Photography by Vyasa Wolvetang
Gliding like water over rough concrete, all grace and grit, Miret Pelgrom moves through the world like it’s one big canvas. Rolling through crusty bowls and mossy, forgotten corners of the Netherlands, there’s something about the way she moves that feels familiar, like she’s been at this forever, like she was built for it. We’d been friends online for years, but I never thought we’d actually cross paths. Then we met in Barcelona, and it was chaos in the best way. From the first minute, it felt like we’d already known each other for a long time.
I’m so glad I got a chance to do this with you, Miret. You’re one of my favorite skaters out there. What’s your life like in the Netherlands?
Stoked to talk to you again! In the Netherlands, it’s a pretty chill life for me, like, surrounded by all kinds of lovely people, and I love the job that I’m doing currently. I work in the cultural field, and I’m doing art programs for seniors and for youth. I teach skating and a lot of video editing, so I’m pretty busy. I’ve been doing a lot of things, but I really enjoy it. I’m really content.
So, what’s the art thing that you do?
I mostly organize projects or programs, so I’m not really doing a lot of art myself for my job. But in my free time, I try to always have a project. I’m doing sculpting now, and before that, I did portrait painting, so I’m trying different things and trying to incorporatethem into my work and also in my skating, doing skate projects. It’s really awesome, like connecting skating and art. Also, with photography and stuff like that, making the videos.
For sure! Your skating looks like art, seamless and effortless. That’s the thing I loved about you from the start. You look so comfortable and steezy.
Yeah, I wouldn’t really know how, but it gets to a point where it feels pretty natural to me, but thank you.
Do you think your life in the Netherlands has influenced your skating?
Yeah, it has definitely influenced my skating, of course. You really live with the seasons, so that has pros and cons. It means that sometimes we have to do a lot of cleaning of skate spots or not having a big quad scene or getting rained out, stuff like that. So, we really have to adjust to the external factors, I would say. But, on the other side, it means that we have a lot of great wooden indoor parks; they are everywhere, always available. So, you can skate if you want. But I guess it just makes you adapt to all-terrain skating, so maybe that has some influence on my skating.
What’s the greenest thing you’ve rolled through? Like moss, grass, cow poop?
I think it’s probably this thing that we skated in the woods. It was an old duck pond in the middle of the forest. During the war, it was converted by German soldiers into a swimming pool, and now it was just abandoned, and we cleaned the whole thing, and we skated it, and it was a big challenge but pretty cool. It was definitely mossy, completely overgrown. There was a lot of moss, and it took us a full day to make it skateable.
How do you skate on moss, dude? Doesn’t it slip sideways?
Yeah, it does, but I didn’t do a crazy trick or something, but just skating the thing was worth it.
I think I saw the clip. It was with Levi van Rijn?
Yeah, that was a really fun day. The owner of the land it was on just came by to check what was going on, and he was just like, “Oh, okay, I guess it’s fine?” when I said we cleaned it a bit and will leave no mess. And then he just left.
The last time I asked you about what kind of music you listen to, you said farm rock. What is that like? Can you describe that genre a bit?
Oh, it’s just following me for the rest of my life! [Laughs] Yeah, it’s just a nostalgic thing. It’s not the music that I listen to the most, but it’s really like nostalgia because I grew up listening to this local band making, I guess, rock music, singing in their regional dialect, and then a mix of different themes like daily rural life but also heavy partying and sometimes political criticism. I’ve always been intrigued by it, and I still listen to it now and then. Recently, I went to their 50th anniversary; they’re still active, and it was wild! People, including me, were throwing grass and mud and beer into the crowd. It was a big grimy mess! But yeah, it’s just really fun, so that’s why I said farm music. It’s just that special thing for me. It’s a whole different genre.
Yeah, when you said farm music first, I thought of country, but it’s so different. Feels like it’s more punkish? Or something.
Yes! Exactly. I showed it to you, right?
Yeah, which is why I was laughing because I have those memories in my head.
That trip was so much fun.
Yeah, for sure. I got to skate that weird downhill spot with you, through the mud and the poop.
[Laughs] Yes! What was it, bird poop?
No, it was dog poop for sure. They were huge along the way. I think we just got lucky. We could’ve been full of shit by the end of it. Surviving it was the fun bit. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve got stuck in your wheels?
I don’t know if I’ve had anything stuck in my wheels yet, but I do have a thing where my wheels fall off. While dropping in or something.
Whoa, you’re skating too hard, Miret!
[Laughs] Just testing the limits.
I’m curious to know what your life was like before you started skating.
I was more stressed, for sure. More anxious. Skating gave me a lot of peace of mind, and yeah, I found a place to put my energy and my creativity, and that gave me a lot of peace and has made me a more balanced person for sure. So, the life before wasn’t too different, but my mental health was not as good as it is now, and skating has a lot to do with that.
How did you get into skating?
It was during the lockdown, and I wanted to get skates to start dancing again because I’ve always danced, and I got skates to practice dance moves on the streets. Then I just saw some videos of bowl skating, started skating some small transition obstacles, and later, way later, I got into street skating, and it was purely, purely peer pressure.
Really? How?
Just people coming up and saying, “When are you going to skate street?” and “Are you coming to skate street with us?” I just felt like I had to try it, and yeah, I really liked it. But it’s definitely scarier than transition skating for me.
How do you balance your park side and your street side?
I think for me they are the same, but I might push myself a bit more skating the park spots, like the bowls and the transitions, and taking it a bit easier on the grimier street spots, so I’m not pushing myself too much. I feel like I’m pushing myself a bit more in bowls and stuff. I’m also more comfortable trying new things.
