What went down at Stop, Drop and Roll

On Saturday, July 24th, so-called Vancouver’s only all women’s, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming skate contest took place on a scorcher of a day on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. For the first time in its history, the contest chose Britannia Courts as its new home. A 5-year-old DIY skate park made for skaters by skaters, repurposing an under-utilized tennis court behind Britannia high school and community centre. Founded and organized by community leader Rosie Archie, Stop, Drop and Roll is going 6 years strong with the help of a full roster of eager volunteers.

70 competitors from all over so-called British Columbia gathered to compete among the 4 categories, as well as in a Game of S.K.A.T.E. sponsored by The Skate Witches. With over $3000 in entry donations, Stop, Drop and Roll was able to donate the entirety of the proceeds towards the Eagle Sun Dance Society, Savage Society, Lytton Wildfires SPCA, Lytton First Nations, and 20 complete skateboards for the youth. Our hearts go out to the community of Lytton, a village with a population of 250 residents in the Interior of so-called British Columbia. On June 30th, 2021, a wildfire devastatingly burned down 90% of the town within a matter of minutes during an unusually high spike in temperatures. Donations to any of the aforementioned societies are welcomed and highly encouraged. Over the course of two and a half weeks, Rosie was able to round up sponsors, a Vancity grant, prize money, endless gear, fruits, drinks and so much more. A true labor of love, this contest was born from her desire to elevate and grow women’s skateboarding in so-called Vancouver. Creating a safe, inclusive space for beginners, groms, senior staff, amateurs and pros to meet, connect, take up space and SKATE!

The day started off with an enthusiastic group of volunteers teaching lessons for all ages and abilities followed by a heated game of S.K.A.T.E led by The Skate Witches co-founder, Shari white. Taylor Lee Koble, a Michif Cree multidisciplinary artist and educator from Treaty 6 territory, and co-founder of Takeover Skateboarding gave a moving land acknowledgment reinforcing the importance of how we conduct ourselves as guests, especially uninvited guests, on Stolen Land.

Starting with the game of S.K.A.T.E on the quarter pipe, over a dozen competitors duked it out. Emily Grinton took home $200 over Maddy Balt as the first to do a kickflip rock to fakie. The flat ground portion came down to Breana Geering and Una Farrar as they playfully battled it out with Breana winning the $200 cash prize.

The beginner and intermediate categories were packed full of competitors. Proving they belong in the intermediate division next year, first placer Emerald followed by Jane Lakes showed that beginners are the ones to keep your sights on. The intermediate round went to Allie Horban in first place, Audrey Kerridge in second and Lily Hawley in third. The 30+’s saw Old Fashioned Standards CEO, Kassy Bailey taking the gold, Sam Shone with the silver and Renee decked in bronze. Audrey Kerridge and Kassy Bailey, our resident charisma lords, were keeping everyone entertained on the mic, putting the FASHUN, capital F, in Fashionistas. The ever jajaja-ing Norma Ibarra captured all the most integral moments through her lens, and Aya Garcia’s effervescent smize could be felt behind the other lens recording hours of invaluable footage. To top it all off, the advanced category came down to 3 sharks in black tank tops: in third with $125, Alexis Macrae, Una Farrar with $275 in second and for the second time in three years, the impossible Breana Geering in first for $500.

Big thank you to our beloved volunteers, Cherchez for the beats and treasured judges; Michelle Pezel, Charlie Hodges and Ruby Erck for selflessly baking on high to dole out the points. The top three from every category were given a goodie bag filled with decks, shoes, trucks, wheels & clothes along with priceless homemade trophies resembling the city’s mountain-to-ocean landscape. Every year the trophies are sustainably handcrafted, recycling used skate decks at Billy Would Designs carpentry studio by Rosie herself. All hands were on deck to put this one together. Michelle and Rosie spearheaded a revamp of the courts throughout the evenings leading up to the event. Transforming a somewhat dreary DIY into a pastel pink, purple, blue and floral wonderland. Carpenters came from near and far to help assemble a new, more beginner-friendly spine and ramp. With paint brushes, drills, screws and Skatelite symbiotically coming together from every angle, the courts were now looking like the cheerful and welcoming space we’d always imagined it to be.

Rosie, joyfully tearing up and full of love, picked up the mic to give us a proper sendoff. Having her family all the way up from Tsq’escemc-Canim Lake, her words hit everyone resonantly, remembering a time when she and her sister, Charmie, would only dream of having this many women to skate with; to share and build community around. It’s these connections that make people feel welcome and encouraged to continue to progress. Together, not alone. Una, Shari and Breana hoisted Rosie up upon their shoulders while the whole crowd chanted, “ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE ROSIE”, until our voices could chant no more.

Over the course of the past year, Rosie has started a non profit, Nations Skate Youth, whose mission lies in empowering Indigenous youth to embrace their right to self-determination through the positive impact of skateboarding.

“My goal is to destigmatize mental health. I want to change statistics in communities across Canada. When you spend time with youth and listen to them, their confidence grows. I started a not-for-profit called Nations Skate Youth to connect with the younger generation through skateboarding. By connecting through something they’re already interested in, it allows for them to open up and have real conversations around the importance of mental health. The goal of Nations Skate Youth is to highlight the importance of mental health in Indigenous communities and recognize that this needs to be talked about and normalized. We’ve been able to organically raise over $92,000 to put towards the outreach program.”

Travelling to Indigenous communities and schools across so-called Canada with the other members of Nations — Joe Buffalo, Dustin Henry, Tristan Henry, Adam Gee, Spencer O’Brien and more — the youth are set up with completes and lessons, knowing that a new community is being readied to embrace them.

Recently, Nations has partnered with a local carpentry program guiding Indigenous youth in building the ramps and quarter pipes that will be gifted to Indigenous reserves all across the country. If the future means youth learning because of the lending hands of other youth then we are, indeed, in good hands.

If you’d like to support Rosie on her mission, please reach out to nationsskateyouth@gmail.com with any donations or inquiries and follow their Instagram. Rosie’s interview with CBC airs on August 5th. You can find her on Instagram here and follow Stop, Drop and Roll here. 

Words: Jess Sung
Photos: Jess Sung & Norma Ibarra