For the thrill of speed

By Wangeci Kanyeki

Have you always been a tomboy?

I grew up in Kariokor, Nairobi, where I lived with my parents and siblings. I have three sisters and one brother. My dad treated me like a boy, I spent a lot of time with him and he taught me many things.

I was always a tomboy — I loved to wear shorts and vests and had only three dresses in my wardrobe.

It was easier for me to play in shorts rather than dresses, but of course my mum was not amused that I wasn’t turning out feminine — she at one time even burnt my shorts to make her point.

I attended Hospital Hill Primary School and in the evenings after school, I preferred to play with the boys because they were more adventurous.

I still do things which most ladies would find awkward such as changing a tyre with ease.

How was your college life?

I attended Kenya College of Accountancy and studied Information Technology.

Then I did a diploma in Business Management at Kenya Institute of Management, after which I started a business.

Through the Jua Kali Association (NJEMA), I travelled all over Africa selling curios.

When did you start skating?

When I was 22, I borrowed some roller skates from a family friend. After several falls I learnt how to balance and control the skates.

I loved the high speed and adrenalin and got hooked to the sport. It was so much fun and hardly anyone else was doing it.

I joined a group of boys called Black Streak and we got so good that we started presenting at corporate road shows. At first I was the only girl present, then later, three other girls joined us.

We became so good that we started competing at tournaments on Haile Selassie Avenue on Sunday afternoons.

How did people perceive it?

There was a misconception — people thought we took drugs. My mum was against it for safety reasons and because it is not feminine.

But we were having too much fun to worry about what others were thinking.

Have you ever had an injury?

During my early years of skating I never used to wear a helmet or protective gear. After five years of skating, I had my first accident.

A motorist had made an illegal U-turn on Tom Mboya St and, to avoid being hit by the car, I swerved suddenly and fell under a parked car.

I got an extensive abrasion on my skin but, thankfully, no major injury. Since then, I never skate without protective gear.

After the incident, it took me a year to gather the courage to skate again. Still, I avoid highways and prefer to do it in restricted skating rinks.

You are now training young skaters?

After a while I opted to start coaching skating skills in schools. I now train children in in-line skating which is a style of skating that uses skates which have three to four wheels in a single line.

I also coach roller-hockey which, as the name suggests, is hockey on skates. During weekends I teach children ice-skating at Panari Centre.

How do you ensure you are relevant?

I still interact with my childhood peers who are now professional coaches just to ensure my skating tactics are relevant and current.

In addition I have seven years of experience in skating and also serve as the secretary of the Ice-Skating Federation of Kenya. The constant coaching and skating on Sundays at the Kenya-Re car park on Aga Khan walk also exposes me to current trends.

What are the benefits of skating to children?

Skating helps children become confident. I have seen timid children transformed into self-assured ones.

Skating requires high concentration and focus, skills that children can transfer to their studies. They also become more independent and driven, able to do more without supervision.

Do boys skate differently from girls?

Boys are different because they like the thrill of speed, they also tend to be more competitive than girls.

However girls learn strokes faster because they usually follow instructions better. Girls are more cautious and particular with the strokes.

The earlier girls start the better for them because they are not stuck up on the traditional expectations.

Has a child ever gotten hurt when you are training?

Children rarely have fatal falls because they are so light and closer to the ground. They may get an occasional bruise but they only get seriously hurt when they are not following instructions from the coach.

We train children as young as three, who are in kindergarten, so we have to ensure they have the right equipment — helmets, knee pads, hand pads and rubber-wheeled skates. For safety purposes, we do not use fake plastic.

Can an adult learn skating?

Oh yes: One is never too old to learn. As long as you get rid of the fear, you will learn.

It is useful in weight loss and also a fun activity, mostly enjoyed by those who are adventurous and not too careful.

What else do you do beside skating?

I am currently studying the Montessori system because I have a passion for children. I want to understand better how children function.

Children learn best through play and skating offers a conducive learning environment for life skills. I also teach Sunday School in my church. During the week I offer laboratory assistance at the University of Nairobi.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I want to see skating used in corporate teambuilding exercises. I would also like to have a mentorship programme for children and youth, where they are taught life skills in a fun skating environment.

What is your parting shot?

I wish parents can take skating more seriously and enroll their children. It is better recreation than television because it builds team work, self confidence and social skills.

I also wish our parks could have bigger and safer footpaths that we skaters can use so we do not have to compete with the cars on the road.