We've had some disagreements about the X-
Games, and ESPN, and stuff like that. You
explained to me that in Brazil, the only way
a kid can see skating on T.V. is through the
X-Games, and through the Hard Rock con-
tests. Can you explain some more of that?
The mags in Brazil can only be read to a certain
point. They only have about 30,000 that come
out, but Brazil is huge, and T.V. is everywhere.
The X-Games make it that much easier for a kid
to turn on the T.V. and see skating. That's one rea-
son why I entered the X-Games; so that people in
Brazil can see what I'm doing here. I'm skating. I
didn't just move to the states and forget about
them. That's definitely not the case.
Waving the Brazilian flag over your head
after you win lets them know that you still
love your country.
One thing
that some-
times pisses
me off about
ESPN is that
I've seen them
put up my
name, and
then USA after
it because I
live here and I
I
put down my
SF address.
With that hap-
pening,
shouldn't even
have entered.
It's just letting
them know
that there's a
Brazilian
skater out
there skating
all the con-
tests and
being with all
the guys from
all over the
world. Now,
skating is
I
keep from burning out?
having fun. I'm just really stoked to be skating.
Skating with Rune is rad because we're both
around the same age. Skating with Tony is
something different because he's been through so
much and he's done so much. He's just amazing.
With Rune, we're both young and starting the
career so we both push each other. Whenever I
skate with Rune it's just a different energy
level. I like skating with him a lot. He's my
favorite right now. Just how he skates anything,
wherever, so smooth.
I try and pace myself. Last year there was a
contest every weekend. Whenever I'm home I try
not to skate; just stretch a lot. Unless I've got to
go out and shoot photos or do something. But
that's not skating as I'd like it. It's just you and the
photographer killing yourself just to get some-
thing, but you have to get it because you're leav-
ing. You just have to do it. Then you end up get-
ting hurt. I try and do different things than skating
so I don't burn out. I go surfing or whatever; go
out and kick back with my mom.
What sort of things have you learned fucking sick.
through travelling?
One thing that I've noticed is that everywhere
you go, there's traffic jams. It's gnarly to think that
every place, if you look on a world map, it's just
all the same. Depending on where you go, a lot of
worldwide. There's Denmark, Australia,, people are friendly. Skateboarders are every
Switzerland, Germany, everywhere. It's not just
an American sport anymore. The US is always
just a step ahead because this is where skate
boarding came from. Now it's just going to grow
and grow and grow.
There could be a kid from some town who
no one knows, but in 3 years will blow
everyone's head off.
I know, I run across them all the time on tour.
What's your daily routine?
When I'm home, I go to Deluxe, go to
Thrasher, then go home and pack for the next
trip, or turn on the computer and see what
kind of e-mail I've got. I get a lot of e-mail
from people in Brazil and all over the states.
You know that there's people out there who
know what you're doing.
where you go. Like a family. Instant best friend
right there, because you have a session, share
emotions, and end up having so much in com-
mon. You have places to stay. It's rad to go to new
places and skate new parks. There's parks out
there that no one knows about. In Australia,
there's 15 or 20 year old parks. Super old transi-
tions. It's incredible how much stuff is out there
and sometimes there's not one skater around for
miles. They must figure it's not for skating since
it's so gnarly and big.
When you're at a contest standing on the
deck with Tony, Rune, Danny, Max, Colin
and all those guys, what the fuck is going
through your head?
Here I am with all the best skaters in the world,
who I looked up to when I was growing up skat-
When you travel so much, how do you ling, and now I am skating with these guys and
58 THRASHER
I watched him skate Burnside, and he was
He doesn't need a camera to be on-not that
anyone does but if there was no one there, he'd
still try the gnarliest thing. If it's just me and him,
we'll have a super-rad session.
How does your street skating affect your
vert skating,
the
and
other way
around?
Vert gives
you a lot of
strength in
your legs to
skate street,
and street
gives you a lot
of technical
ability for vert.
Vert makes
you skate
faster when
you're street
skating, and
you want to
get that same
rush which
sometimes
doesn't hap-
pen if your
just trying a
trick on flat-
ground. That's
something
that doesn't
appeal to me
as much as bombing a hill or just trying to go as
fast as you can. I'm not a technical street
skater. If there's a rail, I'll 50-50. I won't try a
noseblunt slide or anything. I just want to
feel the rail and do it.
