How did you feel when you were filming for Extremely Sorry? You made an impression on the skating world with that part, but were there nerves coming after videos like Sorry and Really Sorry?

It was actually really fun. It was one of the best times ever. I really didn’t give a f*ck. I didn’t have any surgeries back then or any issues. I was just ready to go. Possessed to Skate was a lot more painful, [laughs]. We did a lot of trips in Europe and South America for Extremely Sorry.

You’ve always been an all-terrain skater of both street and transition, where most skaters usually tend to lean with one or the other. Why do you think that is?

Honestly, it’s just because I enjoy both so much. Skating in Columbia, all we had was the streets. When I got the opportunity to skate different stuff it was just so exciting to me and so much fun. I can’t help myself.

It’s probably why you got Thrasher’s Skater of the Year. How did you feel about that?

Man, I was so stoked. It did get to a point where I was just like, “f*ck it, I’m going for it!” I’ve never slammed as much or as hard as I did throughout filming for Possessed. It was a crazy feeling.

If you hadn’t won that year, who do you think should have got it?

Guy Mariano, man. Or Figgy, he killed it that year too.

I’ve interviewed skaters like Arto and Geoff before, who have mentioned a point where they didn’t need to hit eighteen-stair handrails anymore. Do you feel like you’ve also proved yourself in that way?

It’s not so much about that for me. Hitting the big stuff is where I get my thrills in skateboarding. I can’t see myself laying off this stuff for a while yet seriously. The slams are part of that.

Tell me about the time you went to the Iron Maiden gig with Harry Bastard when he was the Flip TM. 

That was epic [laughs]. I think I was only about seventeen. He bought me a bottle of rum right before the concert. I pretty much drank the whole bottle and got hammered. I’ve always loved that type of music and especially Maiden. I was over on tour that time and we were all supposed to leave but there was an issue with my passport so I had to wait for an extra two days. Iron Maiden were playing within those two days, which was sick. When I found out I was like, “oh my god, let’s fucking do this”. I’m a big fan of British heavy metal. It started off with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. I’m also into Motörhead, The Sex Pistols, The Clash and the Exploited. I love that shit.

You’ve been involved a lot with the X-Games and Street League. Is there a sense that Nike SB have sort of taken over these kind of events? It seems to me that other brands aren’t represented on the same scale.

Yeah, of course they’re taking over skateboarding. Skateboarding has changed so much over the years that I don’t see know where it’s going to go, you know? It keeps moving. The big brands are putting in the money. I get invited to the events and I go. Why would I say no? I’m stoked to be in Street League. I get to represent Columbia. I know the events are sponsored by other brands but I think they’re trying to bring skateboarding to another place.

That place is The Olympics.

For sure. It’s definitely going.

Is representing Columbia something you’d want to do at The Olympics?

I’m going to say yes. By then I’ll almost be thirty and winding down with my career a bit. I’d do it, why not?

Will the format be the same as Street League?

Exactly like Street League. That’s how all the contests are now and Street League started that.

I know Geoff Rowley is a huge influence of yours and a good friend. What are the feelings like at the Flip camp since his departure?

For me, it’s been pretty weird. Geoff brought me into skateboarding in a big way. For the new kids not as much, even though the whole team is bummed. It sucks, but it’s nothing to do with us, it’s the politics. It is what it is. Despite that, Flip is going to keep going. It can’t stop.

Like you said earlier, it’s a weird time in skateboarding. A lot of people are leaving companies they have been with for years and even decades. Take Guy Mariano or Gino for example. 

Yeah it’s completely changing. The guys that were at the top before are now a little older and probably want to do their own thing. It’s just the way it goes. After that many years it just comes as a shock to people.

What’s the skating scene like in Colombia today?

It’s a small country. The scene is definitely growing but when you compare it to somewhere like Brazil it’s very different. It’s big there. There are probably about ten riders in Colombia who are really good to go. But there’s no money there, no magazines or ways for people to get properly paid yet. It’ll get there though.