THE arrival of this Friday’s Urban Rider Games is a date to look forward to for many extreme sports enthusiasts in Swindon, but for one young woman it is a particularly momentous event.

For Jenna Sharma, 17, from West Swindon, the Games are not only a chance to show what she can do but also an opportunity to take part in the first ever girls-only scooter competition in the UK, an achievement she was instrumental in bringing to fruition.

Jenna, who is studying for a BTEC in film and TV production, started riding scooters with her brother when she was 12 years old.

She said: “We started doing it more and more, but just out in the street to start with – as we got more into it we started going to local skate parks.

“Then about 4 years ago, this ATBShop Skate Park opened and I’ve been coming here ever since.

“I’ve had some issues with anxiety and there was a summer a couple of years ago when I didn’t want to do anything at all – but this place got me going again, this got me through it.

“I’ve got to know everyone here really well, it’s like a second home, they’re like family.”

Jenna has been the only girl at the skate park for the majority of the time she has been riding scooters, but she hasn’t let that hold her back.

In 2014 she became a team rider for the ATBShop and last year she achieved another milestone, becoming a ‘flow rider’ for Blunt Scooters.

While more girls are now riding scooters in the UK, they are spread far and wide. Social media platforms such as Instagram provide a great space for them to reach out to each other, share their progress and plan meet ups.

When the idea was floated to have an all-girl category at the Urban Rider Games this coming Friday, Jenna took to Instagram to promote the unique opportunity and get her fellow female scooter riders onboard.

She said: “I’m really happy that it’s happening at my home skate park.

“We’re really excited that we get our own category, I was just speaking to one of them this morning and we can’t wait.

“It’s not even really about winning the competition, it’s more the opportunity to come down and have fun competing against other girls.”

Friday’s event, which gets underway from 3pm, will also feature BMXers and skateboarders of all ages competing across seven categories in front of industry judges for the chance to be crowned Ultimate Urban Rider 2016.

The Games have had great support from a number of industry brands and the prize list is growing by the day with over £2,000 worth of skateboard decks, scooter decks, trainers, clothing and accessories up for grabs.

Entry to watch is free and anyone wishing to compete can register on the day for £10.

Information on categories and much more can be found at www.atbshop.co.uk/UrbanRiderGames