Tradition and skateboard
On a skate park 3,600 meters above sea level, a group of young Aymara people defy gravity and stereotypes. Dressed in the pollera, the traditional skirt of the Bolivian indigenous woman, they demonstrated their skill in a competition organized by the Warmis Sobre Ruedas movement.
The activity brought together about 20 girls and young people, from eight to 18 years old. The jury evaluated technique, creativity and clothing. The prizes: skateboards and equipment to continue practicing.
“I feel like I’m flying,” said Ana Lucía Calvep, 18, a member of the group. “The skirt is heavier, but it is an honor to wear it because it represents my grandmother,” she added.
Not all participants wear skirts, but there is a special category that rewards those who wear one and perform tricks. The objective is to vindicate the identity of indigenous women and make skateboarding an inclusive sport.
Family pride
Victoria Mamani accompanied her 10-year-old daughter, who competed in the beginner category. “I feel very happy that my daughter wears the skirt that my mother wears. I gladly bring it,” she said. “My mother even gets excited. This sport is not easy, every fall hurts me as a mother. But I have seen that it has made my daughter stronger.”
The competition began with basic exercises such as the so-called “crabs”—simulating walking on the board with your feet on each end—and increased in difficulty. Many fell, but all rose.
Skateboarding in Bolivia is gaining ground in the professional field, and these young women aspire to participate in international competitions, carrying the skirt as a symbol of identity.
