Board Women

The phenomenal Demi Taylor is founder of the London Surf Film Festival, author of several surfing books and producer of The Big Sea - this years break out film bringing to light the darker side of the production of Neoprene, and therefore, much of the surfing industry.This was a phenomenally interesting conversation, not least because your assumption would be that brands who are so keen to push their green agenda in the surf space would be on board with the shift to environmentally friendly wetsuit solutions on hearing the news that the production of Neoprene is giving a whole community cancer.But, despite the team on the film trying to involve many of the central brands in the industry, many of them have simply ignored its message.There's a lot to get through, so this episode is a bit longer than usual.Episode highlights:The Big Sea - the juxtaposition between the stunning visuals and the hard hitting storyHow the film came aboutThe hope to bring brands on board“We think we’re activists just because we surf, and we’re not” - overcoming complacency in the surf communityDemi’s journey in to surfing and how she and her partner Chris came to write iconic surf travel books Demi’s role as a mid life woman in the industryStarting the London Surf Film Festival and the importance of storytelling in driving changeCan Caroline find a natural rubber medical cover for her cast? More about Demi:@imaybesurfing@londonsurffilmfestthebigsea.orgMentions in this episode:Looking Sideways with Matt BarrJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

Having achieved all she wanted to in her snowboarding career (she’d won the X Games 3 times), Jenny Jones suddenly had the opportunity to take part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. At the age of 33, she became the first UK athlete to win an Olympic medal at a snow event - a bronze in the women’s slopestyle. She is now a mum (having had her baby Wilbur at the age of 43), a TV presenter, podcaster, surfer and skater, and snowboarding coach. Episode highlightsFalling - not on a board, but holding a baby!The impact of the financial crash on snow sports and sponsorship. Being at one's peak and unexpectedly reaching for a new peak - the call from Team GB about slopestyle being in the 2014 Winter Olympics.Recovering from concussion and still making it to the Olympics at the age of 33…and smashing it. Sharing the joy of being on a snow and surf board with ‘bump’.The bliss of becoming a mum at 43, despite being called geriatric.Jenny’s surf journey and moving to Devon to do more surfing. Setting up snowboarding workshops and retreats that focus on mindset as well as board skills. It’s time to get back on a skateboard and finally get that 'rock to fakie’.More about Jenny:@jennyjonessnowworkshopbyjennyjones.comThankUSnowboarding podcast - episode with Jenny JonesJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

Learning to skate with your mum tends to be something that applies when you’re a kid, but in the case of Britt and Kaz it happened when they were 30 and 56.Two years have now gone by and they are both hooked. They now have a considerable following on instagram as @2girlssk8 Britt says of her mum Kaz:“I got my first kick flip because of my mum, and I still tell myself something she tells me. The phrase she said to me was ‘knees up buttercup’ because I just wasn’t bringing my knees up. So now in my head I’ve just got ‘knees up buttercup, knees up buttercup’.”The conversation is full of energy and a commitment to help each other learn, which is really magical and beautiful to listen in on.  Episode highlights:Getting in to skating together as adults and as a mum and daughter duo.Overcoming fear of judgment.Skating and mental health: Kaz on the life saving effect of skating on her levels of anxiety.Learning together - the ups and downs.Groups mentioned in the podcast:Foenix CruisersJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography: Clare KeylockArtwork: Rozi Wan Rimli Music: Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

Yvette Curtis is founder of Wave Wahines, a club she initially set up for her eldest child to have a safe space to surf. Since its inception eight years ago, it has broadened out to include both girls and women from all communities, as well from the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s become known for fighting for diversity and inclusion in surfing.Episode highlights:how Yvette became an accidental founderhow Wave Wahines included mums over time, not just girlstime for action - why there’s still so much to do for diversity in surfingfeeling like an imposter + why it’s an advantagethe WSL decision to be in Abu DhabiMore about Yvette:@yvette_cave@wave_wahineswavewahines.co.ukOther guests mentioned in this episode:Creating a safe space - Merida MillerJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

You'll know Lindsey as @hotmomsofskateboarding on instagram. Since launching her account and her skateboarding journey in January 2024, she has built a large following and created quite a stir online. She’s a vocal champion of the the right to joy for women, and she challenges the patriarchal system that can make some women feel like they don’t have a place in the sport.“I want other women to know that their joy is valid. The pursuit of their own joy is not only valid, but it’s crucial to having a full, experiential life”.Lindsey took up skateboarding in her late 40s after a few years of sitting on the sidelines watching her daughter learn and feeling jealous. It was when she saw a video posted by @auntyskates that she realised that the sport could be for her as well. She took a leap of faith by going on a retreat in Costa Rica with @auntyskates, and has never looked back. Episode highlights:The retreat with @auntyskates in Costa Rica - a week of freedom and joy and girlhood.Creating an online presence - finding a community of female skateboarders.Dealing with the patriarchy - showing the authentic life of what it is to be a woman.In a patriarchal system, female joy is not prioritised, but you can go against this ideology and live a fully explosive, joyful life. Dealing with trolls - pushing back. Getting through a very intense traumatic period - coming through and finding beauty in the darkness. Finding the balance between parenting and feeding your own joy.More about Lindsey:@hotmomsofskateboardingOther guests mentioned in this episode:I feel like I’m flying - Oorbee Roy aka Aunty SkatesFeel the fear and drop in anyway - Esther SayersJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

