Skate Girl Realness-Windle Young
Far far away in the city of NY, Windle Young, an enthusiastic for skateboarding who’s not just one trick pony but many talents, her love for communities empower to one another, from mat to flat, photographer Marisa captured her moves & grooves in the skatepark wearing inooknit’s sustainable flat, we talked about living in NY, a day in the life and more.
Q Hey Windle! How are you doing?
Hi!! I’m doing great this morning :) Hope it’s the same for you!
Q Where are you now and what are you doing ATM?
Right now I’m in my tiny Brooklyn apartment drinking coffee and listening to my morning playlist while playing chess with my boyfriend.
Q How long have you been l
iving in NY? And do you like it so far?
I’m a born and raised New Yorker so I think I will always inherently love it here over anywhere else. The pace, the sounds, the constant stimulation and hustle - it’s part of my DNA.
Q We can see you having fun in the indoor skatepark, is skating a big portion of your life?
Yes, skating is a massive part of my community here. I’ve made so many amazing connections and friendships through skateboarding and it’s hard to imagine my life without it now.
Q You are also the leader of GRLSWIRL NYC, when did you guys start and what are you doing in GRLSWIRL?
I became a leader of GrlswirlNYC in the Fall of 2019, shortly after the chapter launched. I run the organization with my partner, Kristen Miller- who started the NYC chapter. We function as an extension of Grlswirl LA, which was founded by 9 incredible women, who were looking for a safe and encouraging community in an often intimidating and male-dominated sport. We hold monthly meet-ups at different locations in Brooklyn for people who crave the same environment and don’t necessarily feel comfortable showing up alone. I’ve seen so many strangers turn into best friends at our events. I’ve seen the students become the teachers and pass on the empowerment to one another. It’s truly incredible to see people breaking through their fears. Additionally, I run our mentorship program, where we volunteer with underserved youth communities in the city and teach them the basics of skateboarding that they wouldn’t normally have access to.
Q When did you first get into Yoga? and does Yoga change your lifestyle or the way you live in NY?
I started getting into yoga after I graduated college and was feeling a bit lost in my life. It began to teach me so much off of the mat and gave me the patience and understanding on how to live a more conscious and purposeful life. I loved it so much, I decided to do my first Yoga Teacher Training here in Brooklyn. Since then, I’ve been teaching at studios here in the city for about 3 years now. I love holding space for the community to find some peace and connection. You can find me at Baby Cobra, a donation based studio in Bushwick on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm.
Q Thank you for joining us in this collaboration! was inooknit as comfy as you imagine? and how was the experience working with Marissa?
Thank you for having me!! inooknit was even more comfortable than I imagined and working with Marisa is always an absolute pleasure. We actually met through GrlswirlNYC and have worked together multiple times on various projects! She’s so talented and I’m grateful to call her a friend.
Q Can you walk us through a typical day in your life?
I recently started a new job, so on top of teaching yoga and co-running GrlswirlNYC, I work full time for a PR agency. After work, you’d typically find me cooking vegan dinners and cuddling on the couch with my roommate.
Q Any future plans you want to share with us?
I’m going to Costa Rica for the first time with my family in March and I’m so excited to see sloths in the jungle and soak in some warm sun!
About Windle Young
Windle Young was born and raised in NY, you can find her clicking keyboard during the day, skateboarding and stretching in her free time, she’s the leader of GRLSWIRL NYC and also a Yoga teacher at Baby Cobra.
@windle_young
@grlswirlnyc
@baby.cobra.yoga
Photographer: Marisa Silva