CIB Chapter Chats with Hawaii (double feature)
We are so very excited to be relaunching this series of Chapter Chats with new and existing chapters. We hope to bring you intel from skaters around the world on a monthly basis. Last year saw two of the first chapters to launch in Hawaii, CIB Maui and CIB Oahu. We hope there will be more to come! We have contacted local CIB Crew skater Nica to give us some background into the Hawaiian skate scene and how it has evolved.
It was an honor to talk to the new admins of CIB Maui (Mica) and CIB Oahu (Kandi, Heidi Doom, Ashley Moon, Darth Saydious, Karmin Slamdiego) and what it is like to skate on the islands. Grab a virtual passport and the sun cream. Flammers and the CIB Crew x
NICA:
BEWB stands for “bitchin’ eight wheeled babe” and was birthed into this world in 2016 by some rad skaters on Maui, namely Sassin and Frankie. Its goal is to unite skaters from all the Hawaiian islands and provide a place for them to keep up with their outer island counterparts as well as show the world what Hawaii skaters have to offer. This worked well when there were only a few park skaters…
But, back in March 2020, the covid pandemic brought a screeching halt to team sports in Hawaii, encouraging residents to instead focus on solo sports that allow for physical distancing such as surfing and skating. That spark ignited the skate scene in Hawaii, leading to a rapid growth in rollerskating across the islands and in turn, the inception of the CIB Oahu and CIB Maui chapters.
Throughout the pandemic, we have been incredibly lucky that our covid infection levels have remained relatively low; Hawaii is currently the only US state with a “Low” covid risk which means our skateparks are open and we are skating! Feel free to follow along with us at @bewb_808 @cib_oahu @cib_maui
So allow us to introduce you to CIB Maui
Admin Mica (Shanx)
First of all, tell us how long your chapter has been active?
Maui CIB has been active for only about 2 months! There have been other skate groups on Maui that I have connected with but, usually included all the islands.
What made you decide to start a CIB chapter? Did you start this alone or with a friend?
Well, I’m originally from Oregon. There were so many CIB groups there that I had skated with. Everyone was so nice, accepting and willing to cheer me on every step of the way! So, when I moved to Maui, I did some research about the skate community here. I wanted to build a community that felt as safe as I did. So when I saw that the CIB Maui chapter was non-existent, I decided to start it myself!
What sort of numbers do you have attending meet-ups? Do you have a regular crew or is it quite fluid? Can you give us some details about the regular skaters in your chapter, names and what they bring to your crew?
Because we are such a new chapter and the island is pretty small, our numbers are usually around 6 people per meet up. Though, I know many derby and roller dancers want to attend but haven’t yet. We usually have the same few skaters show up.
Sassin: former derby skater, amazing teacher, perfect technique and easy to get along with!
Skarre: QUEEN of side skating the bowls! She also has so much helpful advice. Former derby for 12 years!!
Nadine: former derby, no fear, dare devil! Such an inspiration when I watch her skate. She incorporates so much of what we learn in derby to her park skating.
Me.. Shanx: skating for 2 years, derby and parks. Relatively new to parks. I try to put together all the meet ups and make it as inclusive as possible!
How do you structure your sessions? Scheduled or more of a loose plan?
I am still trying to figure it out, but so far I have a set schedule at a few different parks. Our island is so small that it’s fun to mix it up!
We would love to hear about your favourite skate spots! Do you have a favourite place to session?
As of right now, the spot we commandeer the most is the Pukalani Skate Park. Though, Lahaina Skate Park seems to be a favorite.. just a little far away from where the locals live.
Maui is a part of the Hawaiian Islands, which island do you think has the best parks?
From what I can tell through social media, Oahu has the best parks set up for us quad skaters! City life seems better for that.
Tell me, what is the “must have” skate item for your part of the word, what is always in your kit bag, other than skates and protective wear?
Sunscreen! It gets HOT out there and the sun can be pretty brutal if you don’t have any shade. Most of our parks are straight cement and no trees.. so staying hydrated and having sunscreen is important.
Can you tell us about the best skate session that your chapter had?
(Where, who, when)
One of the best turn outs we had was when our crew met up at a skate park in town. Wailuku Skate Park has a HUGE vert ramp that is a little rough around the edges(holes). We all took turns on the vert, some new skaters, some old and had a really great time trying new things and supporting each other!
How is roller skating and sports viewed in your part of the world?
As far as roller skating on Maui, park skating is not common. Cruising the paths is something I see regularly. Sports here are a little less popular than the mainland, but we still have sports bars!
How has the pandemic affected your skate community? If it has been affected, how have you navigated these times?
