Free Movement Skateboarding

I have been skating for 18 years and have taught skateboarding for 10. With a background in youth and disability support work, a BA in International Development and having volunteered in other social skate projects, I felt lucky to use this experience to start Free Movement Skateboarding with my friend Ruby Mateja back in 2017. I like doing kickflips and skids.

Ruby Mateja has been skateboarding for three years, entering the scene at an exciting time. Ruby sees skateboarding as a creative and empowering activity that can enhance confidence and tenacity in many areas of life. She is enthused to be a part of the rapidly growing girl skate scene, and to introduce this to the local and refugee population in Greece.

Working towards and fighting for the changes I want to see in the society I live in will always be central to my motivation. Over the past years I have worked with various projects in Athens, gaining various vital experience in the field of migration, social projects, youth work and solidarity work. Having a very good grasp on the situation and context in Athens, I joined the FMS team because I understand and see the impact it has, not just on our participants, but also for Athenian society.

I have been skating for the past eight years now. I am from Athens center and I mostly skate there. I have known from my friend Will about FMS but I couldn’t feel ready to ask him if I can join. Then one day I met Ruby at a physiotherapist and I eventually fell in love with the idea. I believe that helping others in general is what people are supposed to do so I volunteered. And now I’m very proud to say that I’m part of the FMS team.

Born and raised in Athens, I started skating about 5 years ago before moving to London to study Animation. While I was there, I realized how many differences there are between the two places when it comes to skateboarding. From the amount of girls skating in each place, to the amount of opportunities skaters get, my goal is to make the skateboarding scene in Athens a lot bigger and more inclusive. I love making people happy and helping them achieve their dreams!

Sociology graduate from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences of Athens with a MA’s diploma in Gender Studies from Utrecht University, and a diploma in Systemic Counseling, I have worked in the past for several NGOs with a focus on refugee/migrant and LGBTQIA+ policies, but also as a drug abuse counselor in accommodations in Athens and abroad. As a feminist and a queer woman myself, it just felt right to choose to be a part of the FMS team, a team which I consider to be intersectional and inclusive, with a great impact towards the participants and the society as a whole.

Born and raised Athenian, I loved FMS when I first saw them presenting the idea at an alternative film festival. After volunteering with them for a year, I’m now bringing some local insight, business admin knowledge and sports teaching experience to the team. I am getting my first ollies in and love learning new tricks with the kids!

Our most reliable team member, The Van has been with us from the beginning. Carrying our mobile skatepark across the city to our daily sessions, fitting through even the narrowest Athenian street gaps like it's nothing.