This Ruth Is On Fire

Most skaters will have picked up their first board in their teens, perhaps even earlier, and they will most likely be male too. So what is a 29-year-old female doing writing a blog post about buying your first skateboard you might ask? But here I am. Starting to skateboard at nearly 30!

There are so many forums online asking, ‘is it too late for me to start skateboarding?’, and the resounding answer (aside from the douchey 20-something sk8r bois that tell you otherwise) is that there is no such thing as an age limit when it comes to learning to skate. Need more convincing? Read Dean’s story here who started skateboarding at the age of 39!

I plan to write more posts as my journey into skateboarding continues but today’s entry is going to be more of a brief set of practical tips for buying your first skateboard.

This is me circa 2013 in New Zealand on a Sector 9 41.5" Longboard - I have only 'dabbled' in skateboarding before but loved cruising around on this baby <3

Best Skateboard For Beginners

There are many different shapes and sizes of skateboards to choose from when starting out, all of which have different pros/ cons and purposes to suit your needs. Here is a quick rundown:

Longboards: As the name suggests, these boards are longer than the average skateboard that you might see at the skate park. Within this category there are a variety of shapes that are designed for different purposes e.g. cruising, downhill, carving. This is the most common board for beginners to choose because of its stability (I’ll write a more in-depth post on longboards another time).

Plastic Mini-Cruisers: A much smaller board with the main purpose of getting you from A to B. Easy to transport due to their size and weight but less stable underfoot.

Double-kick or Trick Board: This is the board that most people will associate with skaters and is the type most likely to be found at a skate park. Size-wise, the board sits somewhere between a longboard and a mini-cruiser and has a double kick (e.g. upward curving end) at either end to allow for tricks.

(Please note that I’m a beginner skateboarder and the board that I choose to ride is an Osprey Wood Gradient 32” Cruiser which has the width and stability of a longboard but is short enough and has a kicker like a trick board.)

My 32" Cruiser

Best Skateboard Decks For Beginners

Quite simply, the wider the deck the more stable the board will feel underfoot. Heavier and taller riders will need a larger deck too. For example, my board is 9.5” wide and has a maximum user weight of 100kg / 15 stone / 220Ib. The average width of a trick board is 7.5″- 8.25″ making it less stable but more maneuverable. If you’re completely starting from scratch, I really would recommend investing in a wider board first just to get used to cruising around on.

Best Skateboard Wheels For Beginners

Similarly to the deck, the bigger the wheels the more stable they feel underfoot. Larger wheels, in general, will ride for longer after each push and are less likely to get caught on stones, cracks or sticks in the road that might send you bailing over the top. Wheels are not only referred to in terms of size, but also in terms of durometer, meaning their hardness. Softer wheels have more grip and are more forgiving over rough surfaces but are less suitable for the skate park as their grip can be a hindrance if trying to do tricks.

Best Skateboard Trucks For Beginners

The trucks are the mechanism that attaches the wheels to the board and there’s a theme here…yes, you guessed it. The wider they are (let’s all say it together) the more stable they feel underfoot. The general rule of thumb is that the trucks should be around the same width as your deck.

This is a very basic rundown of how to pick your first skateboard with the overall message being that, the bigger the deck, wheels, and trucks the more stable the board will feel which is best for starting out. The best beginner skateboard advice that I was given, and that I shall pass on to you, is to go big at the start and just practice cruising up and down the street. There’s no fun in eating concrete on your first few attempts because you chose a board that is meant for high-performance riding.

I’d love to get some feedback on this post so leave a comment if you’re learning to skate, if you’re wanting to learn to skate, if you’ve just bought a board, if you’re the next Tony Hawks etc.

Also, check out my social channels by clicking on the icons on the right, I’m going to be updating my youtube channel throughout my skating journey.

There are killer surf spots all around the UK. From the heavy, cold-water waves of Thurso in Scotland to the heartland of Welsh surfing in the Gower. Heck, we’ve even got man-made waves now at Snowdonia but Cornwall is to British surfing, what Jenny was to Forrest…like peas and carrots. They just go together.

A surf roadie to this corner of our fair isle can provide super waves, toasty pasties, friendly pubs and slight amazement to those of us not from around these parts. Here’s the run-down of the top 10 things that non-locals find amazing:

1. The Warm Water

Last year the Cornish seas reached temperatures that were hotter than Santa Monica. Pretty impressive for a country that is famed for its terrible weather.

