LU pHILLIPS ✨ | wĀhine Rider

🧡Tell us a little about yourself:

​I am a primary teacher who grew up in Hawkes Bay and I now live in Warkworth. My wife and I have been lucky enough to enjoy traveling around the world together and are constantly on the lookout to find cool new spots to skate, surf and snowboard.

🧡Tell us about your boardsports journey:

Before becoming a teacher, part of my job was helping run youth camps. My first camp was a snow camp and snowboarding on the field at the bottom of the Chateau Tongariro on a day when the mountain was closed, was my first experience of snowboarding. I was hooked. This was the start of my love for snowboarding and in fact, boardsports. I have always loved the idea of skateboarding and have even tried a few times to get into it. I like trying new things, I get really into it, buy all the gear but the novelty seems to fade and I move onto the next thing without making connections with others with similar interests. Until, as a 30+ adult, I discovered Wellness Riders and other amazing groups of wahine like Skate Seen and Girls Skate who make everyone welcome no matter what their experience and level of skateboarding is. In the last year, summer means days, weekends and holidays at the beach surfing. Every day is a new wave, and another chance to challenge yourself to get better and enjoy that feeling and thrill of standing up on the wave or laughing together after an epic wipe out.

🧡 Reasons you love boardsports:
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I love being out in nature and enjoying different experiences out and about in our amazing country. Boardsports helps you connect with others, and gives you a challenge to keep learning new things, no matter how old or young you are. It is something you can share with others and encourage them to join you on your journey and learn together.

 🧡 Your favourite boardsports memory:

My favourite memory is snowboarding fresh powder in Japan. The small crowds and deep powder made for the most enjoyable days on the mountain I have ever had. My favourite skateboarding memory so far is the first day I learnt to drop in at the skate park and then helping my niece do the same.

🧡 What other ways do you cherish (manaaki) yourself?
(personal well being)

For me it’s about keeping it simple. Finding out what is good for your mind, body and soul and making time for those things. Keeping active has always been an important part of this for me, which is why boardsports fit in so well for me

🧡 ​What advice would you give to other wāhine wanting to pursue a boardsports lifestyle?

Do it! Try out something new even if it scares you, even if you aren't great at it to start off with, because that's where everyone starts. You may fall, I still often do, but you learn to get up and give it another go because the people you meet on your boardsports journey are encouraging, supportive and are there for you. Search them up, find a class or event, get out there and give it a go because they are waiting for people like you to connect with.