Photos and words by Jenna Selby.

Pioneer Skate Park hosted the annual Girl Skate Jam UK last weekend. The longest standing female skateboarding competition in Europe is now in its 12th year and saw riders travelling from all over to take part in the event. Marie Dabbadie spent over 24 hours trying to get to the UK from France she was that keen!  (Problems with official papers apparently). As well as the international riders Silvia Serret from Barca and Julia Brueckler from Austria, there was home grown talent with Aimy Brady from Liverpool, Dani Gallacher from Sheffield, Stef Nurding from Plymouth, Emily Russell from Glasgow, Dora Horvath from Edinburgh, Cora Stocker from Falmouth and local riders Camilla Mullins and Caitlin Mawhood (amongst many others) who all made their way over to St Albans on Saturday 29th.

The day was not only about holding competitions, 2 hours was allocated to just jamming together – this was the time earmarked for everybody to skate the course with no pressure, have a chinwag and generally get a feel for the ramps. Nikita, a long standing partner of the event, again put on a free BBQ for all, and Neon Stash offered tie dye sessions which all added to the festivities of the day. About 40 girls and women turned up to skate on the day which made for a brilliant atmosphere and you couldn’t have asked for better weather either.

Julia Brueckler who’d forgone Mystic Cup to compete at the GSJ won the sponsored competition, amongst other tricks she landed a crooked and lipslide on the rail and a flip over the driveway. She was followed in at a close second by UK’s number one female skater Lucy Adams. 3rd was Birmingham’s Emma Richardson.

Results:

Sponsored
1st – Julia Brueckler
2nd – Lucy Adams
3rd – Emma Richardson

Over 18
1st – Claire Alleaume
2nd – Camilla Mullins
3rd – Fran Stroud

Under 18
1st – Aimy Brady
2nd – Caitlin Mawhood
3rd – Charlotte Thatcher

Miniramp
1st – Julia Brueckler
2nd – Lucy Adams
3rd Aimy Brady

Footage from the day: