We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we hold events on, the Yuggera, Yugurabal and Turrbal Peoples. We pay our respects to elders past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Peoples and that sovereignty was never ceded.
Let’s go! The @weskateqld team are proud to present our 6th annual Spring Jam this year x @chuffedskates x @wcmxaustralia x @rumbleskating Sat 12th Nov at Fairfield Skatepark ❤️ Register here https://liveheats.com/events/64034 Program and bios posted by Indigo
Chuffed Skates Film Night
One of our awesome co-hosts is having a video premier night before our jam:
Fri 11 Nov 6pm at @wearedropouts – Film Double: Evergreen ft. Rib filmed by Ethan Miller and Middle Ground filmed by Gabby (Venue has stairs only, 3rd floor, no elevator access. We Skate QLD will have a combined screening with these and a skate video at an accessible venue later on details tba).
We Skate QLD 6th Annual Skate Jam Program
SAT 12 Nov
10am – 4pm
REGISTER HERE
Event summary: A free event for Skateboarders•Rollerskaters•WCMX•
Adaptive Sessions and community jam. Encouraging girls, women, non binary individuals and plus an open gender fun social skate division. This is a LGBTIQ+ inclusive event 🌈 Co-hosts @weskateqld x @chuffedskates x @wcmxaustralia x @rumbleskating
Spring Jam 2022 Program Co-ordinator: Dr Indigo Willing. MC on the mic Evie Ryder, Art and Chill Zone Area Millie Miljevic, Brooke Manning, Registrations and Roving Ambassadors Assistance Ben Duester, and Inclusive Design Advisory and Safety Team: Tim Lachlan and Alex Blyth. Full list of people involved listed after program description.
8am
Set up time – volunteers welcome to help clean skatepark, set up accessibility mats and event areas. Instructions to invited market stalls anytime before 10am.
10am
Registering is free and online preferred, but can also be done on the day. Please become familiar with our participant ‘Be Cool, Kind and Caring’ guidelines and more relaxed competition format structure here
Beginners welcome session. Meet roving skate ambassadors We Skate QLD (skateboarders), Chuffed Skates (roller skaters) and WCMX Australia skater volunteers who can give tips and answer questions. Presented by our co-hosts and with skate coach representatives from Skate Well Coaching sponsored by Visible Ink, Brisbane City Council.
Free Art and Chill Zone. Get creative with a free mini canvas or tote bag or spraypaint some grip tape or visit a quiet area with some zines to read. Co-hosted and sponsored by members of We Skate QLD and Consent is Rad team. Also see some of the winning selections from our recent Pushing Against Racism #WeAllSkateQLD art and photo competition sponsored by Goodpush Alliance, Pushing Against Racism and Fast Times and art from the Adoptees Rolling initiative.
Markets – check out some great local skate art and ethical fashion with meaning: Death to Discrimination, Mon Art, Spectral Productions, Dogshop Skateboards, Slab Zoo
11am
Let’s Have Fun Skate Divisions – Group stretches and warm-ups then beginner friendly and open to anyone wanting to have some fun together e.g tic tak, train, most original group trick, tag team, strike a pose, mirror image doubles tricks, switch races, and race around the park rounds (open to all genders and skaters)
Art and Chill zone cont.
Markets cont.
‘We All Skate QLD Anti-racism, Boosting Diversity and Pride’ Art Competition Prize Announcements sponsored by Fast Times, The Goodpush Alliance, and Pushing Against Racism. Guest Judges Wellborn and Daniel Vincent.
12pm
Lunch – Free vegan pizzas provided by Panel in the Park co-hosts Griffith University
12.30pm-1.30pm
‘Panel in the Park Research and Well Being Talking Circle’ (Auslan Interpreters are attending for this session) – Presented by We Skate QLD and SAGE Griffith University. An educational panel and well-being talking circle that features skaters and leading researchers in the area of sport, gender and mental health from the Griffith University Sport and Gender Equity Network (SAGE), Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR), Griffith Centre for Mental Health (CMH) and Griffith Inclusive Futures (GIF). Speakers: Timothy Lachlan (WCMX Australia), Evie Ryder (We Skate QLD, Open Doors), Brianna Palmer (GU), Professor Allison Waters (GU) Dr Adele Pavlidis (GU) and co-moderated by Professor Simone Fullagar (GU) and Dr Indigo Willing (We Skate QLD, Consent is Rad, GU). Thank you Dr Adele Pavlidis and Professor Simone Fullagar for co-facilitating this panel with us and sponsorship from Griffith University.
1.30pm
We All Skate QLD Skating Demo – Presented by Chuffed Skates, WCMX Australia @weskateqld and Project Distribution. Want to see what’s possible and how to have fun on your board? Team members from Chuffed Skates, WCMX Australia, We Skate QLD and Project Distribution will demonstrate some fun tricks in the main street section. Bowl and half pipe areas will be open for free skating and warm ups.
2pm – 4pm
Rock Up and Rip – All Skaters Bowl and Street Jam. This year instead of a traditional competition (there are already lots of these) and individual skate heats we will use a friendlier and more relaxed jam format e.g. 5 per one-minute rounds. We will mix skateboarders, roller skaters and WCMX skaters.
– Women, girls and non binary divisions and open gender social
Instead of traditional 1st, 2nd and 3rd we will be giving prizes for:
Best trick
Best style
Judges Choices
plus ones for originality and stoke!
Guest judges include Ben from Project Distribution, Sam from Chuffed Skates, and Tooza from FSC and the event co-hosts. Prizes sponsored and presented by Project Distribution, Fast Times and Chuffed Skates.
4pm
Event Concludes – Wind down stretches, sticker toss and community clean up of the park. Thank you.
Key Sponsors and supporters:
Brisbane City Council
@rumbleskateboarding
@projectdist
@griffithuniversity
@australian_skateboarding
@consent_is_rad
@chuffedskates
@wcmxaustralia
@fasttimes
Plus extra event support from Visible Ink, @fcs Pushmobility @slabzooo and Stage One.
Our prize pool includes Fast Times (vouchers and clothes), Project Distribution (@thereskateboards @unityskateboarding @spitfirewheels @Glueskateboards) art from @WeSkateQLD Pushing Against Racism, Boosting Diversity and Pride competition and stickers from @Consent_is_Rad
About the Venue:
Fairfield Skatepark is at the corner of Brougham St & Home St and has some street parking at front and side streets. The skatepark can be usually only be reached via a grassy flat area. Water fountain available. No concrete paths, shade or seating so please BYO. We will set up a temporary path to skatepark and a marquee.
The sports club has x 1 disability accessible/gender neutral plus separate women’s and men’s via a free carpark with a disabled reserved parking spot and plenty of other car space. The club is at the back of the skatepark, 5 minutes by pathway then gravel driveway or across a grassy sports field.
Two blocks away Fairfield Gardens shopping centre has a large carpark, food shops and toilets including 1 x accessible/gender neutral, women’s and men’s.
For inquiries please contact our team at @weskateqld on insta ATT to the We Skate QLD Spring Jam Program Co-ordinator: Dr Indigo Willing
Intro to some of the Co-hosts, Guests, and Sponsors:
WCMX AUSTRALIA
WCMX Australia – Timothy Lachlan (he/they) is a queer, disabled, neurodivergent, young person, 4th year Occupational Therapy (OT) student and the first Australian to land a wheelchair backflip, he has lived experience of disability and intersectionality. Tim uses Adaptive Skating as a tool to teach others with disabilities various mobility skills and advocate for universal design. His passion for inclusion and helping others led him to join the panel and co-host for the jam. Tim’s Website
WE SKATE QLD
We Skate QLD – Spring Jam Organizers (originally Girls Skate Brisbane) was founded in 2016 by a group of skaters based in Meanjin Brisbane. The co-founding team consists of Evie Ryder, Dr Indigo Willing, Tora Waldren and Sophia Ross, who were joined post- 2020 by Millie Miljevic, Alex Blyth, Lily Turek and other amazing crew. We Skate QLD have been holding Spring Jam every year since 2016 with the exception of 2020 when we were in lockdown at the start of the pandemic. Our name changed to We Skate QLD the same year to better reflect the people who are part of our team, scene and community including LBTIQ+, non-binary and gender-diverse skaters and anyone down to roll with us. Our mission is to dedicate our time to making skateboarding welcoming, fun, with diverse participation and so everyone can feel free from discrimination.
