On October 9, 2017 I will be departing Bend, Oregon and making my way across the United States of America by skateboard. The route will make use of adventure cycling routes, and way of map to create over 3,800 miles of traveled roads.
I am Calleigh Little, a 26 year old transgender woman from Massachusetts. I have been skateboarding all of my life, only finding longboarding as a college freshman some years ago. The longboard quickly became a necessity to me, by way of commuting, traveling, and adventuring.
As my life came to a screeching halt in my later years at college, I finally understood myself to be transgender, and made the leap to transition for the benefit of my mental health and well being. Though it was extremely difficult in the beginning, I found solace in my board. I used it to clear my mind, erase embarrassment, and focus on something different other than the nature of anything else affecting me.
When I lost my license, I relied on my board to get me to and from work, which was 8 miles away from my home at the time. I worked two jobs and handled 16 miles a day, 5 days a week of skating. As I found different ways to make my ride better and invested in my board, I fell in love and wanted to see what else I could accomplish.
I found different ways to make going fast down hills more comfortable, and ways to extend the length of my adventure rides through months of research and development. It quickly became a passion of mine, and that was when I found out there was an entire community from all over the world who competed.
Since then, I have set and broken many of my own records, placed on the podium at many events all over the country, and set a precedent in the longboarding world for trans women everywhere.
This journey has been in the works for nearly 3 years, since I first returned from my 73 mile skate to Connecticut. At every corner of life I have been to, the calling to travel cross country has been ringing in my ears. Now, I get to make it a reality.
I invite you to follow all of my social media channels, and bookmark this blog as I embark on my greatest trial yet.