Skaters on a Mission

    Imagine you’re visiting Cochabamba, Bolivia. It’s a busy city in the middle of this South American country. The air is warm and dry. You can see beautiful mountains in the distance. Local markets sell fresh fruits, flowers, and empanadas. 

    Then you spot them: a daring skate crew! They quickly race down ramps. They high-five each other after nailing jumps. 

    And they do it all in big, colorful skirts and long braids. Sometimes they even wear fancy felt hats. Who are these very cool young women? 

    Picture this: You’re in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It’s a busy city in this South American country. The air is warm and dry. You see mountains in the distance. Local markets sell fresh fruits, flowers, and empanadas.

    Then you see a skate crew. They race down ramps. They high-five each other after nailing jumps.

    And they do it all in big, colorful skirts and long braids. Sometimes they even wear fancy hats. Who are these skaters?

    Imagine you’re visiting Cochabamba, a bustling city in the South American country of Bolivia. The air is warm and dry, and beautiful mountains are visible in the distance. Local markets sell fresh fruits, flowers, and empanadas.

    Then you spot them: a daring skate crew barreling down ramps and high-fiving each other after nailing jumps.

    And they’re doing it all in big, colorful skirts and long braids. Sometimes they even wear fancy felt hats. Who are these very cool young women? 

    Meet ImillaSkate. It’s an all-female skate crew. Like many skaters, these young women wear sneakers and knee pads to practice. They love their sport. But they’re also on a mission to honor the history of their people.

    The special skirts these skaters wear are called polleras. In the past, they were often worn by Indigenous, or Native, women in Bolivia. These women were known as cholitas. 

    Until recently, cholitas were treated unfairly. They weren’t allowed to use public taxis or buses. Restaurants didn’t want to serve them. Many of them had to work as servants. Cholitas spent decades fighting for equal rights.

    Meet ImillaSkate. It’s an all-female skate crew. Like many skaters, the members wear sneakers and knee pads to practice. They love their sport. But they also want to honor the history of their people.

    The skirts they wear are called polleras. In the past, they were often worn by Indigenous, or Native, women in Bolivia. These women were known as cholitas.

    Until recently, cholitas were treated unfairly. They couldn’t use public taxis or buses. Restaurants didn’t want to serve them. Many of them had to work as servants. Cholitas spent decades fighting for equal rights.

    Meet ImillaSkate, an all-female skate crew. Like many skaters, these young women wear sneakers and knee pads when they practice. They’re passionate about their sport—but they’re also on a mission to honor the history of their people.

    The special skirts these skaters wear are called polleras. In the past, they were often worn by Indigenous, or Native, women in Bolivia. These women were known as cholitas.

    Until recently, cholitas were treated unfairly. They weren’t allowed to use public taxis or buses, and restaurants didn’t want to serve them. Many of them had to work as servants. Cholitas spent decades fighting for equal rights.

    In 2006, Bolivia elected its first Indigenous president, Evo Morales. He helped make life better for many of the country’s Indigenous people. Some cholitas were finally able to get government jobs. They could go to college. They could become lawyers, teachers, or doctors. Today, these women celebrate their freedom. 

    That’s one reason the young women of ImillaSkate wear polleras. Many of their mothers and grandmothers lived through difficult times. Some even stopped wearing their polleras to try to blend in.

    Now the skaters wear the polleras with pride. Their families are honored to see them sharing their traditions. “Women in polleras are a symbol of strength,” says team member María Belén Fajardo Fernández, 21. 

    When the team is not at practice, they teach local kids how to skateboard. They also compete in tournaments. 

    Above all, skateboarding reminds them that they can do anything. “It teaches you confidence,” says Daniela Santiváñez. She is one of the crew’s founders. “The message is to be yourself and be proud of who you are.” 

    In 2006, Bolivia elected its first Indigenous president, Evo Morales. He helped make life better for many Indigenous people. Some cholitas could finally get government jobs. They could go to college. They could become lawyers, teachers, or doctors. Today, these women celebrate their freedom.

    That’s one reason the members of ImillaSkate wear polleras. Many of their mothers and grandmothers lived through hard times. Some stopped wearing their polleras to try to blend in.

    The skaters wear the polleras with pride. It’s a way to honor their families. “Women in polleras are a symbol of strength,” says team member María Belén Fajardo Fernández, 21.

    When the team is not at practice, they teach kids how to skateboard. They compete in tournaments too.

    The sport reminds them that they can do anything. “It teaches you confidence,” says Daniela Santiváñez. She helped start the crew. “The message is to be yourself and be proud of who you are.” •

    In 2006, Bolivia elected its first Indigenous president, Evo Morales. Morales helped improve living conditions for many of the country’s Indigenous people. Some cholitas were finally able to get government jobs. They could go to college and become lawyers, teachers, or doctors. Today, these women celebrate their freedom.

    That’s one reason the young women of ImillaSkate wear polleras. Many of their mothers and grandmothers lived through very difficult times. Some even stopped wearing their polleras in an attempt to blend in.

    Now the skaters wear the polleras with pride. Their families are honored to see them celebrating their traditions. “Women in polleras are a symbol of strength,” explains team member María Belén Fajardo Fernández, 21.

    When the team isn’t practicing, they compete in tournaments and give skateboarding lessons to local kids. 

    Above all, skateboarding reminds them that they can do anything. “It teaches you confidence,” says Daniela Santiváñez, one of the crew’s founders. “The message is to be yourself and be proud of who you are.”