Black Skater Chick Cruising Playlist #2: Punk Memories (October 2017)

The BSC Punk Memories Playlist is dedicated to all the punk tunes that our readers grew up listening to in the late 90s and early 2000s - though it is not exhaustive.  Punk music is very special to us because its intersection with skateboarding is inevitable. Additionally, some of us were classified as misfits and weirdos because of our love of punk rock, not knowing that its roots began in Black culture (please check out the documentary A Band Called Death, to learn about the first punk band made up of black brothers). We hope this playlist  triggers some nostalgia and enhances your skateboarding experience.

Black Skater Chick Cruising Playlist #1 (September 2017)

Tunes for Cruising 

Music is a vital attribute to creating an enjoyable skating experience. Whether you're listening to music through your earphones or wireless speakers, it sets the atmosphere for a chilled out coast or a vigorous skating session in the streets or at the park. At BLACK SKATER CHICK, we like cruising to any genre with rhythmic drums, ambient loops and experimental instrumentals - afrobeats, soul, soca, hip hop, trap and reggae- to enhance the momentum. 

We decided to create the first official BSC Cruising Playlist for this month. Enjoy the eclectic musical vibes and hear full mixes from DJ BLACKSK8ER CHICK on SoundCloud.

BLACK SKATER CHICK's Top 5 Snow Day Movie Picks

Hey BSC Family, I know a lot of you on the East Coast are enjoying the blizzard. Here's some skating, snowboarding and surfing movies to check out over the weekend snow day.

1. Getting Nowhere Faster (2004)- The ultimate classic all girl skateboarding movie and one my favorites.  

Featuring: Amy Caron, Vanessa Torres,Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, Alex White, Kenna Gallagher, Faye Jaime, Lauren Mollica, Van Nguyen, Elizabeth Nitu, Nugget, Stefanie Thomas,Patiane Frietas & Lauren Perkins

2.  White Wash (2011)- The documentary discusses the intersection of surfing, race and identity through the experiences of black surfers from the  continental US, Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica. Available for only $1.99 on AmazonVideo. 

Featuring: Many surfers including, Andrea Kabwasa and Sal Masekela 

3. 12 Miles North: The Nick Gabaldon Story- Another documentary about surfing and race, 12 miles North describes the life of Nick Gabaldon, the first documented surfer African-American and Mexican descent.

4. Too Hard (2012)- The sickest women in snowboarding shred it out on the mountains. 

Featuring: Gabby Maiden (the first African-American woman of competitive snowboarding), Danyale Patterson, Fancy Rutherford, Darrah Reid-McClean, Desiree Melancon, Joanie Robichaud,Madison Blackley, Merry Raid, Taylor Elliot, Alice Gorton, Alexa McCarty, Marie-Andree Racine, Joelle “JJ” Juchli,  Marie Hucal, Gillian Andrewshenko, Vanessa Moore, Sara Berdayes, Luci Imbach, and Jesse Huege.

5. Faces of Africa : Surfers Not Street Children (2015)- The documentary follows the life of Ntando Msibi, 18, who through the charity, Surfers Not Street Children, becomes a surfing star while overcoming the negative issues of growing up as kid living on the streets of South Africa. 

Happy New Year Black Skater Chick Family!

Hey BSC Fam,

Happy New Year to all of you! I hope 2016 brings you all that you've hoped for and many blessings.Thank you for all your support over the years. This year is going to be awesome with more frequent content coming to BLACK SKATER CHICK and some new people joining our team. Stay grinding in 2016!

Love, 

Richie P.

P.S.
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South African Skateboarding Short 'Dropping In' Premieres at Sundance Film Festival

Dropping In, 2015

The skateboarding oriented short Dropping In was selected among five winners for the coveted title of 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winner, out of over 1,000 submissions. Inspired by true events, Dropping In follows the coming-of-age journey of Sam (Sam Masuku), an informal settlement dwelling youth in South Africa who is taken under the wing of a skateboard park owner, Marcus (Damiane van Reenen). Marcus soon becomes Sam’s skating coach and mentor.

The film was inspired by the story of a Jeffreys Bay (the heart of South Africa surfing) surfer who conquered the vices of drugs through finding his calling in surfing. Following this unorthodox path, the surfer changed the lives of locals and helped pave the careers of current South African surfers. In Between 10and5, Willem van den Heever (Dropping In writer, producer, editor and director) said this man, “didn’t only teach tourists and holiday goers how to surf, but also some of the kids on the street. His aim was to help them invest their energy into something positive. And this is how some of the street kids have winded up as professional surfers, surfing for South Africa today”(Between 10and5, 2015). the film, Sam too goes through the process of overcoming his troubles through skateboarding. 

Watch the full short Dropping In *contains strong language*

In a RYOT Interview, van den Heever said, “as a young South African coming out of school, you only have a few choices because I think South Africa is a bit conservative when it comes to your job and what you’re going to study..so things like studying art, or film or anything alternative except for the norm like science or economics, is really way out” (RYOT, 2015). 

How many of you chose/are choosing to go against the norm in your studies or careers? How was it influences by action sports? Or the arts...etc?

Let’s weigh in BSC readers!

Follow @Willemdafilm on Twitter to let him know your thoughts on Dropping In
Remember to Follow @BLACKSK8ERCHICK on Twitter.

Check Out the 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winners Here