Mexicanas Redefining Skate Culture
Images by: Alondra Costilla
When you think of a skater the image that pops up in your head is usually one that consists of scraggly haired guy, with dirty dickies, torn vans, and with their deck never too far from arms reach. What inspired this whole piece was to push past that representation and show that in skate culture and its community there is so much more to it than that. Alondra and myself have been woven into this world of skating for awhile now and it is community filled with respect, creative energy, and they really know how to have a good time. We wanted to create a space to be able to show how expansive the skate culture really is and to have more representation of women of color skaters.
This all really started because Alondra had entered one of those nights where you go a little too deep into the Instagram discover feed, you know those nights I am talking about. In that night she found 22 year old Anna Bernal’s Instagram (@blackwytch). Based in Mexico City, Anna skates the streets and creates art with her friends Monica Heras Hernandez (20 years old) @paeika , Itzel Lara (18 years old) @caleidoscopioh, Daniela Torres ( 24 years old), and Isabela Salgado Ramirez (20 years old) @velaswangh. With a tap of her screen Alondra nervously sent a message to Anna asking if she would like to meet up when she comes to Mexico City for Christmas and take photos of her and her friends. Luckily the answer was a yes.
So they set off into the streets of Mexico City together with cameras and skate decks and hand ready to see where the day takes them. During their adventures through the city from skating the streets to cruising around to different skate parks Alondra had the chance to get to talk to them and get to know them a bit better.
Before diving into the q&a it needs to be said that this group of young women are so creative and inspiring to the both of us. Society’s standards and expectations do not hinder these women to push the boundaries and achieve what they aspire to do. They bring people together with their skating and their art. They are actually in the works of creating a zine for women skaters. To say what they are doing is special and important is an understatement.
Would you say the skate culture here in Mexico differs from what you have seen from the skate culture in America?
Itzel: “I think the skate culture in Mexico is different because of the changes we are going through, we have different skateparks, food, weed, prejudices, music and I think all of that
affects the way we ride our board.”
You all also do your own art, do you wanna tell us a little bit about that?
Monica: “I make illustrations. My illustrations are based on the fact that the origin of plants
is older than the origin of the human and therefore they are more wise about
life. Plants should not be subjected or mistreated by the human being, resulting in images where the plants rebel against man.”
Was there anything or anyone in particular that inspired you to start skating?
Itzel: “When I was introduced to skateboarding culture I didn’t have a girl skater that
I admired, what inspired me was the boys and when I met some friends in high school they
motivated me to skate more.”
What does it mean for you to be a woman in skateboarding?
Anna: “To show that skating is a sport that everyone can play.”
Do you see yourself staying in this culture/community and skating for a long time?
Anna: “Yes forever! Thanks to skateboarding I’ve met many valuable people in my life! And I
would not change it or leave it.”
Do you follow more of the skate scene in Mexico or do you follow more of what is going on
in skating in America and other places as well?
Itzel: “I would love to see what the community of Mexico is sharing about female skating, and
because of the internet I can get motivated with girls of all over the world, and
someday if I travel we can become good friends because of skating.”
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