Amy, aka @oldlady_skater, is an inspiration to us all. Having skated as a child, and even represented Vans, she stopped whilst still at school, and only took it up again at the age of 42 after her kids were grown up (her kids weren't in to skateboarding). Now she is 60 and retired, she spends much of her time in the skate park. She’s an advocate for pushing a little, taking a few risks, and seeing where it might get you.“Once you have it in your mind that you know you can do it, doing it is easier. It’s when you don’t think you can do it that you have a problem.”Episode highlightsTrying to master backside disasters and falling a lot. Getting in to skateboarding as a child - "my parents got divorced and it was a good distraction".Trying out for Vans and getting in to the team.Having children early and focussing on being a mum.Getting back in to skateboarding at the age of 42, and never looking back. Now 60, retired, and at the skate park all the time, often with friends of all ages.Loving the skate parks you used to hate.Finding a following on instagram as @oldlady_skater.Being diagnosed with ADHD and why skateboarding is good for an ADHD brain - “you have to be present and skateboarding forces you in to that presence".Amy's advice: Take a few risks. Put your pads on and try hard things.More about Amy Bradshaw:@oldlady_skaterJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

As Chief Marketing Officer of Finisterre, Bronwen Foster-Butler is passionate about how women are represented in the brand.“Is the woman leading or is she following? Is she on a big wave or is she on a smaller wave? It’s being aware of biases that we’ve internalised around how women are represented, and trying to challenge them.”  Episode highlights:Surfing dressed as a carrot at the Finisterre summer party.Bronwen’s journey into surfing in her late 30s.Growing up on a ski mountain and learning at the age of 2.Being one of the only female snowboarders, and becoming a coach.Finding a love of the sea later in lifeWhy women are becoming strong and how Finisterre shoots for the female gazeMore about Bronwen:@bronwenfb@finisterrefinisterre.comJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

Having admired skateboarders for decades, music and culture photographer Sarah Brownlow took the plunge and tried it out for herself in her 40s. She says of that experience:“I got on it and I absolutely loved it - the feeling of flying and doing this thing that was so difficult and so dangerous, but so rewarding. A light went on and that was it, I was hooked.”Sarah went on to become a skate coach and eventually founded @brighton_girls_skate_club. Her mission is to show girls and women that skateboarding can be for them.Episode highlightsGrowing up in a world where girls and women didn’t skate and where there was no encouragement to do so.First experience of the ‘buzz of the board’ - on a snow board.Moving to Bali and photographing skateboarders at Pretty Poison nightclub.Learning to skate board back in the UK - “I was pretty addicted from the off”. Learning to coach on the ‘Get Rolling’ scheme alongside pros such as Lucy Adams and dealing with imposter syndrome. Sharing the passion - teaching girls to skateboard at Brighton Girls School and founding a skate school.More about Sarah Brownlow:@sarah_brownlowsarahbrownlow.com@brighton_girls_skate_clubBecoming a coach:SkateboardGB Get Rolling Coaching CourseJoin the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

SUP racer extraordinaire Gemma Palmer-Dighton @getgemma is a #Shepaddles ambassador. Her mission is to demonstrate to others that the sport is open to all, and to improve its accessibility. When Gemma began to get in to paddling she struggled to find representation of black paddlers, and she’s determined to change that. Gemma has done some incredibly hardcore paddle races including the Great Glen (92km), and has set up an entire SUP community #SUPHuntingdon to bring people together around the sport.Episode highlightsThe beauty of being on a board in nature.How turning to SUP to rehabilitate an injury, sparked a passion for competing in the sport.Becoming a #Shepaddles ambassador with a mission to broaden representation.Building community around SUP.Getting out of a tight spot during the Great Glen.More about Gemma Palmer-Dighton:@getgemmaGroups and races Gemma mentions:@paddleuk@greatglenchallengeTrent 100Join the Board Women movement:boardwomen.co@boardwomenHost: Caroline KeylockProducer: Selma ChalabiPhotography - Clare KeylockArtwork - Rozi Wan Rimli Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON