Skateboarding saved my life: an interview with Abigail Sawyers

Abigail’s determination and passion captures the true essence of skateboarding. Her story is a reminder of skateboarding’s ability to bring together people of all different backgrounds and teach us how to overcome our struggles on and off the board. Although Abigail’s story is unique, her experience finding community and acceptance within skateboarding — and, in turn, finding her voice — is something that many skateboarders can relate to.

How long have you been skateboarding for and what got you into it?

I have been skateboarding for three years. As far back as I can remember I have been interested in skateboarding and have always felt a connection with it. I remember having dreams about skating (actually, I still do). The first time that I thought about asking my mother if I could start skateboarding was when I was in middle school… sitting completely alone.

I have always had problems with socializing, and I was bullied time and time again. In every other thing I have tried, people have said that I could not keep up, that I would never make it… for me to wake up. My parents, family and the few friends I had, told me that what other people say is not always true, and that I would find something that could change everything. The year before I started skateboarding was the worst year of my life. When I started skateboarding… things changed.

You told me that skateboarding has saved your life on multiple occasions. Why do you think skateboarding was able to have such a big impact?

Skateboarding saved my life because it is the only thing I have fully enjoyed and have gave my all. It keeps me active and challenges my mind and my body. I tried so many other sports (tennis, basketball, dance, gymnastics) and I had always been told that I couldn’t keep up or make it in other sports and hobbies.

It keeps me busy and builds my confidence. I struggled with severe depression and I had no outlet and nobody who understood what it was like to be different. Skateboarding gave me the space and freedom to go at my own pace and find myself. Even though I was the only girl and I was young, I was accepted there by nearly everyone right away. There was no judgement. They wanted to see me land that trick and were just as excited as I was when I did something cool.

How often do you skate?

I go skateboarding every day no matter what the weather is like. It can be 20 degrees or 95 degrees… I will still skate.

Do you have a favorite place to skate?

I like to skate anywhere and everywhere. I skated at the King Skatepark from day one. During the pandemic I have been really limited to where I can skate. My parents know how important it is to me to have that option so they built a pad and we put OC Ramps up so I can skate at home too.

What was your involvement in the re-opening of the King NC Skatepark back in 2018?

My involvement in reopening the skatepark in 2018 was not easy. I had to put myself out there and get support from the local and national community. I attended all the City Council meetings, park and recreation committee meetings and started a petition to get it reopened. It was very stressful and frustrating. It wasn’t easy to stand in front of the City Council and community and explain that we were just as deserving as anyone else to have a place to belong. We made a point to the City Council that the skatepark has saved multiple lives time and time again. Where would the other kids like me go now? What would they do? The City had not been maintaining the skatepark well and there were holes in the ramps. One of them was on the top of a ramp, it caused me to fall and get hurt because my foot got caught on the hole. There were metal strips that were bent and busted, the fence was broken and we had reasonable issues and concerns that we felt they needed to address. A friend of mine had told City Council, prior to when I started skateboarding, about the damage and they did not do anything about it. I had to step up and do something, and they repaired some things, and the skatepark reopened again! There was a local news story about it too.

Why was it important to you to get the repairs done to the park?

To me and everyone that skates there… that park is all we’ve got. Skaters come from all different backgrounds, good and bad, and have their own mental and physical battles. They HAVE to have somewhere to go and something to do. Skateboarding teaches commitment, determination and confidence. It teaches you the rules of life… if it’s hard, keep trying! If you fall, get back up!! To some of us skateboarding really is all we’ve got, so it mattered to me to make sure we all have a place to go… I stepped up and here we are.

Would you recommend skateboarding for other people that have autism?

100%!!! I will recommend skateboarding to anyone willing to try regardless of their problems. I battle with more than autism, I have a rare genetic syndrome called 16p13.11 microduplication syncope, and have many physical problems that cause me constant and chronic pain. There are skateboarders with all sorts of problems from depression to blindness, you can go at your own pace and be yourself.

If you or someone you know lives with Autism, we recommend checking out The A.Skate Foundation. If you are a person in crisis or in need of a safe and judgement free place to talk, you can find a list of global mental health and suicide prevention hotlines here.

Interview: Sarah Huston
Photos: Courtesy of Abigail Sawyers