![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Girls-SK8_5-copy.jpg\")
Participant Alex Castro wore a pink helmet to a Girls-SK8 meetup. Girls-SK8 Founder Paula MacDonald (center), and instructor\/skater Syd Cantrell (right) assist participants at the skatepark. Photo by Becca McCoy<\/p>\n
Participant Alex Castro wore a pink helmet to a Girls-SK8 meetup. Girls-SK8 Founder Paula MacDonald (center), and instructor\/skater Syd Cantrell (right) assist participants at the skatepark.
Photo by Becca McCoy<\/p>\n
Paula MacDonald bought her first complete skateboard in 2022.<\/p>\n
At the age of 53.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d recently seen the Tony Hawk documentary Until the Wheels Fall Off and was harkened back to her own childhood in the 1980s, when she was a competitive BMX dirt bike racer. MacDonald remembered the shoe company Vans bringing a half pipe to the BMX tracks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were some kids that would travel along and do demonstrations before the races and I thought, \u2018Wow that is really cool, I would love to try that one day\u2019,\u201d said MacDonald. But, bicycling was her passion at that point. \u201cI never really did anything much more with the skateboard other than just ride it in a straight line.\u201d<\/p>\n
What struck her while watching the documentary, besides Hawk\u2019s longevity and persistence in the sport, was his joy doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept thinking to myself, \u2018Yeah, I really want to try this\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She went to Anchor Skate Supply, bought a board, and started taking lessons.<\/p>\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01Girls-SK8_Becca-McCoy_11202025.jpg\")
Paula MacDonald went to Anchor Skate Supply, bought a board, and started taking lessons.
Photo by Becca McCoy<\/p>\n
Skateboarding is a solitary sport, but one done in a community. You alone coast \u2013 or fly \u2013 but you become part of a culture that is sport, skill, art, and lifestyle. Socializing and developing relationships are especially fulfilling aspects of skateboarding. While female participation has grown exponentially in the last decade, it can still be a challenging world for women to enter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just a beginner skateboarder, but I have a background in marketing and events planning,\u201d thought MacDonald, \u201cso I could definitely help plan [meetups].\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2024, she founded Girls-SK8 Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to getting women, girls, and nonbinary individuals involved in the sport in a safe, inclusive, and social environment.<\/p>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/09Girls-SK8_Becca-McCoy_11202025.jpg\")
Paula MacDonald bought her first complete skateboard in 2022 at the age of 53. Now, she is the founder of Girls-SK8.
Photo by Becca McCoyGirls-SK8 Florida<\/p>\n
In St. Pete, meetups happen on the first and third Tuesdays, convening at Anchor Skate Supply and sometimes migrating over to the St. Petersburg Regional Skatepark<\/a>, located in Campbell Park. MacDonald says her groups (there is a Tampa meetup as well) have had participants as young as 3, and some in their 60s. And, beginners are more than welcome, they are encouraged.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually, the things that we hear are: \u2018I\u2019m very clumsy, I have no sense of balance, I\u2019m really afraid of getting hurt,\u2019 and yes, all those things are valid,\u201d said MacDonald. \u201cAnd you know, it might not be for you, ultimately. You know pretty quickly whether it\u2019s something you\u2019re willing to try.\u201d<\/p>\n Girls-SK8 Florida has loaner boards and pads to make it as simple as possible to try skateboarding.<\/p>\n \u201cBe brave to try something new. It is scary, and it\u2019s intimidating, but it\u2019s very exhilarating if you can work through those challenges,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Try Something New<\/p>\n At a recent meetup, Shannon Daly got on a skateboard for the very first time. She was visibly nervous, even though she is an experienced snowboarder and surfer.<\/p>\n She is confident on boards and in her ability to balance, \u201cbut concrete is harder than water,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The evening\u2019s group instructor was Syd Cantrell, an unassuming and effortlessly cool young woman who glides on a board like it is an extension of herself. She held Daly\u2019s hand \u2013 literally \u2013 working approachably on the basics while cheerleading every attempt.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Learning to skateboard will take countless attempts. And that persistence is also part of the magic.<\/p>\n \u201cFalling is as much a part of it as rolling,\u201d said MacDonald. \u201cYou know that you\u2019re going to experience failure, but you continue to get up and keep trying.\u201d<\/p>\n Learn more about Girls-SK8 Florida and find a meetup at girls-sk8.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Looking for more things to do in St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper\u2019s full calendar of events<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"one](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/03Girls-SK8_Becca-McCoy_11202025.jpg\")
In 2024, Paula MacDonald founded Girls-SK8 Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to getting women, girls, and nonbinary individuals involved in the sport in a safe, inclusive, and social environment.
Photo by Becca McCoy<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/010Girls-SK8_Becca-McCoy_11202025-e1763326156225.jpg\")
Participant Shannon Daly with skater and group lesson instructor Syd Cantrell.
Photo by Becca McCoy<\/p>\n