When most activities were canceled due to COVID-19 last summer, Dallas Pritchard and Elle Rovenstine found an outlet in skateboarding. Now they want to share their newfound hobby with others to build friendships and provide an inclusive community for other girls.
"Right when COVID hit last year, we were feeling the effects of the quarantine and the lack of community that came with it," explains Dallas. "We both found a love of skating, but we realized that girls were a large minority in the skating world. So each week, we invited a new girl to learn how to skate. From that, our group found its origin as Nashgirl Sk8."
Nashgirl Sk8 is steadily growing, and the cool part is most of the girls are skateboarding newbies. While mastering the art of controlling balance and overcoming a minor fear of hitting the pavement are essential in skateboarding, Elle and Dallas have a much larger vision.
"We want this to be a place for girls to skate, feel welcomed and encouraged," Elle says. "Dallas and I believe in treating others with kindness, and we've found that skating has the power to build friendships and unite us under a common love for the sport."
The best part is Nashville is packed with great places to practice skateboarding. Some of their favorite spots include Cornelia Fort Airpark, Crockett Park, and Two Rivers Skate Park. And suppose you're walking past the State Capitol in downtown Nashville and see lots of hair blowing in the wind while jumping a few steps on a board. In that case, the chances are that Elle and Dallas are nearby.
Dallas and Elle also offer small group skates and one-on-one lessons for girls wanting individual instruction. "Some want to get the hang of skating before gathering with others. Getting a couple of falls out of the way makes some girls more comfortable. We offer options so everyone can find their best level," says Dallas.
Not only are these two active girls interested in building friendships with other college-aged girls, they also plan to develop a line of merchandise and use a portion of the proceeds to support programs that benefit women in need.
Thistle Farms is an organization that helps women survivors recover from prostitution, trafficking and addiction. Elle and Dallas feel strongly about the program's mission. While their financial impact may be small, the size of their hearts and the desire to develop the same in others is all that matters.
"Our hope is to see girls hop on a board and conquer their fears through skating," says Dallas. "Trying something new is always scary, and some of the girls have never been on or seen a skateboard. Seeing the excitement in their eyes when they learn a few basic techniques are amazing. And the best part is watching newbies find the confidence they haven't felt in a while."
Although some girls in the group are experienced skaters, Elle says working with girls who have never skated is fun. "It takes about a month to get a real feel for the board. After you find your balance, then stuff can get fun. The best part is creating a judgment-free and uplifting environment. So many girls our age need friends to build them up, not shame them or place unwanted social pressure on them."
To join a fun girl's skateboard group, Dallas and Elle are easy to find. Follow @nashgirlsk8 on Instagram or visit their NashGirlSk8.com.