Really fun chat with Oriol, Catalan supergrom and Original Skateboards rider. He tells us about why he loves downhill skateboarding and his plans for the upcoming Euro tour.

Hi Oriol, where are you from?
Hi, I’m from Barcelona, a beautiful city on the West Coast of the Mediterranean sea.

When did you start skating?
I bought my first longboard on a family trip in NY four years ago, since then I haven’t stopped.

Did you have a skateboard before that?
As far as I remember I’ve always had a skateboard under my feet, but nothing serious.

What was it like skating in NY?
I didn’t skate there because it was snowing all the time, I bought it there because it was much cheaper than in Barcelona.

Who do you skate with in Barcelona?
Some months after buying my longboard I met a crew called Longboard Mediterranea, most of them were older than me and they taught me a lot! These days there were 3 or 4 groups or crews in Barcelona, but nowadays I continue skating with my old friends and also with a lot of different people.

Are most of the people you skate with older than you?
Nowadays the scene in Barcelona has grown a lot and there are people of different ages skating, there are many young kids shredding with the support of local shops. The level is increasing day by day. Now I have goods friends that I skate with who are younger than I am, the same age or older.

How have things developed in the 4 years
In the last for 2 or 3 there’s been an incredible hype I think all around Spain. But the best thing in these recent years is the many associations doing events all over Spain, the level of the riders has increased a lot and there are many shops supporting riders and helping to make this grow.

Do you belong to an association?
Yes, I actually belong to Longscat, they are trying to “legalize” skating around the city.

You have a lot of trouble with police in Barcelona?
Yes, that’s a problem very important in our city and in Catalunya. The thing is that it’s completely illegal to skate on the roads and if the police stops you they can fine you around 1.000€.

Have they ever stopped you?
Many times but I haven’t got any fine yet, sometimes they have stopped us going downhill but luckily they have just warned us that what we were doing was illegal and if they catch us another time they will fine us.

Has anyone been fined?
Unfortunately I have many friends that have been fined for just cruising around the city, but just a few going freeride or downhill. Well actually I’ve been fined once! The first time I went downhill many years ago, but finally we ended up paying just 15€ each.

What do you ride?
During these 4 years, I practiced slalom, tech-slide, freeride, a little bit of freestyle and downhill. Actually what I most like to do is freeriding and downhill, but I think that everyone should know a little bit of other disciplines, because they give you other skills and makes you more complete than just focusing on one discipline.

All Around skating!
Yeaahhh!!!!

Which is your favourite?
Well, as I said before, I love going down a hill, I don’t care if it’s bombing or just doing freeride as long as it’s with my friends, because when I started going down my first hills I learned going in packs, riding very close to other friends, for that reason I really like racing because having other riders near in high speeds gives a feeling I only get going downhill.

What does it feel like?
I’ve never known how to express this feeling. It’s different from when you surf, because you are alone when you are surfing. In downhill, you can share the stoke with your mates.

Are there many hills in Barcelona?
Although it’s a city surrounded by small hills, the majority of the roads are very busy, but we’ve got some spots that are fairly close going by car. So if you have car there are some good roads 2h away from here.

When did you first start racing?
My first race was in Peyragudes, one of the IGSA races in France very close of Spain. This summer I’ll be back although it’s not the same track. I’m looking forward to going because it’s going to be faster, technical and with a lot of junior racers.

When did you do Peyragudes?
It was July 2009, I finished 3rd from 4 riders, two of them were two french guys a little bit older than me, and I had the pleasure to meet and skate with them lately.

Pierre and Gabin?
Yes!! They are really good riders and people. Hope I can skate with them this summer even though they are no more Jr II.

When last did you skate with them?
Last race I saw them was in Kozakov last summer, unluckily Pierre fell in front of me in the semifinals, but Gabin passed me in the last straight with Fredrik Molin.

Do all the juniors keep in touch?
Some of them, but I would like to have the chance to skate more with them, but unfortunately I can’t travel as much as I would like. Specially with all the Jr riders that were racing in Kozakov, I really enjoyed those days I spent there.

