan Ridgeway, and action sports female legends Patti McGee and Di Dootson Rose who later became my mentor.

Tati Kolina and Bryan Ridgeway

Bryan Ridgeway presented me with a signed copy of Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan book. It was one of the most memorable days in my life.

Thank you letter from Oliver Petrovitch

Several months later I got a letter from Oliver Petrovitch, the founder and executive director of Skateistan, thanking us for the donation.

Finding A Line: Skateboarding, Music, and Media at the Kennedy Center hosted by sPACYcLOUd and Skate Girls Tribe

Since 2014, Skate Girls Tribe participated at many local skateboarding events and organized our own surf and snowboard camps for girls. In 2015 SGT was honored to host a day at Finding a Line: Skateboarding, Music, and Media festival at The Kennedy Center dedicated to female skateboarders. Several hundreds female shredders from all over USA made it to our event and we made it into the history of skateboarding.

Female leaders from Afghanistan visited Skate Girls Tribe in Rockville, MD

In 2016, we we were visited by a group of female leaders from Afghanistan. We greeted our guests at Rockville skatepark in Maryland. We skateboarded, made Peace bracelets for each other, sang Beatles songs, and embraced each other's energies. We had language barriers but, at the end of the day, words were not necessary. We spoke with our hearts.

Exchanging Peace bracelets with our friends from Afghanistan 

As Skate Girls Tribe grows, we continue providing female shredders with new opportunities in our area. On March 26, we are having girls only skateboarding session at Bethesda Boards in Maryland. We will have a mini skateboarding jam and watch Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul. In July, we are organizing Skate Girls Tribe annual surf camp at Cape May, New Jersey. We are also planning wearable technology classes for our young female engineers and glass blowing classes for these with artistic inclinations. There is nothing in the world that girls can't do and we are here to help make it happen.

And it all started with four wheels and a board. Thanks Skateistan!

Thank you to everyone who helped us along the way:

Oliver Percovich
Sharna Nolan
Skateistan
Aleksey Nazarov
Alex Merritt
Jim Thomson & Tropicalia
Evvie, Roll Skate Shop
Di Dootson Rose
Patti McGee
Bryan Ridgeway
Yoshi Tanenbaum
Claudia Olivos & OlivosARTstudio.com
Amy Lauriano
Ekaterina Nekrasova
Angelina Lauriano
Old City Farm 
Kia Green
Darren Harper

sPACYcLOUd is Landing at the DC Tattoo Expo!

sPACYcLOUd is thrilled to be part of 

 the DC Tattoo Arts Expo!

Stop by our booth and say hello to the crew!

Get inked or watch legendary artists tattooing others. 

Participate at contests and win prizes.

For additional information, visit DC Tattoo Arts Expo.

    

Get Into the Holiday Season with Love, Peace, and sPACYcLOUd!

Whether you heading to a party at Tropicalia, grabbing a coffee at Tryst in Adams Morgan, having a business meeting with your partners at Bus Boys and Poets, or taking your pup for a walk, sPACYcLOUd TieDye Onesie will keep you comfortable and in your own skin! 

It is warm, unique, funky, and a perfect gift for anyone.

Available at sPACYcLOUd online store and Funky Piece in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.

Guess Who is Rocking sPACYcLOUd Skate Or Die Jacket?

British model Charlie Barker from Nottingham!!!

With over 622k followers, the 20-year-old has become a sensation on social media because of her fearless, unorthodox, and rebellious style.

We love her passion for art and photography and excited for someone like her to represent our brand.

"WHO INSPIRES YOU STYLE WISE?
David Bowie has been my spirit animal from a young age. I was determined to befriend anyone even remotely like him….it never happened. Now it’s not a case of who but what; I am mesmerised by personalities, characters, opinions, religions, lifestyles and cultures. I get bored way too quick to stick to one style anyway, the same goes for my art." - HungerTV

Follow her on IG at @charliexbarker

Check sPACYcLOUd 'Skate or Die' jacket at www.spacycloud.com

Introducing WM3 Signature Apparel! November 20, 2015

 sPACYcLOUd is thrilled to present its signature apparel designed exclusively for WM3.  WM3 aka Will Moore is a talented 8 years old breakdancer from Baltimore, MD. He has recently joined sPACYcLOUd Street Team. WM3's array of moves includes breaking, animation, tutting, bone-breaking, poppin’ and lockin’. He is a talented dancer but also a caring, fun, determined, and intelligent young man. We are honored to have WM3 on our team and to design his own signature apparel.

To view WM3 apparel, click here.

Facebook: William Moore

Youtube/Twitter/IG: WM3 Dance

sPACYcLOUd and Not Fade Away!

sPACYcLOUd's line of bow ties is NOW available at Not Fade Away (42 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock, NY)!

Not Fade Away has some of the most unique memorabilia store offerings and must-have vintage clothing you've ever seen! Visit their site at www.notfadeawaywoodstock.com or stop in!

Skate God and sPACYcLOUd!

 Check out the OFFICIAL sPACYcLOUd and Skate God string bag!

The Largest Indoor Bike Park in the World!

We wish this was in DC! 17 miles of corridors and caverns are home to a one-of-a-kind entertainment complex in Louisville, Kentucky. Zip lines, a ropes course, an event space, and now– the world’s only underground off-road bike course. The Louisville Mega Cavern has opened the Mega Underground Bike Park for year round dirt riding; rain, shine, summer or winter, this underground bike park is open to ride!

The Underground Bike Park is built into an abandoned limestone mine about 100 feet below the surface of Louisville. The cavern that houses the bike park spans 320,000 square feet, enough to fit over 45 trails, jump lines, pump tracks, slalom courses and plenty more.

Not only is this underground bike park the only one of its kind in the world, it’s also the largest indoor bike park on the planet. It opened to the public this month, with bike rentals coming in April. 

Atomic Goofball and Lionz of Zion!

sPACYcLOUd sponsored bboy Atomic Goofball is all set to celebrate Lionz Of Zion 19th anniversary on Saturday, September 26, in DC! 

The event is powered by Monster Energy and presented by The Pro Breaking Tour & Sanctioned by UFEF.

Established in 1996, Lionz Of Zion were the first crew to break the mold, step outside the box and develop an unorthodox, abstract style of breaking. LOZ is one of the most well respected breaking crews today and are recognized internationally.

Atomic Goofball will be styling new sPACYcLOUd "Here We Go" jersey and Skateboarding" bow tie!

Thank you to Atomic Goofball for repp'n sPACYcLOUd! Your genuine character, hard work, determination, and positive outlook on life make you a role model to everyone around you!