Evie Ryder: (she/her) is your friendly co-host and MC on the mic of the sixth annual Spring Jam. She writes: I have been working with the LGBT community for well over ten years, after completing a Bachelor of Social Work at JCU Cairns in 2007. I have worked as a Manger for Queensland AIDS Council and deliver presentations on transgender issues and trans-phobia at conferences at both statewide and nationally. I am also a filmmaker including directing the short film Skate Like a Girl, an ambassador for the Queensland State Library and have been a keynote speaker for Queerstories. I am passionate about human rights and youth well being, and have received community awards in the area of transgender rights and Queer community. Along with a love of skating and getting new tricks, I am also a co-founder of We Skate QLD and one of the founding team members of Consent is Rad. My Website
Dr Indigo Willing ‘Indi’ (she/her) is one of the co-hosts and Program Co-ordinator of the sixth annual Spring Jam, a Co-founder of We Skate QLD, and the Project Leader and part of the Co-founding team at Consent is Rad. She is also an academic at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR), an Affiliate Member of the Sport and Gender Equity Network (SAGE) and member of the Gender Equality Research Network (GERN) at Griffith University. With a focus on meaningful and impactful research and community work, her recent grant awards and team projects include We All Skate QLD Pushing Against Racism, Adoptees Rolling Out, plus with SAGE, GU team on Rolling Free and Exploring Consent in Sport . Indigo is also the co-author with Anthony Pappalardo of the upcoming book Skateboarding, Power and Change. She currently lives in Meanjin on the land of the Yugerra, Yugarabal and Turrbal Peoples. Indigo’s website
Miljana Miljevic ‘Millie’ is the art zone coordinator and another one of our super friendly and uber chill event co-hosts at the Spring jam. She is a Brisbane-based skater and filmmaker. Her love for skating started when she was twelve in a small town with no skatepark, cruising along long flat streets with her friends and was reinvigorated in 2018 when she found Girl Skate Brisbane (now We Skate QLD) and has been skating steadily ever since. She has a keen eye for street spots and a love for goofy tricks and skating with her mates. She is a volunteer for We Skate QLD where she helps with coaching and running art workshops and one of the founding team at Consent is Rad. Millie also runs a Women and Queer Skate Night at Paddo every Monday, check it out.
Alex Blyth is one the We Skate QLD volunteer team joining us in 2021 as a social media officer and will be one of the friendly co-hosts to great you at the Spring Jam. She writes: I have been a passionate skateboarder for most of my life, a lifelong beginner I tell everyone and am living proof that you never give up on what you love. Skateboarding to me is all about the magical & diverse community that comes with it and the lifelong friendships I’ve made and continue to make. I’ve been volunteering with the WeSkateQLD Team for the last couple of years especially since becoming a student paramedic. I am continuously inspired by what We Skate QLD represent and the tireless work they do alongside their diverse allies and affiliates within the skateboarding community.
Ben Duester is a cultural sociologist and resident adjunct at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research. His research explores issues related to music and materiality, DIY cultures and political ecology. He is currently working on a monograph that explores the cultural significance of cassette tapes in the digital age. He skated as a teenager in the mid-2000s and rediscovered his passion for skating in 2019. He is a volunteer for our event and will be one of our roving skate ambassadors.
