OUR
STORY
"How do you want to start a group for skater girls when there are only two of us?"
It all started one afternoon at the old skate park in Gan Sachher, in Jerusalem. Maayan and Paola used to skate there every day after school. Maayan comes up with the idea to start a girl's skateboarding group. Paola didn't think it was an easy thing to do, or a simple one. But Maayan was serious. She takes her skateboarding and her women seriously, and couldn't stand the lack of support for the female skateboard scene.
She also doesn't take no for an answer, and Paola began to see things differently – which wasn't difficult, because of course Maayan was right.
By the end of that same evening they had begun creating their own logo, with a chalk stone that they found on the floor. Several styles and many ideas for names later – the JSG as we know and love it today was born.
Who knew that this simple idea would become something with enormous potential?!
OUR TEAM
Maayan Levi
co-founder of JSG, 30 years old, originally from Jerusalem and presently living in Tel Aviv. Maayan holds a BSc in Earth Sciences from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and has been skateboarding for 10 years. Maayan came up with the whole idea of the JSG, and didn't find it at all odd that she was starting a group for skater girls with only two members "Skateboard for me is a way of life, is art, is love and is community."
Paola Ruiloba
co-founder of JSG, 29 years old, originally from Panama but has lived in Jerusalem for 13 years. Currently finished her degree in Industrial Design at the Hadassah College and also serves as an assistant Capoeira instructor. Paola has been a skater for 8 years and training in Capoeira for 7 years,
and somehow manages to do all this and work with only 24 hours a day. "Skateboard is home, family and a place where I can express the real me."
Noa Katz
29 years old, from Carmiel – now living in Tel Aviv. Noa is an illustrator, who graduated from Jerusalem's Bezalel Academy in 2016 with a degree in Visual Arts and since then has published an independent comic book, among other things. Although Noa began skateboarding at age 12, she claims to have taken a lot of time off. It doesn't show in her skating. Noa's last break was 5 years ago and she has been riding constantly since then, while constantly keeping it real and keeping us laughing.
Natalie Zerbib
20 years old, from Ashdod has been skateboarding for almost 2 years, in between injuries. Natalie is all in on everything she does, and her favorite past-times, when she isn't skating, are – in no particular order – drawing, talking and sleeping.
Dina Bronznick
24 years old and lives in Jerusalem where she studies nursing at the Hebrew University – Hadassah Medical Center. She has been skateboarding for 6 years, and we're a little upset that she's been dedicating so much of herself to school lately. "Skate is my release at the end of the day – I put on some music and just enjoy myself."
Sadeel Hamed
14 years old, from East Jerusalem. She has been skateboarding for a couple of months, but only skates on weekends or when she has time between school. Sadeel loves dancing and hanging out with her sister, when she'll grow up she wants to be a business woman.
Aviya Gerlitz
31 years old, has skated for over 9 years (with little mini-breaks on the way). Aviya also likes dancing and swimming, while she isn't studying for her Masters in Sociology. "For me, skateboarding is a symbol of gender equality which smashes preconceptions about people - and a game of peace and justice between people – regardless of their race, religion, color or gender."
Neri Katz-Haddad
15 years old, from Jerusalem, is in the 7th grade. Skateboarding and soccer are her two passions - both give her a sense of community on the one hand and individualism on the other. Skateboarding is funny that way. She has been skateboarding for three years. Neri is a girl of few written words, but her mother thinks skateboarding is freedom.
Hannabella Terrel
13 years old, from Jerusalem has been skateboarding for almost 3 years, in between injuries. Hanna is all in on everything she does, and her favorite past-times, when she isn't skating, are watching movies, hanging out with her friends, talking and sleeping.
Roni Horovitz
23 years old, from Tel Aviv has been skateboarding for almost 2 years, Roni is all in on everything she does, and her favorite past-times, when she isn't skating, are – DJ, dancing drawing and hanging out with her friends.
Chely Kurtzer
15 years old, from Jerusalem has been skateboarding for almost 3 years. Chely is all in on everything she does, and her favorite past-times, when she isn't skating, are – in no particular order – drawing, talking and sleeping.
Ayden Alami
14 years old, from East Jerusalem Akabet el Suwana. She has been skateboarding for a couple of months. "I'm very clumsy and i fall all the time". She's very athletic (soccer, basketball, horse ride, diving, surfing, skateboarding and dance).
When she grows up she wants to be an Astrologist and a horse riding coach.
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Misgav Watzman
28 years old, from Jerusalem has been skateboarding for almost 3 years, she likes visit her grandmother in the US and her favorite past-times, when she isn't skating, are – hanging out with her friends, she loves dogs and to listen to good music.
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Shevy Kurtzer
13 years old, from Jerusalem. She has been skateboarding for a year, but only skates on weekends or when she has time between school. Shevy is Chely's little sister.
Mikel Sara
13 years old, from East Jerusalem. She has been skateboarding for a couple of months, she loves to dance, sing, act and of course skateboarding. She still doesn't know what she want to be when she grow up but she will love to be famous.
Emily
13 years old, from Jerusalem Kryat Yovel. She has been skateboarding for a couple of months. She loves acrobatics to play soccer and specially skateboarding.
Eden
11 years old, from Jerusalem Kryat Yovel. She has been skateboarding for a couple of months. She loves acrobatics to play soccer, art and specially skateboarding.