2. The Obsession With The Pasty

Yes, they are a tasty treat of piping hot filling and flaky pastry but the region’s obsession with this culinary delight is second to none. The politics of the pasties amaze us foreigners, for example, the fact that the pastry is crimped dependent on where the maker is from is fascinating.

3. Just Really Great Waves

This may seem like an obvious observation but as a surfer from the East of England - whose closest break needs near perfect conditions to work - it ‘s a delight to visit the region. Surfing in the South West is a year-round affair with winter especially bringing great swells from the North Atlantic - you’re never far from a break that’s on point.

4. They Don’t Play By The Rules

They put exclamation marks in place names (Westward Ho!), they design 16-sided houses and alongside the traditional pasty they designed a pie called the Stargazy Pie, made from pilchards, eggs and potatoes in a pastry crust with the fish heads poking out and apparently gazing skyward.

5. The Rivalry Between Devon and Cornwall Is Not A Joke

Do I need to mention the recent Cream Tea debacle that has plagued the region?

6. Newquay Can Rival Zante at Certain Times Of The Year

The word ‘Cornwall’ is synonymous with stunning scenery and pristine blue waters but at peak summer, or during Boardmasters, the high street will be packed to the rafters with party-goers. Perfect if you want some apres-surf mayhem on your trip.

7. The Creativity

There must be something in the water because this region has been pumping out talented musicians, indie surf brands, cool surf shops, writers and clothing brands at an astronomical rate.

8. The Drink

Beer produced by Sharp's Brewery, Skinner's Brewery and St Austell Brewery is the best-known in Cornwall which will keep you rather merry until the wee hours of the morning.

9. Killer Seagulls

Seagulls on steroids that terrorise those with food (well that’s what the newspapers say anyway).

10. The People

They’re a friendly bunch on the whole in Cornwall. They always have a spare five minutes to talk to you about your day (even if you can’t decipher the accent a lot of the time).

I am a Libran. Besides, from being very charming, romantic and tactful (of course) it also means that I can be indecisive. Now I don’t have trouble picking out clothes when shopping or food at restaurants but I do like to keep my fingers in many pies when it comes to creative projects and work.

I decided, all within a year, that I wanted to gain a recognised qualification in Journalism, learn BSL, learn Spanish, change my career completely, launch a Youtube channel, begin writing the novel that has been lingering in my brain for close to a decade, learn how to take killer photographs, learn how to be my own accountant, learn HTML and website design and so much more…

Never Lose The Focus

Now, I am not saying that these project can’t be done. I am saying that they can’t be done ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Each project deserves my undivided enthusiasm and passion and when you spread yourself too thin over multiple projects you end up completing none of them. Which is what I have done.

What I was getting frustrated at was that I wasn’t perfect at each project. My editing and camera work was still very amateur, my photos weren’t winning Nat Geo competitions, my writing was not a bestseller, and then I stopped. I realised how silly I was being. How could they be if I had only dedicated a small % of my time to them whilst I was juggling all my other projects?

I attended a webinar recently with Jessica Abel, and she spoke with such clarity about the benefits of working on projects chronologically rather than simultaneously. As I was listening to her, headphones in, a cup of tea at the ready, pen poised to take notes, I really did have a light bulb moment. She was explaining exactly why I was feeling overwhelmed and why I felt like there were never enough hours in the day. She made me understand why none of my projects were moving along at the pace that I wanted them to be and why I wasn’t feeling satisfied with the level of competency that each project was receiving.

So now my focus is shifting. I want my attention to be like a laser on one project rather than soft ambient lighting that touches each project but doesn’t really make an impact.

If you’re still reading, ask yourself if you might be taking on too many projects at one time? Do you feel frustrated at the lack of progress on such projects? If so, change the pattern from working simultaneously to chronologically and trust me, your stress levels will significantly reduce, you’ll have more clarity of direction and you will gain much more satisfaction from a job being completed to the best of your ability.

Last week I was in London for a meeting and an event in the evening and with a few hours to spare I headed down to the South Bank for a wander. During my wanderings, I came across the South Bank skatepark - an unofficial skateboarding spot that has been in use since the 1970s. It was great to watch the guys practice their tricks and I stayed for a while to take some photos.

