In this first part of a two-part conversation, I sit down with Amber Edmondson, founder of New Wave and one of the most influential voices working behind the scenes in skateboarding today.

Amber's journey has taken her from grassroots community projects and international organisations including SkatePal and Free Movement Skateboarding, to founding Women Skate The World and creating opportunities for people who have traditionally been underrepresented in skateboarding.

Together, we explore the power of community, what meaningful inclusion actually looks like, and the difference between simply participating in skateboarding and truly feeling like you belong. We also discuss youth work, representation, creating safer and more welcoming spaces, and why skateboarding can be so much more than just a sport.

This is a conversation about people, culture and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of skateboarding.

And because we had far too much to talk about for one episode, this is only Part 1. In Part 2, we'll dive into Amber's work with World Skate, international coach education and the future of skateboarding coaching worldwide.

Enjoy.

Based in Hastings, Kaitlyn has quietly been putting in the work for years, from coaching at Source Skatepark to stepping into the world of skateboarding judging and rapidly making her mark. After becoming the only person in the world to fully pass the World Skate Level 1 Park Judging course last year, she’s now just returned from judging the Asian Championships in China under head judge Renton Miller.

Together, Lucy and Kaitlyn talk about progression, imposter syndrome, saying yes before you feel ready, and what it means to carve out space in skateboarding as part of an underrepresented group.

The conversation also dives into current skateboarding topics, judging, opportunities within the industry, and why visibility and representation still matter in skate culture today.

A conversation about backing yourself, learning on the fly, and doing it anyway.