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Meet the skate crew born on the seaside in Naples and built by women who wanted more from skating.
What started as skate sessions with a few men turned into an all-female crew when founder Grace Pellecchia decided to bring women together and build something of their own…
Please note that the interview questions have been translated from Italian to English
Hiii Grace! How long ago was this group created, and how did it all come about?
Nice to meet you, I'm Grace Pellecchia, founder of the Rollergirls from Naples format. I created the first Crew 2 years ago. Initially, I was part of an inline community that had split over the years, leaving me with just a few guys to push through the training. Then I started to think, being always alone with the men, and since there were fewer and fewer women due to falls and difficulties, I thought... why not bring all the women together and create our own world?! So I started stopping girls and boys found on the Caracciolo seafront in Naples and talking about the community, motivating them to get out and skate and start a family. Initially, the community focused on training and performances on wheels, then things changed and I began to see everything around me in a new light, and I decided to convert it into a true all-female crew.
What type of activities does the group get up to? Just skate sessions, or is there more?
The group encompasses all disciplines:
Inline Skating, Inline Aggressive, Inline Freestyle, Inline Slalom, Inline Freestyle, Inline Freeskate, Quad Skate, Quad Basic Step, Quad Roller Skate, Quad Rollerdance, Quad Artistic, Quad and Inline Backstroke, Quad and Inline Jump, Speed, Freeskate in the city, Skateboarding, Longboard Dancing, Surf Skate, BMX
We hold free training sessions organized by me, simulating jump and slalom circuits, and I create Rollerdance and Aggressive sessions.
We organize Free Skate events in the city, showcasing skating as a lifestyle. The goal is to encourage all Rollergirls to break away from the stresses of modern life and find a family in the crew, a point of reference, and a way to experience sport differently: breathing in the fresh air, riding along our very long seafront promenade to the rhythm of good music with our positive vibes, having a drink, and after training, eating a delicious Neapolitan pizza together.
Naples looks like a fun place to roll around! Do you have different skate spots, or just one main location?
Naples has a unique energy; we are a people full of energy and positivity despite life's difficulties. Naples has so many unique and magnetic places, catapulting you into a world blending past, history, traditions, and music.
Our regular Community Spot is Sunday - Lungomare Caracciolo from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, along with other roller-based groups with whom I've partnered to promote the first major skate park in Naples on our seafront. The crew I created as a social project is called @the.fusioncommunity, which I manage through social media, reels, posts, and training sessions.
A regular community day every Sunday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
We also have some parks where we train together on extra days for our focus training.
Are there any skaters or other skate groups that you find inspiration from or follow on social media?
There are other groups I collaborate with, including my first skating group from years ago @pattinapoli.ig and the addition of @freeskatenapoli
Everyone contacts me for everything since I manage everything myself.
