Girl Scouts get a lesson in skating, self-esteem

At Costa Mesa clinic put on by women’s skate, surf, snow shop, 18 girls learn a trick or two and how to improve riding and fall with grace.COSTA MESA -- There’s nothing like an early morning wipeout to get the juices flowing.

Eighteen Girl Scouts from across Orange County were undeterred by the possibility of a scrape or a scab on Saturday as they learned skateboarding skills.

The event, held at the Girl Scouts Council of Orange County headquarters in Costa Mesa, was the second skateboarding instructional workshop held this year.

The scouts, mostly from ages 9 to 12, learned the basics of boarding, from stepping on the apparatus to falling with grace. HB Wahini, a Huntington Beach-based women’s skate, surf and snowboard shop, provided the instruction.

Skate director Mandy Esch set the tone.

“I’ve been skating for years and I still fall,” said Esch, who hopped aboard a skateboard and weaved in and out of ramps in the parking lot. “Don’t be worried about falling.”

And with that, the girls were off. Instructors took the young skaters through a series of drills, both with and without a skateboard.

“We want to have a friendly environment,” Esch said. “We make it simple for them. If they need us to hold their hand at first, we’ll do that. We’re confident they’ll learn some skills.”

Lorraine Moreland and Kylie Williams from Huntington Beach came prepared. Lorraine, 11, wore a black Volcom T-shirt and an O’Neill helmet, and brought a skateboard.

She said her mother, a former amateur skater, motivated her to try the sport. Lorraine, admitting she was a beginner, said she and Kylie had both fallen off their board last week as they were attempting to go down a ramp.

“We want to learn better skateboarding moves,” 11-year-old Kylie said. “And maybe learn a trick or two.”

On Saturday, they did. The girls rode across the pavement, crisscrossing other skaters and slapping each other’s hands.

Seven girls from a Trabuco Hills scout group came together for the instruction. Some had recently been to a new skate park in Mission Viejo; 9-year-old Jenny Warren came home saying she wanted a skateboard for Christmas.

“They came home and told me these moves I’d never heard of,” said Cheri Warren, Jenny’s mother.

The program, open to any girl in the county, cost $30 per girl and included the one-day use of equipment.

Abbey Leffler, a Girl Scout Council program specialist, said the goal is to get the girls to learn together.

“We’re finding new and unique ways for girls to get involved in sports that are predominately male-oriented,” Leffler said. “It’s very empowering for them to be doing this. It helps their self-esteem.”

Cary Horsager, the mother of skater Carlee Horsager, said she was glad her daughter was being active on a Saturday morning.

“The Girls Scouts are trying to get the girls outside to get exercise,” she said. “We’re hearing so much how about how young people aren’t getting enough exercise.”

Brittany Butler, 9, of Anaheim Hills, gained confidence in her skating ability. She showed off a trick called Walk the Dog, where the skater lifts one end of the board into the air with her foot.

“I know I can do it,” she said.20051106ipicyjknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Kylie Williams, center, 11, rides over a ramp with help from instructor Ariel Lockshaw, right, 14.