Later on that afternoon, I took a stroll to the House of VANS - an incredible space for skating, music, art, coffee and much more all within the confines of a refurbished section of Waterloo station. Very cool indeed! Whilst I was visiting I once again took a little time out to watch the skaters in the bowl doing their thing, I took some pictures and marveled at their bravery at taking on some pretty steep drop-ins into the bowl.

I had a great time. I really did. I love skate culture and everything it entails; the travel, the DIY culture, the fashion, the perseverance needed etc. But have I ever learned to skateboard? The answer is regrettably: no. In truth, I was always too nervous or embarrassed to pick up a skateboard when I was younger which is such a shame. This seems to be echoed in the wider skate culture too because throughout my day in London I didn't see one female skateboarder. And this is sad. But why do so few women take up the sport?

Here's what I think:

1. Skateboarding is not part of the female culture from a young age. Bart Simpson had a skateboard (Lisa didn't), the ninja turtles (all male) had skateboards, Hey Arnold's BFF Gerald and Doug's BFF Skeeter both had skateboards. Even Marty McFly had a skateboard! But very few girls were shown with a skateboard in cartoons and films aimed at a younger audience.

2. Skateboarding is seen as a 'younger' sport - usually associated with disaffected teenage punk kids and stoners (of course this is a sweeping stereotype) so it might not appeal to women who are slightly older. If a 30-year-old was to inform her friends that she was going to learn to snowboard or surf she would be met with whoops and hollas and 'go get it' sentiments. If she said she was going to learn how to ride a skateboard, her friends may think she was having an early mid-life crisis.

3. It can be a lonely place being the only female in the skatepark. We are sociable creatures and need encouragement and motivation from our peers, especially when learning a new skill. It is intimidating for women to step into the bolshy culture of the skatepark if riding solo.

4. Feeling like we have to 'skate like a guy' to fit in. The sport is generally seen as a masculine sport. You will fall down on concrete and get scrapes and bruises which go against everything young girls are taught about being dainty and delicate. Women who skateboard don't necessarily lose their feminity when they skate, many incorporate it and use it to influence their personal style.

5. There is still very little recognition in competitions, prize money, magazines, media coverage, and movie parts for female skaters which may not give young girls the necessary encouragement to follow the sport.

Cyrus Sutton Sprinter Camper Van Life 002

One of the key bits of advice that I have received recently on my quest to absorb as much advice as I can from writers and journalists, is to find a niche to write about. I can't be too niche otherwise I'll exclude myself from certain job opportunities but it will allow me to learn and specialise in a certain area.

It's also been said that choosing a niche to follow can make finding assignments easier because you know where the good sources are, you are part of a select network, and developing stories becomes easier because of practice and knowledge on the topic. But what do I really want to write about?

I got to thinking (alright Carrie Bradshaw) about this after my recent meeting with my mentor who cemented this idea in my head and I decided that the best place to start was looking into what I read about the most. Whose social media profiles did I follow the most? Which videos did I watch the most? Which news feeds did I keep up to date with?

It didn't take long to realise that the sector that I am most interested in, and that which I miss most about living in New Zealand, is women in board sports. Surfers, snowboarders, skaters. But am I qualified to write about that? I haven't surfed since I've been back in the UK, I go snowboarding about once a year (and that's usually only on the artificial stuff), and the last time I cruised about on a skateboard was an obscene amount of time ago.

But then I thought...Sports Journalists aren't all athletes, Food Critics can't always cook, Political Writers don't all have a seat in the House Of Commons. But what they do have is a passion for the topic and the ability to write a good story and that's enough motivation for me.

So I may not be hanging ten on the daily but I sure as hell can write about it (that being said I do want to be able to hang ten eventually and will be making much of an effort to make the road trips to the mountains and the coast in the next year). I've made some significant steps in the past week or so and have really begun to formulate a plan of what I want to do going forward. It's a great feeling when you finally feel like you have a direction to follow as nothing is more frustrating that having enthusiasm in abundance but nowhere to channel it.

It's all very exciting stuff and I hope to be able to continue writing blog posts full of such positivity in the years to come.

I have mentioned before in this here post that I am half deaf - I can hear very little in my right ear, if anything at all. In the post I went into what life can be like when living with a hearing impairment e.g. missed conversations, misunderstood instructions, and the difficulty of trying to find your phone when it's ringing! Genuinely, being deaf in one ear really skews your senses and it is sometimes very difficult to gauge where noises are coming from.

I need to reiterate that I am not writing this for sympathy and I am in no way whatsoever comparing myself to someone who is fully deaf, I am simply giving my side of the story.

