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

Happy International Women's Day!

Skate Girls Tribe & sPACYcLOUd street team at skateboarding competition in VA.

Today, we are celebrating the sacrifices, contributions and achievements of women all over the world. 

Eight female leaders traveled from Afghanistan to the United States under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to undertake a 21-day program to showcase grassroots, academic, and government initiatives that promote the core principles of athletics and leadership, and encourage health and fitness among women and girls.  sPACYcLOUd and Skate Girls Tribe were honored to host the visitors at Rockville Skatepark in Maryland.

 We have all been inspired by women from all walks of life and they gave us courage to pursue our dreams in challenging gender inequalities. 

Exchanging Peace & Love bracelets with our friends from Afghanistan.

From Johannesburg to Paris, California to Oslo, Washington DC to Kabul, girls and women are part of the same community thanks to skateboarding.

 At sPACYcLOUd and Skate Girls Tribe, it is our goal to connect girls in the action sports community and provide more opportunities for them in the industry. 

Eight female leaders traveled from Afghanistan to the United States under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to undertake a 21-day program to showcase grassroots, academic, and government initiatives that promote the core principles of athletics and leadership, and encourage health and fitness among women and girls.  sPACYcLOUd and Skate Girls Tribe were honored to host the visitors at Rockville Skatepark in Maryland. 

  We are grateful to all women we met during our journey. You are an inspiration that cuts through age, gender and class barriers. 

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

In addition to building a community, you inspire girls around the world to overcome the fear of being judged and participate in the sport dominated by men.  

Today and every day remember how beautiful, strong, and powerful you are.

Just Kickin' It Sundays with Leaders from Afganistan and Skateistan

On Sunday, we were joined by several female leaders from Afghanistan and Skateistan at our weekly "Just Kickin' It Sundays" event. Our gathering lasted only two hours but by the end we felt like we knew each other our entire lives.

We had a skateboarding session and several ladies tried skateboarding for the first time. It was such a joy to see everyone smiling and cheering for each other. Thank you to our instructors, Joe Falvella, Diane Parker, and Billy Reed for helping out.

 During our craft project there was a beautiful silence which gave us an opportunity to listen with our hearts and connect subconsciously.

We are from different continents, raised with different traditions and beliefs but in the end we are all the same. We are humans, equal in every way, seeking love, peace, and knowledge.

 We are honored to meet this group of brave and powerful women leaders on their mission to promote women’s entrepreneurship, business development, and empowerment through sports and fitness. Thank you for visiting us.

 Thank you to team sPACYcLOUd and Skate Girls Tribe for being wonderful hosts, for your open hearts, and teamwork.