Women raising the ledge of skateboard culture

Photo story by Sean Reyes|October 23, 2020

Kat Campos kickflips at Harry Bridges Plaza on Sep. 30, 2020. San Francisco. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)

Kat Campos poses for a portrait at Harry Bridges Plaza on Sept. 30, 2020. Campos commented that her favorite thing about skateboarding is “how it connects everyone so easily, because we’re doing the same thing in the same spot. Literally, it bonds people like nothing else.” Campos also addressed the sexism in the community. She spoke about a prior experience of a male skateboarder underestimating her abilities. According to Campos, his reasoning was “cause you’re a girl,” which left Campos puzzled and upset. San Francisco. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)
Shelley Rose Cartalla poses for a portrait at Westborough Park on Oct. 6, 2020. Cartalla is an artist based in South San Francisco, who has expressed herself through skateboarding, painting, embroidery and most recently tattooing. Cartalla first held a skateboard when she was nine years old, but didn’t start regularly skateboarding until two years ago. “My favorite thing about skating is that it’s really fun and I get to be expressive about it too,” Cartalla said. “I get to wear what I want, and do what I want with skateboarding and not give a shit about what other people think.” South San Francisco. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)
Shelley Rose Cartalla poses for a portrait at Westborough Park on Oct. 6, 2020. Cartalla is an artist based in South San Francisco, who has expressed herself through skateboarding, painting, embroidery and most recently tattooing. Cartalla first held a skateboard when she was nine years old, but didn’t start regularly skateboarding until two years ago. “My favorite thing about skating is that it’s really fun and I get to be expressive about it too,” Cartalla said. “I get to wear what I want, and do what I want with skateboarding and not give a shit about what other people think.” South San Francisco. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)
Shelley Rose Cartalla poses for a portrait at Westborough Park on Oct. 6, 2020. Cartalla is an artist based in South San Francisco, who has expressed herself through skateboarding, painting, embroidery and most recently tattooing. Cartalla first held a skateboard when she was nine years old, but didn’t start regularly skateboarding until two years ago. “My favorite thing about skating is that it’s really fun and I get to be expressive about it too,” Cartalla said. “I get to wear what I want, and do what I want with skateboarding and not give a shit about what other people think.” South San Francisco. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)
Tabitha “Tabby” Rae Bartholome performs a boneless 180 off of a ledge at Fremont Skate Park on Oct. 7, 2020. “My favorite thing about skateboarding is that you push yourself a lot,” Bartholome said. Fremont, Calif. (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine).
Tabitha “Tabby” Rae Bartholome poses for a portrait at Fremont Skate Park on Oct. 7, 2020. “I really like that girls can show up and prove to people that they can do what boys are doing,” Bartholome said on the inclusion of female skateboarders in the community. The advice she would give to young women who want to start skateboarding is: “Not only boys can do it. You can do it too. You just have to be confident.” (Sean Reyes / Xpress Magazine)