I know how isolating it can feel when you're sitting in a busy restaurant and all of your friends are laughing at a joke that you didn't catch. Or when somebody whispers in your ear for a third time and you feel rude to ask them to repeat it again. So you just laugh and they think you're mental because they're telling you that their dog is ill or something.

I can only imagine how lonely it can become if you find yourself fully exempt from social situations due to your lack of hearing. Therefore, I recently started my journey, on something that I have wanted to do since I was a teenager, and have begun learning British Sign Language (BSL).

So far I am doing the training via online tutorials and videos and I have learnt numbers 1-100, colours, and fingerspelling the alphabet. Each week I cannot wait until I complete my next lesson and feel such a sense of achievement when I get that sexy little green tick to tell me that another unit is complete.

I want to continue to learn BSL until I am fluent and can fully communicate with those that are deaf or hard of hearing. Some people may think that it is a strange skill to learn but not for me. I see it as merely another language to learn to better communicate with those around us. People learn Spanish, French, Italian, all the time but haven't considered learning BSL at all?!

Who knows, maybe one day you'll see me strutting my signs on the Hollyoaks omnibus!

What makes a fashion icon? Is it wearing one iconic outfit which goes down in history, maybe a meat dress? Is it having one iconic look that is synonymous with a person such as James Dean and his white t-shirts? Or is it someone that oozes natural style and charisma who shapes our culture and redefines the fashion rules?

If we're talking about the latter then Pharrell Williams can definitely be classified as a fashion icon of modern times and here's why:

1. He Blurs the Boundaries Between Style Groups

His style is a mixture between hip-hop inspired streetwear, grungy skate style, preppy county-club and designer high-fashion pieces. On paper this sounds like an absolute nightmare but Pharrell juxtaposes these styles effortlessly.

2. His Collaborations Are Amazing

Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Uniqlo, and G-Star Raw to name a few! He always brings something exciting to the collabs, which aren't always simply fashion related. Pharrell has helped design bikes, fragrances, art work, and even macaroons!

3. He Owns His Own Clothing Labels

Billionaire Boys Club, Ice Cream, and I AM OTHER are all part of the Pharrell franchise. These epitomise his style and there are preppy polo shirts, t-shirts with cartoon graphics, Oxford shirts, snapback caps, and hoodies on offer.

4. He Re-writes the Rules

Does he rock double denim? Shorts with a Tux jacket? Military inspired jackets? Denim overalls? You bet your toosh he does and he pulls it off every damn time!

5. His Accessories Are to Die For

His jewellery, sunglasses, watches, bags, and belts always complement his outfits and are never distracting. It could easily slip into novelty when wearing ice cream medallions and oversized belt buckles but Pharrell seems to strike the right balance.

6. His Trainer Game Is Strong

His numerous recent collections with Adidas prove that Pharrell knows his stuff when it comes to trainers but this fella has been rocking fantastic sneakers since N.E.R.D were in their infancy.

7. His Hat Game Is Even Stronger

I hate to say it but I am not a fan of the Vivienne Westwood hat. I don't know if many people are. But apart from this one slight faux pas this man has a healthy relationship with the humble chapeau.

8. He Promotes Self-awareness

9. He Can Be Playful With His Fashion

Pharrell is a massive Spongebob fan, so much so that he celebrated his 41st birthday with a Spongebob themed party! He also released a Spongebob inspired range on his Billionaire Boys Club clothing label. A lot of his other clothing designs are influenced by cartoons and graffiti proving that he doesn't have to take his fashion too seriously to maintain his icon status.

10. He Pretty Much Invented The 'No Sock' Style And Made It Look Cool!

This is one of my favourite looks on a gent as it makes any outfit, whether smart or casual, a little more contemporary and edgy.

The Best Beginner Skateboard For Adults

The Best Beginner Skateboard For Adults

10 Things That Amaze Any Visitor to Cornwall

10 Things That Amaze Any Visitor to Cornwall

The Power of Focusing on One Project at a Time

The Power of Focusing on One Project at a Time

Why There Are Still so Few Women in Skateboarding?

Why There Are Still so Few Women in Skateboarding?

Trying to Find That Niche

Trying to Find That Niche

Why I Am Learning British Sign Language (BSL)

Why I Am Learning British Sign Language (BSL)

Why Pharrell Williams is a Fashion Icon

Why Pharrell Williams is a Fashion Icon