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The X Factor
Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
Sk8r Grrrls
The World Of Ryan Lochte Is One Of Diamond Grills And Bad Doodles
"But Now I've Had Enough. I Don't Want Turkey Anymore. I'm Full."
Hillary Clinton Was Totally Avril Lavigne In High School

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Skellatrix
07/31/09

In reply to The X Factor
Ugh, skateboards. That's like, so five years ago.
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LolaQuinn is full of beans
07/31/09

In reply to The X Factor
This is yet another sport where I don't understand why they must gender-divide it. Maybe a skateboarder can explain it to me, but I just see no reason why men and women can't compete against each other in something like the X games.
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MegiEr
07/31/09

@LolaQuinn is full of beans:

Boobs make it harder to balance??
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crazy_lady
07/31/09

@MegiEr: Actually, our center of balance is different than mens, is it not? However, I fail to see how that would affect skateboarding.
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sportz.star
07/31/09

@crazy_lady: Well, skateboarding like surfing, skiing, skating and any other sport where your move on a non-feet object is primarily about balance, so having a lower center of balance and wider hips (usually) is exactly why skating is more challenging for women than men.

Ex. Shawn White, gold medal snowboarder and arguably best half pipe rider in the world, has tiny hips and might be 5'6'' with his legs and torso about equal lengths. Much easier to twist and spin that way.
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JerseyGrrrl
07/31/09

@sportz.star: So maybe the sport should be divided into classes based on torso to leg ratios, instead of classes based on what's between the legs??
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LolaQuinn is full of beans promoted this comment Edited by JerseyGrrrl at 07/31/09 2:27 PM JerseyGrrrl was starred JerseyGrrrl was unstarred

LolaQuinn is full of beans
07/31/09

@JerseyGrrrl: oooh. I like the way you think.
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Jack_Burton
07/31/09

@crazy_lady:
Boys tend to start taking really stupid physical risks at a younger age (as far as wheeled-things go), which gives them an edge in training.

Before adolescence, neither sex has a big physical advantage/handicap - both bodies are pretty similar.

Women grow to have wider hips / men will grow to have wider shoulders, so, women have a lower center of gravity. But - women also have lower percentage of "fast-twich" muscle fibers, which makes them more likely to excel in endurance, rather than instantaneous, dynamic moves.

Ultimately, in a lot of "extreme sports" women just have to adopt a slightly different technique than men. They may have to adjust strategies particular to their builds. If a dad or boyfriend is your mentor / trainer, well - you see the problem...
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Jack_Burton
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
Under Sharia law, they may have to become BMXers. Tragic.
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krismry
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
I hope they have an opportunity to stay alive long enough to grow up, too. Skateboards are, such as, the least of it, as you may have noticed by reading the actual news.
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formergr
06/02/09

@krismry: They are the least of it, but even given the dangerous situation they live in every day, the worst thing for these kids' psyches is to completely shut them off from any childhood activities.

They need some outlet to play and be kids and forget the harsh reality of their current situation. To be blunt and possibly a little morbid, if they live (as you hope), this will help them grow up at least somewhat well-adjusted. If, heaven forbid, they don't, at least they had some fun in their short lives.
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formergr
06/02/09

@krismry: To add to this, one of the most heartbreaking things I've read is a book with a collection of drawings by kids who were shut in the Jewish ghettos during the Holocaust. Even with everything they were experiencing (starvation, marginalization, dying and disappearing neighbors and relatives, witnessed beatings by Nazi soldiers) their drawings still showed that they played, imagined, etc. Actual news or not.
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krismry
06/02/09

@formergr: I know what you mean, and thanks for your insightful comments. I saw film of prisoners of war who were growing tomato plants in containers. And the musicians at camps in WWII. But the actual news is that no one really wants to confront the horror of usa involvement in people's lives in other countries, and I was too much of a coward to say what I really thought.
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MarissaExplainsItAll
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
Skateboarding is such a great activity. Everytime you learn a new trick, there's about 10 other tricks to learn. I hope these girls find it as fulfiling as I do!
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IBleedGlitter: The High Priestess of Tinsel
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
"I'm not upset with my brothers for beating me," she said. "They have the right."

That absolutely breaks my heart. Not only do her brothers have the right to beat her with wires, but they can do it simply because she was skating with poor children.
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PrarieMuffin
06/02/09

@IBleedGlitter: The High Priestess of Tinsel: I literally jumped out of my chair when I read that. It's not that I didn't know these attitudes existed; it's just that I didn't know being reminded would continually kill pieces of my soul. When do I earn my tough shell already?
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nessalicious
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
I am such a sucker for things like this. If any of you doubt the amazing effects skateboarding can have on you then look up John Cardiel, and be prepared to cry (or is that just me?). I donated money to them straightaway.
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morninggloria
06/02/09

In reply to Equality Through Skateboarding: Afghan Girls Skate With Skateistan
Skateboarding may also lead to being Lupe Fiasco's girlfriend.
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MarissaExplainsItAll
06/02/09

@morninggloria: I wouldn't mind doing a kick push in that direction
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shorty63136
06/02/09

@MarissaExplainsItAll: +1
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lisas
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
I've seen quite a few girls with skates over the last little while. Not quite as many as the boys, but definitely more than were doing it when I was a whippersnapper. I approve of this trend.
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Hiroine Protagonist
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
Heh, when I was snowboarding all the time were we "Chicks with Big Sticks". I had a friend in the sign shop who made stickers for us.
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DangerMouse
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
I'm just glad that she said girls would go crazy instead of WILD.
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rednrowdy
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
i don't know the mom in this article, but she and i grew up on the same side of town. i have fond memories of all the skater guys goofing off in empty parking lots as a teenager. sadly, the only skater girls back then were girlfriends of the skater guys. it's nice to see the girls getting into it on their own and not because their boyfriend is doing it.
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Cafezinha
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
The mini-Zinhas received their first boards for their 5th birthday, but we've not had much of an opportunity to go out and use them since then (and they just passed their 6th birthday). I'd love for them to have some positive role models and someone to teach them the ropes. I never skated so I can't even begin to give them tips and don't know who I'd ask to get them from.
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gangey
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
Lots of girls skate in my town, but there seems to be a dichotomy: girls ride longboards and mostly stay out of the skate parks, while the boys ride your classic type of board and focus on tricks. I'm not sure what the implications are, but I think it is just nice to see teenagers out getting some exercise what with all the doom and gloom in the media about the obesity epidemic.

Also, longboards are hella fun. I need to get mine out of the shed.
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ellaesther
03/18/09

In reply to Sk8r Grrrls
A) It's really worthwhile to click through and read the whole article. It'll give you that warm, smiley feeling of having spent a little time with your cute/badass friend and her adorable tot.

and B) I wish this were in Chicago! My daughter would be totally, totally down with this! I may have to do some research. Surely there are women who skate in the Middle West! Of course, she may be fine trying it out with boys, too. Hmmm.... /scuttles over to park district site for information/
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