Tina Wan Is Conquering The Skateboarding Scene
Singapore’s creative pulse isn’t waiting for permission. Across skateparks, studios, and unexpected corners of the city, a new wave of young makers is building in real time, guided less by old formulas than by passion, instinct, and a genuine curiosity to do things differently. Here, we talk to Tina Wan, the rising skateboard star who’s one of the rare women competing at the pro level.
Even as skateboarding goes mainstream – video games, streetwear collabs, Olympic medals – women are still seriously under‑represented in the scene. Per market research platform Gitnux, only about one in four skateboarders globally is female and even fewer make it to the elite level.
That’s what makes Wan’s rise so wild. This 19-year-old started off on a second‑hand penny board, teaching herself tricks via YouTube at her void deck, eventually becoming Singapore’s sole female representative for skateboarding at last year’s SEA Games – and the winner of both the Women’s Park and Street events at the 2025 National Championships. Not bad for someone who cried for three hours before her mother relented and got her a proper skateboard. She has made her name in bowl skating – riding in bowl‑shaped structures, rather than the street courses most people are familiar with – but it hasn’t been without challenges.
“There was a period when Singapore only had one bowl and it was frequently closed because of cracks. I hope Singapore builds more skateparks for the growing scene so there are safe spaces for us to nurture our skills,” she says.
While there still aren’t as many female skateboarders as she’d like, Wan has never felt out of place, adding that the local skateboarding community is extremely supportive. Well, she’s already leading the way for others to follow – she has even inspired her mum to pick up a board herself.
Here, she shares more on her journey:
Tina! How did you first get into skating, and what drew you to it as a kid?
“I got a second-hand penny board (a small, lightweight skateboard ideal for beginners cruising around, but not great for tricks) because my older brother had one as well. However, when my family and I went past the Stadium skatepark, I noticed that everyone typically skated using a skateboard instead of a penny board.
Even so, I still decided to show up at Stadium skatepark with my penny board, but then a guy came up to me and encouraged me to get onto a skateboard instead, as a penny board constrains a lot of tricks. He also let me try his skateboard, which felt so stable.
After that, I begged my mum to get me a skateboard from Decathlon since it was cheaper there. Initially, she said no because she didn’t think I would stick with it. I was upset when she said no, which made my brother feel bad for me because I cried a lot over it, so he convinced my mum to get the skateboard for me. When they surprised me with it, I was super happy and immediately started watching a lot of YouTube skate videos and tutorials and would go to my void deck to try tricks like acid drops and ollies.”
Was there a moment where skating shifted from being just a hobby to something more serious for you?
“Yes. It was when I found out I had been selected for the 2025 SEA Games. From that day until the competition, it was the hardest I have ever trained, and I was happy to see that I improved. I definitely had to put in more hours and effort to prepare for the competition.”
How would you describe the local skating scene now as compared to before?
“I think that the skate community is trying to do more now — more competitions and more ‘helping-hand sessions’ where local coaches give free coaching to beginner skaters on certain days.”
You’re also one of the few female skaters who competed at the SEA Games last year — what was that like?
“It was my first SEA Games experience, and I was definitely proud to be the only female skater representing Singapore. I was super proud of myself and my team for making it to the SEA Games and for our journey to get there. It was a great and unforgettable experience despite the challenges my team went through. It was nice to see Singapore supporting skateboarding at such a major event.”
What do you think Singapore still needs to better support young athletes or creatives in sports like skateboarding?
“It is great to see that Singapore is more accepting towards skater culture as compared to before, but more support is definitely welcome, such as easier access to coaching or the availability of more skateboarding coaches, or exposure to overseas competitions.
This will enable us to connect with other skaters beyond the local community and learn from their experience. It would also be great if skateboarding were recognised by the Singapore Sports Council, as that would give us access to athletes’ gyms and other essential facilities. With their support and funding, we’d have better training spaces, which would make a big difference in how effectively we can train.”
You’re also currently a student. How are you balancing being an athlete and your studies?
“I try to do my schoolwork early and seek guidance and advice from my peers and lecturers whenever I am unsure of a particular module (Wan is majoring in Integrated Facility Management at Temasek Polytechnic). Temasek Polytechnic’s flex week, which allows us to pace our own home-based learning, helps me organise my time better between studies and skating.
During busier school times, like project submissions, I have to skate less so I can focus on schoolwork. When I have competitions coming up, I try to do my projects earlier so I can train properly.
What advice would you give to young girls who want to start skating but feel intimidated?
“I would say make friends at the skatepark because it will make skating more fun and they will encourage you to learn new tricks together. Also, just start at your own pace and don’t be scared to try new tricks. Mainly, just make sure you’re having fun.”
An adapted version of this article first appeared in Volume 7 of F ZINE.