Women skateboarders in La Paz, Bolivia, are riding in traditional pollera skirts to honor their Indigenous heritage [1].
This movement blends a modern, global sport with Aymara cultural identity, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes and social norms regarding how Indigenous women occupy public spaces [1].
The ImillaSkate collective operates in local skate parks and on the streets of La Paz [1]. By wearing the layered pollera skirts while performing tricks, the skaters aim to celebrate their roots and confront the expectations placed upon women in sports [1].
Among the participants is Francesca Loza, a 25-year-old [2] medical student. Loza and her peers use the visibility of the sport to push back against the marginalization of Indigenous identities in urban environments [1].
The effort to integrate tradition with athletics has gained broader attention over time. A documentary titled "ImillaSkate: The Cholita Skaters of Bolivia" was released in 2025 [3]. Additionally, the group's intersection of art and sport was highlighted in a report by NPR in July 2024 [4].
Skateboarding has historically been viewed as a male-dominated activity, often associated with Western youth culture. By introducing the pollera—a garment deeply tied to the identity of the "cholita"—the collective transforms the skate park into a site of cultural resistance [1].
“The ImillaSkate collective uses skateboarding in La Paz to honor Indigenous roots.”
The ImillaSkate movement represents a broader trend of 'cultural reclamation,' where marginalized groups adopt global subcultures to amplify their own ancestral identities. By utilizing the pollera skirt—a symbol of both Indigenous pride and historical social stratification—these women are redefining the visibility of Aymara culture in modern Bolivia and breaking the gender barrier in extreme sports.
