Q&A with Gaby Ponce
In a world full of skateboarders, there is a small population of female skateboarders and only a few bold individuals who take on the vert ramp. Gaby Ponce defines the existence for this marginalized small group operating on the fringes of society. Ponce’s passion for skateboarding is highlighted by her dedication to the sport as she drives two hours to the nearest vert ramp. Hailing from the small town Telifly in New Jersey, 17-year- old Gaby Ponce sat down with DYLA to answer a few questions.
How did you get your first skateboard?
My mom bought it for me for Christmas around the age of ten, but I didn’t start going to skate parks until I was eleven or twelve.
Were you nervous going to the skate park? Were you nervous being one of the only girls there?
I actually didn’t think much of it because all of my friends that I normally skated with were all guys, so it was normal.
Where did you learn to skate?
I first went to a skatepark in upstate New York called Drop-In skatepark. Then once I got good there, I went to another skatepark called Rex-Plex to see if I could drop in on a twelve foot skate ramp. I was able to do it first try even though I was scared out of my mind. Then literally the day after the skatepark closed down. I didn’t end up skating a vert ramp for two more years until I was 14. That’s when I went to the Woodward skatepark in Philly.
I pretty much self taught. But the Camp Woodward itself has a ramp with foam pits for training. I haven’t been to the actual camp in like a year.
Are there any other girls that skate on your home town?
Not really. Most of them are in California. There are barely any guy vert skaters to skate with. I have to drive two hours for a ramp. We’re pretty isolated on the East Coast.
I skate four days a week [to a ramp] I drive, my mom drives, and my dad drives there. We split the driving up so it’s not too bad, but it’s still two hours away. I want to move to California eventually.
Do you have certain tricks that you are trying to work into your run?
Yeah, I actually want to learn a mellon 540 and get some more kick-flips in my run and see where it takes me.
Last year was your first year in California. Tell us how that experience was for you.
It was a lot different than New Jersey. There were a lot more people to skate with, especially more girls to skate with. There are a bunch of vert skaters all in one area, especially the San Diego area.
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