Meet Ramp Stamp, the Crew Leading the London Quad Skating Scene
“We love quad skating and want people to quad skate. That’s all there is to it.”
You’ve heard of skateboarding, but what about park quad skating? Well, it’s nothing like roller skating you might remember from your childhood. But that shouldn’t put you off. In fact, Eli Beristain, the page manager for Ramp Stamp, the West London-based park quad skating crew, wants you to join in. “We love quad skating and want people to quad skate, that’s all there is to it,” she tells Hypebae. “We’re not going to dictate how anyone skates. Instead, we say, ‘If you’re looking for someone to skate with, we’ll let you know when and where to meet up.’ We also celebrate when you show up.”
That inclusive spirit has been central to quad and derby skating. Originally founded in the 1930’s by Chicago-based sports promoter Leo Seltzer, it invited both men and women to participate, which was relatively radical back in the day. While interest in the sport faded over the years, it was revitalized by the queer community in the early ’00s, creating an inclusive atmosphere that still thrives today. “The roller skating scene in skateparks now, especially in London, is largely made up of women and non-binary people,” explains Beristain, “which sets it apart from rollerblading. That is still a mostly male-dominated sport and has more traditional competition divisions.”
Further setting Ramp Stamp apart is its set up: they don’t have a founder or leader as such. Yes, Beristain acts as the community page manager, but the meets and competitions are the work of its members. “Our mission is to inspire one another and push limits by cheering everyone on as they tear it up,” she says.
Their meetups are about more than just skating; they’re friendly gatherings, open to skaters of all skill levels. The focus is on fun and connection, camaraderie and support, allowing everyone to express themselves freely and enjoy the ride. “We want everyone to feel like they belong,” she explains. Read on to find out more about the London-based skate crew.
On Ramp Stamp’s Ethos
We’re a community-driven group. Everyone owns Ramp Stamp. I guess that’s our ethos. Yes, someone’s posting pictures and managing the account, but no one’s calling the shots on who does what; it’s all pretty laid-back and there is no hierarchy.
We want to keep things open and welcoming. While we still have a group chat to coordinate our meetups, we aim to avoid that feeling where someone sees a group of people skating and thinks, “I wish I knew where they were so I could join.” Instead, we want to say, “Hey, we’re skating here,” even if it’s the tenth time we’ve invited you. It’s all about making everyone welcome to join.
On the Influence of Park Quad Skating’s History
The rich history of park quad and derby skating has heavily influenced the inclusivity and culture of today’s community. Both sports have deep roots in queer culture, especially among queer women and have now expanded to welcome all queer individuals. In the U.S., roller skating has shaped the sport’s styles and moves, particularly within Black American communities.
Derby skating, also known as Roller Derby, emerged in the ’90s and also served as a space for women and queer people. The original group that founded Chicks in Bowls, now Community in Bowls, transitioned from derby, bringing many derby skaters into the park quad skating community. Social media has also played a significant role in attracting newcomers, inspiring more people to join.
For our contests, we promote inclusivity and opt for a skill-based approach. Most of our event organizers and participants identify as non-binary, allowing us to set priorities that reflect our values. This skill-based focus creates a much more inclusive environment, where skaters of all levels can participate comfortably and showcase their talents without the constraints of gendered divisions.
On Quad Skating Style
It’s very personal, skater’s style. I love pinks and playful designs, so my skates and hair reflect that. Others embrace the classic skater boy aesthetic and wear more boyish, baggy and masculine looks. Overall, there’s a shared movement within the community away from fast fashion, allowing everyone to show their individuality while being more mindful of their style choices.
There’s also great independent skating fashion brands, like Yard Sale, which donate and sponsor our competitions which also influences our style. Yard Sale contributed to a jam we organized last year and I got a jumper from them that I loved so much, I had to get another. These brands, which I might not have discovered otherwise, have become an integral part of our community, making themselves known and enriching our skate culture.
On Creating – And Needing — A Safe Space
On Thursdays, we typically have about 10 people skating, which is just a small portion of our group of around 40 passionate, semi-regular park quad skaters. The atmosphere is fantastic, but let’s be honest – our skateparks can’t compete with LA‘s. Take the new skate park in Finsbury Park, for instance: it looks impressive, but it lacks lighting, which makes winter skating challenging for those of us with jobs. This is why Bay Sixty6 is so popular; it’s gated and provides a safer environment for our community. While some skaters don’t mind bringing floodlights to random parks, most of us prefer a secure spot to roll. If you’re skating in the UK, you have to really want it because the conditions can be tough.
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On Ramp Stamp’s Stance on Competitions
Competitions are community-organized and we do our best to consider what everyone wants. We did a special Halloween event where everyone dressed up recently, which was so fun. But we also do bi-weekly South East meetups, which are either at Copeland Park or Bussey Building in Peckham. They are called competitions but it’s not about winning for us. The idea is to create an excuse for skaters to come together, inspire one another and push our limits by watching everyone tear it up. We’ve had skaters join us from Australia, Colombia and New York. Everyone wins.
On Ramp Stamp’s Future
Quad skating is such a niche sport that having even one more person skating in London is incredibly exciting and a significant win for us. Usually on the last Friday of the month, or maybe the one before that, there is a queer and trans night at the park. It’s amazing because it opens up a safe space for people who might otherwise feel a bit hesitant to come out. One of our friends, Gabby, gives free skating lessons on those nights. Through that, we met Raya, who’s just a natural – super athletic and already doing incredible stuff on skates. It’s so exciting to watch someone put on a pair of skates and go wild right off the bat. For us, seeing people come together to skate, whether in the park or on the ramps, represents our vision for the future: a space where everyone can be themselves while enjoying skating.
For more amazing sporting communities, read about the Miami-based, all-female tennis club, Slice Girls Tennis Club.
