<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>When we spoke to María Voth Velasco we quickly realized that she is highly passionate when it comes to share skateboarding. During ROLL Models 2020 leadership program María carried out “Girlsskate Aachen alongside her own clothing brand&nbsp; “Turtlehorn” which was directed for all girls and women in Aachen, Germany and surrounding who were interested in Skateboarding,&nbsp; meeting more girls and&nbsp; connecting between each other.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>To get a quick view of her clothing brand&nbsp; Turtlehorn: is a sustainable streetwear fashion brand and where María designs and creates new ideas and projects. Turtlehorn is versatile and not only deals with fashion, but also ensures that, ideally, collaborations arise that include social projects in order to create something good with fashion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Pursuing the main objective of creating union and building up a girls-skate community in Aachen, she made inclusive emphasis on the integration of every girl / womxn making her sessions accessible and welcoming for any skate levels.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>During the skate lessons /program the objectives were to work on developing tolerance, acceptance and grow. She was focused on applying skateboarding as a tool for personal growth&nbsp; and passing over mental boundaries - mentally, personally and sportively-&nbsp; overcoming personal barriers and obstacles in carrying out activities. Through her program, María wanted the girls to strengthen their self-confidence; meeting and skating in public spaces around them and encouraging the attitude of going out with the board. She motivated the participants to be brave, have fun and reach the goals they set for between them.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><em><span>“For me it was great. I reached out to a lot of participants which I did not expect and they were really into it. At first most of them did not know how to skateboard but then the progress came and I was really proud of it. Hearing them say “yes I can do it!” was really pleasant and joyful. They continued practicing during this time and they are friends now.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>During the sessions María teached how to&nbsp; learn to skate within a girls’ community, using proper clothes and shoes for skateboarding, learning what skateboarding is about and supporting and helping each other while learning and doing tricks. She also stands that a good warming up before every session is also important to start&nbsp; the session happy and motivated. The location of the regular skate lessons was mainly at an underground spot in Aachen known as the ‘Unti’ but she also moved to more locations like other street spots, skate parks, bowls or a pump track.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Besides the regular skate lessons, she organized a “challenge moment” and a contest at the end of the program, where the girls will win something related to skateboarding (goodies</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>from the local skate shop Titus Aachen).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>During the program, she also integrated some creative workshops related to skateboarding, like making a batik workshop, a personalized sticker workshop and showing some videos of girls skateboarding as an inspiration before starting the main program. Creative workshops such as the batik workshop or sticker workshop took&nbsp; place at the Bleiberger Fabrik in Aachen.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Despite times being challenging and difficult due to Covid-19 pandemic, she made it to adapt her program to the situation. For that she had to place the whole program a bit later than she&nbsp; thought; It turned to be an autumn - winter program from September until December instead of Summer, in the hope that the situation and guidelines got better with the time.&nbsp; Apart from adopting basic sanitary measures such as wearing masks and gloves, keeping the safe distance and having antibacterial at the sessions and using a broom stick to hold on instead of touching the participants, she also integrated the guidelines came out of the Goodpush webinar about safe skate projects during the pandemic.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><em><span>“We decided to make some videos in the meantime for the girls so they can practice at home or find a spot and practice there. We are also spot-checking and making videos. That was helpful and inspiring for them for sure.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Is great to hear that the resources from ROLL models were helpful to help people to plant this skateboarding seeds we love that much and we hope that this will encourage more and more people to get hands on social skateboarding!&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><em><span>“In general the project was great. The organization supported us and also there was a budget&nbsp; for the equipment which was really helpful. Also a guideline abou how to train people or how to make activities with them, how to lead a group...Those online sessions were really helpful.”&nbsp;</span></em></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>We are really happy to see her grow and stay really motivated to keep on going.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><em><span>Once you start this kind of project is hard to stop. People texted me asking for more information and advice, then I wrote an article about womxn skateboarding which people found really interesting. More and more people want to apply for skate courses… the groups can’t be enormous because I can't control them! I have to make some different sessions. We are also hoping to do a summer skate camp, let’s see what happens!”&nbsp;</span></em></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><em><span>“When it is over we will meet and skate again. </span></em></span></span></span></span></p>

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