Brooke Manning will be assisting with the We Skate QLD art and chill zone and we are proud to have her as part of our event team. She is also contributing art posters exploring women’s and non-binary skaters outlooks on skate tricks and clothing, and collaborating on an upcoming alternative-focused skate zine with Millie and Indigo. Brooke states “I started skating because of We Skate. QLD. It made me feel like I could belong in the skate community and I’m so glad, skating has become such a massive part of my life. I’m studying occupational therapy and hope to work in community development.” Link
RUMBLE SKATEBOARDING/ AUSTRALIAN SKATEBOARDING COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
Our main sponsor and co-host of our Spring Jam / Rock Up and Rip for a 6th year running! The Australian Skateboarding Community Initiative, overseen by Donny Fraser and a team, is the creator of Rumble in the Reef in Mackay and Rumble Skateboarding that holds a range of events around Australia. Based in Fairfield near the skatepark where our event is held, the ASCI headquarters was hit by floods each time and We Skate QLD were super keen to help give back and volunteer in the clean up. We have many fond memories of Fairfield skating and teaching there, and keen to create fresh new fun memories for anyone who is keen to roll with us! Read more about Rumble Skateboarding on their website
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY
Griffith Sport and Gender Equity Network (SAGE) – The Panel in the Park Well Being Talking Circle Sponsors and Co-hosts: The purpose of Sport and Gender Equity @ Griffith research hub is to lead innovative and impactful research that advances gender equity in sport through a multi-disciplinary research hub connecting scholars, practitioners, athletes and advocates. The research hub aims to: 1) contribute to knowledge and practice that addresses the complexity of gender inequities and diversity (intersections with culture/race/Indigeneity, sexuality, disAbility, age) within and beyond sport 2) engage in collaborative and innovative research to advance opportunities for women, girls and gender diverse people to lead in all aspects of sport and 3) educate for sustainable change in classrooms, organisations and the public sphere to transform sport cultures and gender relations. SAGE website
Dr Adele Pavlidis is an interdisciplinary sociologist who works at the intersection of sport, gender and wellbeing. She applies feminist theories to questions of belonging, inclusion and identity in sport spaces, with a focus on contact sports and ‘new’ sports. She has written books and articles on these topics and loves to explore ideas and different ways of producing knowledge. She is the session co-ordinator and a speaker for the GU co-hosted Panel in the Park Well Being Talking Circle and will be discussing some of her gender, equity and mental health research at Griffith University. Adele’s website
Professor Simone Fullagar is an interdisciplinary sociologist who has published widely on gender equity in sport, mental health, active communities and social well-being. With an interest in social and organisational change her work contributes to thinking differently about inequalities. Simone is Professor and Chair of the Sport and Gender Equity research hub at Griffith University and lead for the Inclusive Play theme, Griffith Inclusive Futures. She has received funding from the Australian Research Council and other sources to conduct (post)qualitative research into leisure, sport and health related areas. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, UK. She is a co-moderator for the Panel in the Park Well Being Talking Circle and will be discussing some of her gender, equity and mental health research at Griffith University. Simone’s website
Brianna Palmer (she/her) is a 2nd year psychology student who is passionate about developing and supporting well-rounded wellbeing for children and adolescents. She is particularly dedicated to advocating for young and queer voices, particularly in the mental health space. She will be speaking in the Panel in the Park Research and Well Being Talking Circle. Brianna’s Website
Other Griffith University staff include Dr Indigo Willing and Ben Duester who are also skateboarders (see their bios in the We Skate QLD section above)
GRIFFITH CENTRE FOR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESEARCH
The Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR) is dedicated to increasing our understanding of current challenges facing the modern world. Through the application of innovative humanities and social science research, incorporating the knowledge of academics from a broad range of interrelated disciplines, we are at the cutting edge of humanities and social science discourse. Our Centre’s research is focused on the following contemporary themes: History, Media and Change; Mobilities, Communities and In/securities; Heritage and Wellbeing; Language, Culture and Belonging.
For more information visit their website
GRIFFITH CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The Centre for Mental Health works to create a global community where the knowledge and skills for good mental health and well-being—as well as access to effective interventions and resources—are available to all. Our groundbreaking research engages multidisciplinary researchers, community stakeholders and end-users with lived experience to generate new knowledge and develop evidence-informed interventions and resources with reach and impact. Integrity, inclusivity and innovation underpin the full scope of our endeavours; by working towards shared goals within a supportive, inspiring research environment we will enhance mental health and wellbeing worldwide.
For more information visit their website
GRIFFITH INCLUSIVE FUTURES
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability is a university-led collaboration between people with disability and key research, education, industry, health and social organisations. We aim to solve the most pressing real-world challenges in the areas of disability and rehabilitation.
