GIRLS RIDERS ORGANIZATION — Inaugural Brooklyn Halloween Skate Parade
Girls Riders Organization is a national nonprofit organization focused on inspiring and educating girls who skate, snowboard, or participate in other action sports. GRO has nine chapters in the U.S. and Canada that put together local events designed to bring the girls together for a rad time, regardless of skill level.
Yesterday, the Brooklyn, New York GRO held their first-ever Halloween Skate-tacular—a costumed ride crossing the Williamsburg Bridge from the Lower East Side to Brooklyn. Three dozen females of all ages and abilities joined in the fun, in a wide variety of costumes, celebrating Halloween and skateboarding. The parade of skaters ended up at the Williamsburg bike pump park (at 318 Kent Ave.) where the girls took over for a few hours.
Photographer and GRO skater Lanna Apisukh captured the festivities. “It’s so inspiring,” Apisukh says. “I hope these events empower more girls and women to get involved and come skate.”
The Halloween Skate-tacular is just the latest local shindig in a long line of initiatives that GRO have put together. Each chapter of GRO organizes local skate jams and girls sessions (The Berrics has had the pleasure of hosting GRO recently). Toyota has awarded Girls Riders Organization an “Everyday Heroes” award for empowering girls and women through sports.
Check out some photos from the event, shot by Lanna Apisukh, featuring Cami Best, Niki Culma, Chris Culma, Yasmeen Wilkerson, Zoe Herishen, Lizzie Reid, and Stella (the little Ghostbuster).