We started during the pandemic. So, the community has always been very small. The pandemic has affected many people on the Island very negatively. Especially Hawaiian locals. We try to create a SAFE and fun environment for the small amount of new comers we do have.
Where do you see your chapter and roller skating in 3 years’ time!
I hope that when this pandemic is more manageable, I see our chapter becoming bigger and better! We are just a baby chapter and have so much we would love to do! Currently, a new skate park is being built in Kihei and we cannot wait to skate it! I hope everyone feels accepted enough to come and join our little skate community and rip up all the Island Parks!
Mahalo!
CIB Maui Chapter.
Thanks CIB Maui. Thirsty for more?
Allow us now to introduce you to CIB Oahu
Picture credit to Ricky Asante, @modest_bragin_photography
Admins Kadi, Heidi Doom, Ashley Moon, Darth Saydious, Karmin Slamdiego
First of all, tell us how long your chapter has been active?
CIB Oahu was established officially in September 2020. However, the “idea” of a park skating “Crew/group” for myself started March 2020 when roller derby practice was canceled due to covid, but parks were still open. There were many other small groups around the island.
What made you decide to start a CIB chapter? Did you start this alone or with a friend?
For myself personally, I started skating in 02/2020 and fell (ha) in love with it. I was skating with the “derby crew” & the BEWB crew, and even just with random groups of friends. I had the idea of becoming “CIB official” because I wanted to start an island wide group where information on skater meet ups were found, not just in individual group chats. To get as many people as we could into the parks.
What sort of numbers do you have attending meet-ups? Do you have a regular crew or is it quite fluid? Can you give us some details about the regular skaters in your chapter, names and what they bring to your crew?
With covid, our numbers vary. When we go to bigger parks (Hickam) there is a larger number. I think the most people who came out was 20? Its semi fluid! There is an AM crew that goes out a lot in the early morning and they kill it! Annabell Lector is a huge “instigator” (I don’t know the correct word to use) of the AM skaters. She overall kills it daily & has improved so much since the beginning. Our regulars, Erin, Cat & Cat, Sadie, Doom, Sande, Ashley, Rose, Annabelle, are out at almost every meet up. Some come every couple weeks or so! There are no rules, so anyone who shows up is welcomed with open arms.
How do you structure your sessions? Scheduled or more of a loose plan?
Yes! Typically we will post a session idea a few days ahead, but we will also come up with an idea within a few hours and then post it and hope someone shows up.
We would love to hear about your favorite skate spots! Do you have a favorite place to session?
Hickam, which is an indoor HANGER that has wood floors & space for any skill level from new-bees to Nica, AMR( if it’s not crowded) which is small, but has some cool ramps & a little jump box. Manana (Pearl City) is really cool and also great for all skill levels & has a few bowls, ramps and flat ground.
Oahu is a part of the Hawaiian Islands, which island do you think has the best parks?
Big Island from what I’ve heard/seen. They have a pump track!
Tell me, what is the “must have” skate item for your part of the word, what is always in your kit bag, other than skates and protective wear?
Bactine. Bactine. Bactine.
I have a giant first aid backpack that always go on skate adventures with everything from bandaids to a C collar. Also, little snacks/water!
Can you tell us about the best skate session that your chapter had?
(Where, who, when)
Hickam skate hanger on 01/02/2021. Nica was visiting the island & we made a post about going out that night & we had a great group come out, and every single one of them KILLED IT! Sarah was a new skater who came out and she had never park skated before, and she dropped in at the end of the night! Erin was doing little cartwheels and slides & everything! We also had a super cool photographer (ricky asante) take great pictures. We also had cat-daddy to take pictures/videos for the gram, as she does always.
How is roller skating and sports viewed in your part of the world?
Every park/place we go there is always someone saying “woah! Roller skates! That’s so fun!” so I would say it’s viewed pretty good! Plus, our group grows daily & we always have messages saying how they have been looking for a community to learn how to skate.
How has the pandemic affected your skate community? If it has been affected, how have you navigated these times?
It has made it difficult sometimes to have extra large groups of people out to the parks. Luckily, nobody has been in contact with covid & if anyone is feeling iffy, they stay home, plus most of the time we are outside in the sunlight, so it’s nice!
Where do you see your chapter and roller skating in 3 years’ time!
Three years from now, I hope this group will continue to grow. I hope the children of the people who skate now will put on a pair of skates and learn how to stall for the first time, and find their freedom in the skating world. It will continue to grow and I can’t wait to see it.
Thank you so much CIB Oahu.
Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed escaping for a while. If you have a chapter that you would like to hear about or want to submit your local chapter to the Chapter Chats feature, then just pop over an email to Flammers at chapters@cibcrew.com