I think you’ve done it for a long time, so you’re just really comfortable with it. But you’re so good on the street, dude. Like that back unity that you were trying with me, sitting into it. I was just like, “Woah,” because you don’t really have soul plates to hold you.
For sure, but I’m not like sending it. I’m just practicing it for weeks or months and then trying it.
It’s good. I really feel like if you want to throw the same trick on a down ledge or something, you would want to feel consistent before you go ahead with it.
Exactly, my future me would thank me.
Imagine building a skate ramp in the middle of a field or barn. I can totally see you having that.
You know what, my friend has one. In the barn, at his parents’ place. I’ve never been there, but he’s been inviting me for years; we just never went, and he has a ramp in the barn. I should definitely go there. My biggest dream is to have a little piece of land one day with a big ramp.
That would be so sick. And then I’ll come visit you and listen to some farm rock. Moving on, what’s the grimiest trick you’ve landed? The one that’s cost you blood and bruises.
Well, I think that one has yet to come. I get hurt doing stupid stuff. Also, like, just doing warm-up and stuff, I get hurt. But I plan on pushing myself a bit more, maybe next year, for the next video. So, for the grimiest trick, if you have any suggestions, let me know.
Okay, I’ll let you know if I think of anything. You’ve never had bad falls?
Yes, but I’ve never broken a bone. Nothing serious. I did hit my head in Paris and that sucked. Nothing was damaged, but the skate trip was over for me before it had even started. I also had my lip pierced with my teeth doing a death drop. Stuff like that. I was just doing an invert in a bowl. I was on inlines, maybe it’s a little different on quads, so I think that had something to do with it.
OMG, you got your teeth in your lip?
Yeah, like, all the way through. They had to glue my lip. I didn’t know they did that, but yeah, it was no fun. It also happened indoors, so it was not too gross; it was just a tiny cut.
Okay, well, that’s good. So, if your skating had a farm animal sidekick, what would it be?
Oh, I cannot choose, but I think what would be really convenient is a barn owl because they would be ideal for spotting and giving good, wise trick advice. That would be cute. I would have one on my shoulder when I’m skating.
That would be so sick. And like, when you flip, he flies, and when you land, he lands back on your shoulder.
Yeah, and he makes a little sound when I land, and then he takes notes on what I can do better.
Nice, good choice. I like it. Do you have a favorite kind of terrain on the streets?
Yes, and I also know yours. Every time we encounter a rough, rocky, grassy downhill path, you scream, “That’s my kind of spot!” And it’s so cool, but I feel sorry for your bearings.
That’s so fun! I’m so used to not changing my bearings because I don’t have a shop. I don’t even care, it works, but you’re also so good at skating spots like that too.
My favorite terrain is, I think, crusty old bowls, concrete, and then bonus points if there’s pool coping. Or, you know, there are old tiles that make a sound while you skate over them, like khrrrrrr. I think if it looks unattractive to skate, it’s probably worth trying.
I agree. There are a lot of skateparks I go to and shoot something, and then I go back home and don’t like the video because the sounds are so smooth. And I would want to try the same trick on a crusty spot to make it sound better.
Yes, and also visually, it’s nicer to skate a crusty spot. I really enjoy the sounds of skating. I never skate with music because I really want to hear the sounds.
That’s amazing. You also recently joined the Chuffed crew and went on tour with them. How has it been so far?
It was obviously amazing; it felt like it was meant to be. We’re all very different skaters, of course, but our personalities went together very well, and we felt like a family on tour, so it was really cool. Everyone was really motivated. We had a lot of rain, but we skated for many hours every day.
Everyone is so good in that crew.
It was wild to be on this tour with the people you’ve been inspired by for so many years.
Hopefully, we will meet on one of the upcoming trips. It’s so amazing that we get opportunities to travel the world and meet other skaters through roller skating. It’s also so easy for us to hang out because we’re so like-minded. I can’t believe I’ve already met you twice.
It feels like we’ve met a hundred times. But it’s just twice.
Yeah, it’s crazy, dude. I never thought I’d meet you because we’re from such different parts of the world. Speaking of skaters from different parts of the world, who is your favorite skater to watch, or skaters? People who inspire you.
Choosing one person doesn’t feel like a complete answer, but if I had to say somebody, it’s no secret that one of them is Silvia Kambouris. Since Day 1, I’ve always loved her style. Just every clip makes me so happy, and I just want to go skate, so Silvia really motivates me. Aside from quad skating, inline skating is a huge inspiration as well. Fellow Dutchie Levi van Rijn is incredible to watch, and for videos, I’m a big fan of everything Joe Atkinson puts out. A lot of people, and also skateboarding and everything, but if I had to choose a favorite skater who has it all for me, it’s Silvia.
She’s amazing; I love her skating, too. What’s the future for Miret?
I feel like it’s just getting started, you know? And I hope to be able to just continue this whole thing, skate, make stuff, teach, and go to the camps. Maybe I will be able to cruise around on wheels until the very last day, the ultimate goal. I would love to combine skating with art and events. To give an example, a few weeks ago, together with some jam skaters and skateboarders, I skated in a theatre with a band playing for a live audience, and we had this improvisation show and stuff like that. It’s the most random stuff, but it’s super magical. So, I hope I can do more events like that. You have to be there to experience the real stuff. That would be really cool to do more in the future.
I think I saw something you posted on your stories. That’s so cool. There are so many possibilities, like painting with your skates, performing with others, and blending movement and art. The ways to combine skating and creativity feel endless. If you had the power to change the world, what would you do?
I would fight a lot of things. Like racism, queerphobia, and sexism to start with. I would fight a lot of things that are unfair in the world. Man, the world—it’s beautiful and terrible at the same time. And then get everyone on skates, because that would make a difference in their lives, like it did for me.
