BIRTHDAY: June 29, 1987
HOMETOWN: Rochester, England
RESIDE: Sheffield, England
Danielle Gallacher Interview (April 2013)
How were you introduced to skateboarding and what got you started?
The first time I ever played with a skateboard was with my little brother, we had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fishtail boards & we used to ride down the grass bank outside our house on our bums. Then the next time was when I was about 15, my friends & I used to spend literally every day hanging out at the coach park in Rochester and they taught me how to ride around & do nose stalls on curbs on their boards. Haha! Then when I was 20 my best friend bought me a set up for my birthday, I remember skating every day that summer, learning how to pump & drop in – and that was it really.
Do you remember what your first setup was?
It was a 7.25 Bootleg board with a rad gnome graphic, Venture lows, and some 52mm Blueprint wheels I think.
Were there any early influences on your skating?
Just my friends really and Getting Nowhere Faster the Villa Villa Cola video. Oh, also my friend Oli showed me Alexis Sablone’s part in A Wonderful, Horrible Life when it was first out. I remember thinking she was the coolest girl in the world! Haha! She’s still one of my favorite skaters now.
What is the best and worst thing about your hometown?
The best part is that it’s the prettiest, most picturesque little place ever. It is beautiful, cobbled roads, old street lamps, a proper turreted castle & a cathedral looking at each other. It has 2 really good sweet shops & a gruesome history! The worst thing is just the monsters it attracts over the weekend because there are so many bars & pubs along the high street. Walking home from work at midnight was always a nightmare!
Besides skateboarding, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read, draw, paint, sew & make things. I tend to get a bit down unless I’m being creative in some way. I make cushions for Story Clothing and help to run Camp WeSC. I like riding my bike, walking through the Peak District, teaching and traveling.
What is your typical day like?
Well I broke my both my leg and my ankle in February, for the first few weeks was just bed bound pretty much so was literally drawing all day every day, which was actually really nice. I can do most of my work from my bed so I’m quite lucky! The past couple of weeks though I’ve just been trying to stay on my feet to not lose too much movement or muscle so I’ve been cooking & cleaning and doing anything I can find to do around the house. When I’m up and running again hopefully the weather will have picked up so I hope to be out on my board & bike as much as I can.
Where do you like to skate?
Wherever my friends are, I like to skate everywhere. I’ll travel anywhere for a new place to skate. Maidstone in Kent was fun when I lived there, however much we used to complain about it! Swalecliffe in the summertime is always nice as it’s on the seafront and the sun sets over the park.
Do you like skating contests? Favorite contest?
I like seeing all my friends there for sure, there’s usually a good gathering at the girl comps and because the girl scene is fairly small we all know each other and are good friends. I can’t say I take them too seriously though, for me it’s just good fun to meet up. Favorite is the UK Girl Skate Jam in London around June time – it’s on my birthday this year, I don’t think I’ll be skating by then but I’m gonna go to hang out anyway.
Where has skateboarding allowed you to travel? Which is your favorite?
All over! I wouldn’t have been to half the countries I have if it wasn’t for skateboarding. Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France & Spain are places that skateboarding takes me fairly regularly. My favorite place to skate is Barcelona, I know it’s a bit cliché but the girls there are all so nice. I’ve never met a friendlier bunch of people than those girls, and they’re so fun to party with.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?
To see the Northern Lights in Alaska, the Inca Trails in Peru and also to see my family in Australia. I want to go to Switzerland one day.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Literally all sorts! My favorite is definitely old music. 60’s/70’s. The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Elgins & Motown stuff. I love Belle & Sebastian, She & Him, The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Postal Service. Loads.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
When I was 7 I got a bat stuck in my hair and my Grandad had to cut him out! He was making a horrible screeching noise & scratched up all my neck! (The bat, not my grandad!)
So far, what have been some of the highlights of your skateboarding?
Traveling, having friends all over the world & meeting some of the best people I know. And being in a film with Bill Bailey! Haha! Also teaching. I’ve taught countless kids all over Europe how to skateboard. I love it!
What do you have planned for this year?
I need to concentrate on getting better really as I had my leg cast taken off a few weeks ago and I’ve been too busy to rest! I just came back yesterday from a trip to Berlin with my friend Wings, I booked it a week before I broke my leg so was supposed to be a skate holiday but I still had loads of fun. The week before that we had the Easter Skate Camp at WeSC in Hull – I had to help take care of, and cook for 25 kids for the week! We had 4 girls signed up this year, Wings, Sophie, Charlotte & Leigh so it was fun filming them! In June I’m off to France to chill for a week, and hopefully by July I can start to try skating again. I really want to go to BCN to stay with my friend Gaby. Then In August we’ve got 2 weeks in Cornwall for the WeSC Summer Skate Camp so that’ll be really fun – last year I couldn’t really skate as I broke my foot at the Far n High Competition in Paris a couple months before! I’m really looking forward to the Summer Camp.
Shout outs and thanks?
Thanks to Ayuchan, Tom, Fran, Mark & Stef for taking care of me whilst I’ve been injured the past 2 months, Gee & Cattle for sorting me out, Michelle from Nikita, and my little nephews Ronan & Jack for being RAD.
Sponsors: Wight Trash Skateboards, Rollaway Skateshop
