Woolf Women: Now or Never

Woolf Women directed by first time documentary filmmaker Marchella De Angelis follows Jenny ‘Jungle’ a downhill skateboarder on her epic odyssey across Europe with her fellow Woolf Women, a group of young female skateboarders seeking the thrills and spills of downhill skateboarding. In selected UK cinemas from 8th June.

We pick up Jenny Jungle’s story as a child growing up with her family in Bavaria. Her father was a ski instructor who passed away suddenly, which heavily impacted on Jenny’s mental health. As an art student in London at the time, her thesis on adrenaline had led her to discover downhill skateboarding. Soon she began competing, rising to number 2 in the world, but the news of her father’s death sent her mental health into a downward spiral.

Out of work, she left London and headed to the hills living in a converted van. Downhill skating was her salvation and out on the road she discovered the Woolf Women, a group of like minded girls from around the world living a similar nomadic lifestyle seeking a similar peace of mind from the extreme sport.

As part of her healing process and a way to commemorate her father’s passing Jenny ‘Jungle’ decides she wants to embark on an epic journey with the Woolf Women across Europe. Her target is an ancient monastery high up in the Pontic Mountains of Turkey on a trip that would cover 6,000 kilometres, across 8 countries, in 8 days.

In the build up to the road trip Jenny ‘Jungle’ suffers a sickening crash into a roadside barrier leaving her in hospital requiring multiple surgeries. Her road to recovery is spent at home in Bavaria convalescing with her mother as she races to be fit again to take part in her own documentary as Mama Woolf (and that’s if she even wants to skate again).

Downhill skateboarding has to be seen to be believed. Super-fast with speeds of up to 100 km/hr and super dangerous; how they stand up and race on a tiny board with wheels defies the laws of physics. With no actual breaks, the skaters use a perilous looking sliding technique to check their speeds as they throw themselves around corners, that leaves you with your heart in your mouth as they weave and bob down the roads.

The insane riding is caught on camera with some super close ups that provide a real sense of the speed and intensity; there’s some behind the scene insights into how the high speed action shots are captured and there’s also footage of the accidents that the girls have caught on body cameras, which makes for some wincing viewing.

A memorable road trip for a band of young girls with a shared passion for a unique outdoor sport. Their unique bond goes further than just skating and includes all things Woolf, mental wellbeing, female empowerment and an affinity for the environment (as well as skinny dipping) highlighted by their songwriter friend Karina Ramage who joins the girls on the road to sing some eco songs together.

Director Marchella De Angelis looks to have closely collaborated with Jenny ‘Jungle’ to bring together some nice artistic touches that include some funky edits and a grungy soundtrack all wrapped up in a positively affecting story of girl power demanding of respect.

The sparks certainly fly in this documentary as the Woolf Women show a bravery and skill only matched by the insanity of riding downhill without breaks or a steering wheel.