But you like street skating?
I like street skating a lot, especially in SF.
In Brazil we didn't have that. Just going out
and cruising down smooth hills. In Daly City
there's tons of that. It's just rad to get out
and push around.
What are three highlights from the last five
years of your skating?
One was the Ultra Skatepark days, skating
with Cristiano and everyone there. No particular
thing, but that whole phase all together just lit-
tle kids going to the park and having fun, skating
with the bro's.
The second one would be when I first came
Above: The vertical switch master demonstrates how it's done at the Rio Sul Bowl, switch Indy.
to the states and was staying at Joey's house,
and I realized what skating was, and meeting
Jake Phelps-just knowing how he is and how
long he's been around and how much he loves
skateboarding. You can relate to someone like
that because you're a skateboarder and that's
how you want to always be. There he is, working
at Thrasher and keeping skating alive.
The third one would be the last Hollywood con-
test, just because, since there was a lot of money
being given out, people were just going for it. There
was a lot of energy and all of my Brazilian friends
were there, so it all came together into one thing-
my whole history of skateboarding. All of my
Brazilian friends there in the crowd, in America, and
I'm there skating. And Tony Hawk, the guy who
pretty much invented vert tricks... I don't even have
to talk about Tony Hawk, and there you go, I end up
skating and winning the contest.
Do you have anybody you would like to thank?
I'm going to start by thanking my mom Dora,
and my dad Dean for giving me the opportunity to
be here, my two sisters Milena and Rebecca, I love
you all. I want to thank Nelson (Cristiano's dad) for
building a skatepark, and therefore allowing a bunch
of kids, like myself, to have fun and stay out of trou-
ble; Daniel Bourqui for designing the ramp and mak-
ing sure it came out the way it did big and perfect;
the Ultra boys: Cristiano, Renatinho, Valtinho, also
Luciano (Cristiano's brother) who I shared my first
sponsor with, and who has unfortunately passed
away in a car accident-drive safe guys-Marcelo
and Mauricio (a.k.a. Mark1 and Mark2) for helping
me out as my second sponsor, and second parents
at one time; all the skatepark organizers, owners,
designers in Brazil for providing the skaters with
some fine cement transitions, especially Portuga for
doing such a good job on the Rio Sul Bowl;
Roderigo Menezes for keeping the vert fire burning
in Brazil when it was needed; Tio Liba, Sergio
Negao, George Roiatori for one session that I wit-
nessed when I didn't even dream of dropping in and
he was ripping it. Frontside 540's to a kid who is just
starting looks simply unfathomable. That day is
stored in my brain forever- -crystal clear; Tony
Hawk no words to express my gratitude; Danny
Way, Colin McKay you guys rule; Rune Glifberg-
many sessions more to come with the viking enthu-
siasm and energy that you emit; Tribo Mag, Gyrao,
Bolota, Marcio Tanabe; 100% Magazine, Alexandre
Vianna, Plinio, Fabio Ahmad, Donadio, and all the
people who I have exchanged good experiences
with along the way: Lincoln Ueda, Cupim,
Thronn, Daniel Kim, Cabralha, Grito da Rua,
Edsinho, Paulinho, Rui Muleque, Leo Kakinho,
Danielzinho, Junae, Fernandinho, Cuca,
Glauco, Chileno, Chupeta, Chaves, Piolho,
Kosake, Sandro Diaz, Pinguim, Schumacker,
Ribiero, Porque?, Bruninho, K-Beão, Pilanha,
Leo, Patrick, Felipinho, Cesinha Chaves, Come
Rato, Oscar e Osmar, Indio (Guara), Jorge
Kuge (the first guy I saw skating switch in
Brazil, doing a switch rock 'n' roll on the Ultra
mini-ramp), Mureta, Markinhos, Zik-Zira,
Tarobinha, Cesinha Surf/Lost, Silly Society
Video Magazine, Valeu galera, já já eu estou
ai pra fazer aquela sessão, é nó.
Sequence: Sporting a smart Pork Pie hat, Bob
boosts a blunt to fakie on the wood extension at
Jim's ramp.
59