Push: Miriam Nelson

Interview by Alec Fenton

Photography by Tom Quigley

First of all, Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Miriam Nelson and I’m from Nottingham.

How and where did you get into skateboarding?

So, my dad bought me a skateboard for my 8th birthday; it was a rainbow Penny board with camo grip tape. At the time I thought I looked proper cool (laughs). And then my mum’s friend had a son who was into skating, so that really encouraged me to actually get into it properly. He skated at Flo Skatepark, so I wanted to go give it a go there.

Sick, so what was your introduction to the skateboarding world like at Flo?

I was welcomed to the best community of people who taught me so much about what skating was all about. On my first time I rocked up with my Penny board, but they lent me a proper setup to use for the session. After the session, I loved it so much that I went straight to FortyTwo shop to buy a proper setup, and then it carried on from there really.

People at Forty Two are the best, right?

Yeah; big up Forty Two.

So you got a proper setup, then what?

I started going to Flo more regularly. I loved the Thursday night session because it was dedicated to skaters, and everyone would send it. I loved watching people like Alex Hallford going for it; it just made me want to be as good as them (laughs).

Maple Street experiences some purple haze as Miriam contorts her way into a properly locked in sugarcane.

At that time, were you drawn to more street or transition?

Mostly bowl because that’s what I saw everyone doing; it just looked so cool to me. But as I got older, I started getting a bit more freedom to go out and skate street with my mates. I find those street missions so fun, but at the same time I still love transition and can’t decide which one I prefer.

I see you as an ATV at this point; what would you say you skate more of? Transition or street?

I just go with whatever I fancy on the day. Some days I’ll go skate street then go to a skatepark after, to skate some transition.

Is there anything or anyone that inspires your style when you skate?

Mainly the parks I grew up skating because they are often quite floaty, and you can do lines around the whole of the park. Also the people that would skate there because I’d see what they’re doing and want to skate like them.

Nottingham does have some great parks, it sounds like they’ve really inspired the way you skate now. Would you say skateboarding has influenced any other aspects of your outside life?

Hmm… It’s definitely made me a more sociable person because I’ve been given opportunities to talk to so many different people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s also helped me to be more determined because I know I’ve got to work hard to achieve something in life.

The Forest Recreation Ground stairs get knocked out cold in the second round with an authoritatively stomped kickflip.

Can we brush on competitions quickly?

If we have to (laughs).

How did you originally get into competitions?

So, I started off doing little jams that the local skate shop - Forty Two - put on, which was great; they showed me what skating was all about. Everyone was just there to have a good time. Then I started doing bigger comps as I got a bit older, which I would do quite often because they were a good place to meet new people and have a laugh with my mates.

You have a pretty good track record with comps; what has been the coolest experience?

Probably the street National Champs a couple years ago, because I won a trip to Canada to go to Jackalope Fest.

Sounds incredible. Was that your first proper skate trip then?

Yeah it was, and also my first time abroad, which made it even better.

I’ll still do the fun jams and events, but I’m kind of over doing 45-second runs.

As you’ve grown up, you’ve seemed to get more and more laid back in your approach to comps. Where would you say you’re at with them now?

Over time, I didn’t really find them as fun as I used to, so I just don’t do them as much anymore. I’ll still do the fun jams and events, but I’m kind of over doing 45-second runs (laughs).

I admire the fact you prioritise how much fun you’re having over anything else. What has been the most fun thing you’ve experienced in skating?

Honestly, the trip to Montreal was the best thing ever. The people running the event drove us round to these sick parks and street spots, we got to watch some of the best skating I had ever seen, and there was some funny after-parties. I did manage to roll my ankle so couldn’t skate for a couple days of the trip, but that was fine, because the other skaters made it such a good time.

Legend has it that this hip in Radcliffe is modelled closely on the nearby bend in the River Trent. If that’s the case, then Miriam sails a melon from Rockley Memorial Park to Polser Brook.

You’ve just got back from a trip in Germany. How was that?

So sick. It was cool to see some of the spots around Hamburg. One day we went to Rote Flora which was mad. It was hard to skate because it was a really steep DIY bowl, but still a fun park. It was also really cool to meet a bunch of German skaters and have them show us round all the spots.

What was the coolest spot they showed you?

Oh, there was this school that a filmer called Zoe took us to. It had a two block that I managed to kickflip, and rails which were so fun.

It’s super sick to watch you start travelling the world with skating. If you could skate anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I’d love to go to Denmark, especially Copenhagen, because it just seems like there’s spots everywhere, and everyone I know that’s been says it’s sick and tells me to go (laughs).

Sweet, thanks Miriam! Any shoutouts?

Obviously my mum and dad for being so supportive, everyone at Forty Two because they’re just the best, and all the people at Flo for being so encouraging. Also thanks Lakai, Meow, Purple Arms, Bones Wheels, and The Skateboarder’s Companion for giving me the opportunity to get in a skate mag.

Follow Miriam - @miriam.nelson1