In the summertime of 1999, I used to be lucky to pursue a semester overseas in Prague, Czechia at Charles College. My motives weren’t educational. I had heard of a derelict plaza coated in marble slabs the place skate boarders gathered merely referred to as “Stalin,” in reference to a monument that had been blown up, and I needed to skate it. I had barely obtained over my jet lag and hadn’t even visited the well-known vacationer spots like Charles Bridge and the medieval astronomical clock in Previous City, earlier than I bolted over to Stalin.
After I arrived on the skate spot, I immediately made associates with native skate boarders, together with two ladies named Katka (Kate) and Lucie (Sarah) Kalinová. The women had been mildly proficient in English, and I used to be solely starting my Czech classes, however we simply found out a solution to talk by way of gestures and assist from associates. We might meet up with one another for skate classes at Stalin and the native skatepark on Stvanice island the place the annual professional contest referred to as the Mystic Sk8 Cup was held. The park even had an indoor mini-ramp and each ladies had it dialed, particularly Lucie.
In actual fact, Lucie had simply been featured within the native Czech skateboard journal referred to as Board within the June 1999 difficulty showcasing her ramp using abilities together with an interview. I used to be so pleased to seek out that nearly all the problems of Board have been digitized by Radek Hruška, as I had misplaced the few copies I owned through the years, together with Lucie’s function underneath her nickname “Sarah.”
With the obscure assist of Google translate, the interview seems to start out with Lucie sharing her every day routine which included plenty of chores like washing dishes, which she loved in addition to making her specialty potato dumplings and apple strudel. She was born in Svitavách in 1979, had two brothers together with a twin, and on the time of the interview had been skating for 2 years and three months and was dwelling and finding out in Prague.
Lucie bought a used set-up from a pal and began out in mini-ramp, particularly throughout the winter earlier than hitting up road spots, which she got here to take pleasure in. She gave some recommendation to ladies, alongside the traces of ignoring the blokes. Primarily, simply do what you need and experience for your self. I’m not clear if her mother and father had been supportive of her skateboarding, as her mother wasn’t funding her pursuit, however maybe her dad offered funds for Lucie to enter contests and go on roadtrips.
The interviewer made a bizarre remark about it being horrible when girls had been higher than males, however possibly it was a joke or a solution to praise Lucie’s mini-ramp abilities! Lucie appeared unphased about any suggestion of being handled otherwise as a lady and was pleased to offer recommendation to male skaters. She simply needed to have enjoyable, though she was not a fan of being referred to as “Xena” in reference to the Princess Warrior performed by Lucy Lawless on tv. Perhaps that was why she most popular the nickname Sarah?
Lucie was a fan of Elissa Steamer and wished she might skate like her. Lucie additionally entered some contests, mentioning one in České Budějovice south of Prague in Bohemia, that she was wanting ahead to, however stated competing towards the blokes was the worst. “It’s very arduous to make a reputation for your self amongst guys.” Her favorite tips had been frontside grinds and 5-0 grinds.
The interviewer was a bit hit or miss. One minute he acknowledged how Lucie was fearless, dropping in to a vert ramp a number of years prior in 1997 after which requested if she was capable of arrange a skateboard herself, which she replied “Clearly… it’s nothing sophisticated.” The interviewer inquired if she was fascinated with romantic “skate dates,” and Lucie replied that she had a boyfriend, and he wasn’t a skater however maybe she would give him a board to experience!
I might need misunderstood the interpretation, however when requested about Lucie’s curiosity in trend, she replied that she solely owned two pairs of footwear however most popular to put on snug skateboarding footwear. Lucie had hopes of incomes some revenue upon her commencement, maybe as a secretary though discovering work was a battle. “When I’ve cash, I’ll purchase the issues I at all times needed. And that’s skirts, high-heeled footwear, jackets… I’ll purchase all of them at some point.” In conclusion, Lucie acknowledged her household and stated, “I salute all the ladies who skate. Hold in there and ignore the jerks.”
In studying between the traces, I believe it was not simple in Czechia within the Nineties being somebody who pushed the boundaries of gender expectations and roles, and this strain to adapt to sure stereotypes of femininity. Whereas I didn’t query the glamour photographs of Lucie and if she favored the quilt photograph, harking back to how American manufacturers like Shorty’s portrayed their group pin-up woman “Rosa,” I’ve at all times questioned if Lucie had a selection within the matter.
I keep in mind feeling confused once I talked about feminism to the opposite Czech skater named Katka, and being advised that feminism was an excellent evil (alongside the traces of communism) with girls’s position being within the residence as a mom and housekeeper. I’m going to imagine that that is associated to a adverse historical past with Stalin as a dictator, distorting “feminism” to extend the workforce and Czechia being invaded and occupied by Russia. It was a tradition shock to listen to this response as a result of I had assumed that as a skateboarder Kate had a streak of rebelliousness and was fascinated with being unbiased.
General, it was superior to have a chance to actually join with Czech youth, versus my fellow Canadian classmates. I feel it was partly as a result of, within the Nineties and early 2000s there gave the impression to be a common code that should you met one other skateboarder whereas touring, you had an on the spot connection particularly should you met one other feminine skater.
On the finish of my research, I used to be invited to a household cottage in Bohemia, staying at Kate’s grandparents’ residence, and had a correct change. We would have had a totally completely different background and upbringing however due to this shared ardour for skateboarding, every part else was irrelevant.
Based mostly on Fb, it seems to be like Lucie pursued her love of cooking in school, has two sons, and works at a Regulation Workplace. Proper on!
Reference:
- Radik. “Sarah.” Board 32 (June 1999): 12-14.