At just 10 years old, Ashley Gindre is already looking to take the world of skateboarding by storm. The youngster recently finished in second place at the Ballito Bowl Skate Jam in the Grom U16 category, competing against the best girls and boys from the skating world.
Ashley only took up the sport in 2024 and is hoping to build on her recent performances.
In recent years, skateboarding has become more appealing to young girls, as Sky Brown’s made headlines in 2021 when she became the youngest person to win a medal at the Olympics. At just 13 years old, Brown won bronze at the Tokyo Games, and Ashley was fortunate enough to meet her in Ballito.
For Ashley to continue to pursue skateboarding, she will need to acquire a sponsor.
She does not have one yet but wants potential backers to know the value of supporting young girls to realise their dream of becoming professional skateboarders. Like any athlete, the Grade 4 pupil harbours dreams of one day representing South Africa at the Olympics.
Hello Ashley – How did your skateboarding career begin?
My skateboarding career started when I decided I wanted to skate competitively and take part in competitions. I had been learning to skate for the past two years and loved it.
I wanted to take my skateboarding more seriously, so I joined JHB Skate Club in March 2024 and started taking part in different competitions and events around Joburg.
I was extremely nervous for my first competition, but I loved the feeling of competing. Other skaters are very encouraging, and there is a nice atmosphere among the skaters, even when they are competing.
What is it about skateboarding that you love?
When I’m skateboarding, I love going fast and high. My favourite trick to do is backside airs, but I do have to work on different tricks and develop my skills, not only doing my favourite tricks. My favourite type of skating to do is park skating, which is the type with big ramps and bowls, which look like an empty pool.
“One of the best things about skating is that you can try any trick you want to work on. If you don’t land it, you just try again. There aren’t limitations to what can be done.”
Ballito Bowl Skate Jam U16 Silver Medalist, 10 years old Ashley Gindre
I’m not as good at street skating, but I’m working on it. I would love to try Vert skating, but there isn’t any in South Africa.
What type of training do you do as a skateboarder? Where do you train?
I train at the Nike Shapa Soweto skatepark with the JHB Skate Club twice a week. My coach is Sharne Jacobs, who also runs Girls Skate South Africa. We do a fitness warm-up, followed by working on different types of tricks in the park.
Dreams Delayed Are Not Dreams Denied, Boipelo Awuah Makes a Return to the Olympic Stage
The Diamond of Kimberley Boipelo Awuah Skates On!
Iconic Brazilian Skater Letícia Bufoni Impressed By Number of Women in Skateboarding in South Africa
Boipelo Awuah Crowned Women’s Skate Champion
Sky Brown Sets Skateboarding History
The Women Behind Team SA’s Tokyo 2020 Success
I skate with really incredible young skaters who encourage me to try new things. I also go to different parks around Joburg on weekends. It’s important to practice in different parks as it helps develop more skills using different ramps, rails, and heights in different skateparks.
Is skateboarding an expensive sport to take up?
Skateboarding is not an expensive sport to start as you only need a skateboard to begin learning. However, once you choose to take it more seriously, then you start looking for better items like faster wheels, bearings, etc., to take your skating to the next level.
What are the costs involved for you when it comes to skateboarding?
I go through jeans pretty quickly as I wear holes in them sliding down ramps while learning new tricks. A skater needs good shoes; suede is better, as we wear holes through our shoes flicking our boards, which makes our shoes wear out.
We also go through a lot of shoelaces, especially when doing park skating.
“We have to replace our skateboard deck when it becomes worn out. Some skaters go through wheels and decks faster than others. Especially those doing board slides and big tricks, sometimes a skateboard deck can snap.”
I wear S1 knee pads which keep my knees safe when I fall. They are quite expensive, but are very important as they give me confidence to know I won’t get hurt with them on when trying big tricks.
I also wear elbow pads, wrist guards, and most importantly, a helmet. These safety items are an expense, but way better to have them on.
Do you have a sponsor? If so, how easy/hard was the process of securing the sponsors?
I don’t have any sponsors yet, but I would love to have someone day just like my favourite international skaters. It would be amazing to be a sponsored skater one day.
Do you have support from your federation?
It’s hard for federations to support individuals, as funding is hard to get in South Africa. However, JHB Skate Club is working on a BackaBuddy to get their skaters to competitions and to support the skaters. It is the most supportive and encouraging club.
What message do you have to urge potential sponsors to put their financial backing behind you?
Investing in a girl skater like me would inspire other young girls to try new things and have confidence in their abilities. I am a very dedicated and hardworking skater who aims to represent South African girls locally and internationally and hopefully at the Olympics in park skating one day.
Sponsorship would help to make it possible to attend international training camps and competitions to show the world what South African girls are capable of in skating. It is important for girls to see themselves represented in previously male-dominated sports, to know that anything is possible.
What competitors will you be taking part in the next few months?
Streetlines is a big competition coming up at Thrashers in Pretoria later this year. That is a street skating competition, but a great one to get to compete in.
SA Champs will also take place later this year. Competitions are announced a few weeks before they take place usually, so we don’t always know what’s happening next, you just have to be ready.
How do you balance school and being a skateboarder?
My school, Seren House Cottage School, is very accommodating and encouraging of my skating. Last term I left school two days early, to travel with my parents to Ballito for the Ballito Pro Skate Jam.
From the gsport Newsroom Archives, February 2023
Best of all, we have no homework, so I can come home and skate every afternoon on my mini ramp (which my dad made me for my 10th birthday), and attend the Nike sessions.
What is your advice to girls who are novice skateboarders who are looking to take up the sport?
My advice to girls is that if you want to skate, you mustn’t let the boys intimidate you in the skate park. Most of them are nice and will let you have a go and give you advice and tips on what you want to do.
“Find out about Girls Skate sessions, as those are a great way to try skating for the first time and skate with other girls. Be brave to try new things, but always wear your safety gear.”
Girls can do anything they put their minds to. I recently met Sky Brown at the Ballito Pro, and watching the incredible local and international girl skaters will give you lots of confidence to try new tricks!
Main Photo Caption: Competing against the best girls and boys from the skating world, 10-year-old Ashley Gindre recently finished in second place at the Bowl Skate Jam in the Grom U16 category in Ballito during the mid-year school holidays. All Photos: Olivia Jones PR (c) Luke Patterson
Photo 2 Caption: Sponsors: “I am a very dedicated and hardworking skater who aims to represent SA girls locally and internationally, and hopefully at the Olympics in park skating one day.”
Photo 3 Caption: “Skateboarding is not an expensive sport to start as you only need a skateboard to begin learning.”
Photo 4 Caption: “I train at the Nike Shapa Soweto skatepark with the JHB Skate Club twice a week. My coach is Sharne Jacobs, who also runs Girls Skate SA.”
Photo 5 Caption: “When I’m skateboarding, I love going fast and high. My favourite trick to do is backside airs, but I do have to work on different tricks and develop my skills, not only doing my favourite tricks.”
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