For more information visit their website
CHUFFED SKATES
Chuffed Skates – Skate Demonstration and Competition Co-host Chuffed Skates is independently owned, fully run & operated by roller skaters in the land Down Under. Our mission is to spread our love for roller skating and its supportive community all over the world. We are also driven to represent the incredible skaters we love, and to push roller skating to its limits with innovations in skate and hardware design. We are proud not only to offer high-performing, affordable skates and gear but also to use our business to push forward issues we care about. Since launching, we’ve channeled royalties back to skaters and created discounts for community groups. A portion of each Crew Skate sale is donated to not-for-profits targeting issues like Indigenous literacy, homelessness and asylum seeker support. Chuffed Website
Rib from Chuffed Skates Team (demo)
Jade from Chuffed Skates Team (roving event ambassador)
Tia from Chuffed Skates Team (demo)
PROJECT DISTRIBUTION
Project Distribution – Skate Demonstration Co-host and one of our Key Sponsors for the Skate Jam Divisions, Project Distribution was established in Brisbane in 2008, founded on a love of all things skateboarding. Importing the top tier skate brands from the US and Europe and distributing to over 200 stores throughout Australia, Project prides itself on offering exceptional account and brand management, supporting the local skateboarding scene in Australia and sponsoring the most talented skaters in the country. Project Distro’s Website
FAST TIMES SKATEBOARDING
Fast Times Skateboarding – Art and Photography Pushing Against Racism, Boosting Diversity Competition and one of our Key Sponsors for the Skate Jam Divisions. Fast Times started in 2008 in Melbourne, Australia with the aim of delivering the finest selection of Skateboards, Apparel and Footwear to you all. At our core, we are a skateboarding store that offers a social hub for our local skateboarding scene and a connecting point for visitors and friends from abroad. The stores and Fast Times brand are a reflection of all the influences that have inspired us over the years. From skateboarders, musicians and artists, to our local communities and extended friends and family, we value everyone that has contributed to help shape us to where we are today. The constant evolution and progression is what drives us. Fast Times Website
STAGE ONE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
Stage One is a skate video and media platform run by Allira, a local skateboarder and musician. See highlights from our 5th Spring Jam from last year filmed by Stage One:
Slab Zoo
Photography and good vibes this year will be supplied by our friends at Slab Zoo Skateboarding. A grom friendly skateboard media with a mission to showcase skateboard grassroots and upcoming talent in Australia – and provide news and info to the skateboard community. Slabzoo Website
Skatewell Skateboard Coaching
Breathe, focus, balance, and create. Skateboarding improves multiple areas of one’s wellbeing, and this is the mission of Skatewell Skateboard Coaching. Created in 2018, Amanda and Grace put their minds together and imagined a skate school that offered more than skateboard lessons. Compassionate, accredited, and knowledgable, the coaches of Skatewell offer an encouraging and safe space to learn and grow in. The more you know, the less you fear. Take the step towards confident and comfortable skateboarding in a lesson or class with an Accredited Skateboard Coach.
are Website here
Past Media:
ZZZ Radio, 25 November (2021) Interview with Dr Indigo Willing and Lily Turek about skateboarding and skaters’ life experiences by Heather Anderson for Talking Zeds 10am – 12pm show. Link here
ABC Brisbane Radio, 30 October (2021) Interview with Dr Indigo Willing and Dr Adele Pavlidis about skate research and We Skate QLD’s 5th annual Spring Jam in 2021 by Kate O’Toole for ABC Weekends Breakfast. At the 3.27.45 mark .Link here
SBS and Viceland story filmed at our 4th annual Spring Jam in 2019 featuring a story about Dr Indigo Willing, one of We Skate QLD’s co-founders by Naveen Razik here
Griffith University story in The Source by Ashlee about our 3rd annual Spring Jam in 2018: ‘Female Skateboarders Shred Stigma’, Feature Article, Posted October 2018 URL: https://thesourcenews.com/2018/10/18/female-skateboarders-shred-stigma/
For inquiries including about the event, sponsor packages and program please contact our team at @weskateqld on insta or the We Skate QLD Spring Jam Program Co-ordinator: Dr Indigo Willing via the web form.
We Skate Queensland 