We are so excited to introduce our new chapter leader for Kateboards: Emma Dearing!
Emma has been a wonderful part of the Kateboards community for years and we are grateful and thrilled to have her on board as a leader for the community. She will uphold our values of inclusion, kindness, and progression while adding her amazing energy and welcoming + fun approach to skateboarding!
We are so excited to be expanding our meet up offerings for those who live all throughout San Diego. We will continue to host our meet ups in Encinitas as we have for the last 7 years.
Please welcome Emma and come join the fun of skating with a crew of awesome women! We will be having a “Meet Your Crew” mingle on Saturday February 21st from 1-3pm at Pure Project in Northpark. We’d love for you to come out and support the start of this new chapter, meet more people in the community, and give Emma a chance to meet you as well! Thank you for all of your support - Kate
Emma’s interview below:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up here in Southern California and moved around the country briefly for my husband's work before getting back here. We now call San Diego our forever home and couldn't imagine living anywhere else! I grew up playing waterpolo and continued my career at UC Irvine so water sports will always stay a favorite of mine. I’m currently a Realtor here in San Diego, and I feel really grateful to have found work that genuinely fulfills me. I love what I do, and it feels like a privilege to be able to say that.
What is bringing you some extra joy these days?
I’ve really been cherishing time with my husband recently. He deployed a lot with the Navy in recent years so now that he’s home we’ve been enjoying time together with our nieces and nephews and love when we have the chance for slow afternoons at the house.
What are some of your interests/hobbies?
Although skateboarding takes the cake for me, I also love snowboarding and take any chance I get during the winter season to get on the slopes as well.
Do you have a quote or words to live by that you'd like to share?
I don’t know who originally said this but I once heard "Embarrassment is an under-explored emotion, and once you learn to embrace it, there’s a whole other world on the other side that you didn’t know existed.” That quote had a huge impact on my life- I now intentionally practice being comfortable with being uncomfortable and it’s really helped me learn more about myself and experience so much more in life.
SKATEBOARDGING
When did you start skateboarding and how did you get involved?
I started skateboarding in elementary or middle school. I believe I bought my first board with some birthday money, and even though none of my friends skated, I immediately realized how grounded it made me feel. It quickly became a daily afternoon de-stressor. Skating while listening to music played a huge role in helping me cope with the anxiety I struggled with growing up, and to this day, it still has the ability to instantly calm me.
What have you learned about yourself through skateboarding that has stuck with you?
I’ve learned that I don’t have to be a pro at something to love it and be proud of what I can do. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be the absolute best at any hobby we try but the reality is we don’t have to be a pro at something to love it and be passionate about it!
LEADERSHIP + COMMUNITY
What drew you into a leadership role with Kateboards?
I’ve been finding a lot of joy in getting involved in the community simply for the sake of community. It’s easy these days to feel like we always need to be working toward the next thing that will advance our careers or make us more money, but I’ve learned that when you slow down and dive into connection for its own sake, life can feel so much richer than I ever thought possible. The group of women at Kateboards has always made me feel incredibly welcome, and I can’t wait to be more involved in making sure everyone has that same experience.
For those who are new to skateboarding and interested in coming to a meet up, but feeling nervous or unsure, what words of encouragement would you offer?
Don’t be afraid to let someone know you need help getting started! Kateboards is truly for all levels and this is a safe space to learn, advance, and cheer each other on.
What excites you most about building community through this chapter?
I'm excited to make this amazing community more accessible for those living all throughout San Diego. It’s such a warm and welcoming space and I can’t wait for more women to be able to experience it with this expansion.