How was the rest of the 2009 season?
Unfortunately I couldn’t go to more races like last year. Luckily this year I’m going to 3 IGSA races in Europe.

Did you race in 2010?
Nope, my parents wouldn’t let me go, so I went surfing on the Spanish north coast.

And last year?
Last year I spent 15 days with the team, going around Spain, France and Switzerland skating in different freerides and awesome roads before going to Kozakov. They went to the other races but I couldn’t go.

Are your parents happy with you skating?
My mum has always supported me, and in the beginning she came with me to some competitions like Peyragudes and skating with my friends, but now she knows most of my friends and doesn’t come. By contrast my dad doesn’t care much about it.

What board do you ride?
Now we’re trying some Original prototypes but I can’t say a lot about it! jajaja Just some board.

You ride for Original?
That’s a dream come true!!

When did you get sponsored?
Until this past Christmas, I’ve been sponsored by some Spanish brands which I’m very grateful (Lachicadelacurva and later Ridersfly). But now I’m riding for Original and also I’m very thankful for this opportunity. I would like to thank ERT Surfshop and Boca Bearings. Thanks for make everything possible!!

How did you start riding for Original?
I met some of the riders and Brad when they came one year ago to Barcelona on a skate trip, we were skating together all the week, and finally they offered me a place in the Jr team, but at that moment I was riding for Ridersfly and I was very satisfied. But half a year later Axel, that was on the team, proposed me to join the team and I finally accepted. That was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.

Do you have other sponsors as well now?
I currently ride for ERT surf shop, a small neighborhood shop, and Boca Bearings.

What was the highlight of last season for you?
I think finishing 4th in Kozakov and getting sponsored by a huge brand as Original Skateboards.

Supergrom!
jajajaja Thanks!! Hope this season I can do good results.

How old are you?
16!! But I look younger jajaja

Haha. Are there any other Spanish junior racers?
Yes!! And there are good ones!! Some of them are going to IGSA races this summer. But I’m sure that in one or two years there’ll be a lot of Jr racers!

What are your plans for this season?
I just returned from Tuixent, a freeride near Barcelona. Next is to start the eurotrip with some friends and original riders. Kozakov first, then Padova and finally Peyragudes. We’ll try to skate around the alps and get some footage.

How many of you are going together?
We’re going all the Original Barcelona Team Riders and probably more riders from USA are coming to Peyragudes.

What are you looking forward to most on the Euro tour?
Kozakov and Peyragudes for sure!! They’re the best tracks you can find in the European IGSA races.

Do you have any advice for other young people out there just learning to skate?
SKATE HARD!! SKATE SAFE!!

Where is your favourite place to skate?
All over the north of Catalunya there are many good roads with no cars and a lot of hairpins.

What do you do when you’re not skating?
When I’m not skating or studying, I like to go surfing or in winter snowboarding in the Pyrenees.

Is there anything I’ve forgotten to ask?
I think you know everything about me now! One day I’ll interview you like this. Jaja

Choose 3 numbers between 1-33.
5 -10 – 25

5 – What is your favourite skate video?
Drop my life Downhill

10 – What’s your favourite band?
I think it’s impossible to say, I love many different bands and music styles, it depends on the situation.

25- Would you rather be a penguin stuck in a lions body, or a lion stuck in a penguin?
Definitive a Lion stuck in a penguin body.

It’s been awesome talking to you tonight bro! Good luck in all the races this season.
Thanks dude!! Hope we can meet one day and talk without questions and answers

Did you go to La Noche en Negro last year?
I think we met when they were giving t-shirts!! That was an awesome event!

Haha, then I’ll see you again in September, more skating, less questions!
Jajajaja See you there!! it’s been a pleasure talking with you!

Any thank yous?
The biggest thank you to LongboardMediterranea and all my friends, and another one to all the brands and shops that has supported me till today

Links
www.longboardmediterranea.com
www.originalskateboards.com
http://ertshop.com
www.bocabearings.com