Lisa Whitaker filming Lacey Baker at the X Games, credit: Kim Woozy

The Girls Skate Network site came about by accident. I was just curious about learning web design. Around that time I was sponsored and travelling around with a lot of the top girls doing contests. I’ve been filming just about as long as I’ve been skating and always had cameras with me. So when I needed content for a sample site I just pulled things from my computer, which happened to be photos and videos of girls skating.

I didn’t think much of it and only shared it with a few friends, but soon after I started receiving emails from girls around the world who had stumbled upon it and were inspired by it. Weird to think about it now, but the internet was still pretty new then so there wasn’t the content overload like there is now. This was before YouTube and Social Media…am I sounding old yet? Ha!  The feedback I get keeps me inspired to keep it going.

Meow Skateboards came about when my boyfriend and I got a tax refund and he suggested we use the refund money to start a company we could do for fun. I had thrown around the idea of starting something several times over the last decade, but this time the timing and pieces seemed right.

My plate is pretty full with my “real” job, keeping Girls Skate Network updated and filming as much as I can…but this kinda fit into what I was already doing, the only difference is we are making product and supporting a team.

The biggest motivation for me was noticing that most of the top female street skaters in the world didn’t have board sponsors or if they did it was “flow” and not marketed.  I felt we were in a position to do something to change that.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it is harder, but  Meow Skateboards is less flexible. Girls Skate Network is just a website. I try to keep it as updated as possible, but if something else comes up or I’m busy I can put it off.  With  Meow Skateboards I have to make sure product is stocked, team has boards and orders are shipped out as soon as possible.

The internet and social media have had the biggest impact on visibility for girls skating over the last decade. In the past you had to rely on a company or skate magazine for any sort of coverage, now there are lots of options for people to promote themselves so more girls are being seen.  It has also made it a lot easier to find and connect with other girls who skate.

As for changes for the worst, well the internet, it can be a double edge sword. Ha! I would love to see more events of all levels that just bring girls together to skate and have fun.