Without a doubt, facing this skate spot was one of the biggest challenges in my 18 years of skating. It’s a 13-step handrail, tall and long, with a square rail and a gap in the middle that reaches torso height, all surrounded by stone pavement—not exactly the best surface for a fall. This spot, located at the entrance of the Museo Reina Sofía, one of the most important museums in Madrid, had been on my mind for a long time.
The opportunity arose when Esteban Velarde, a photographer and creator of a skate magazine, was looking for a promotional photo to advertise a wheel brand he manages with a partner. This meant the chance to appear in a skate magazine, have a promotional photo, and continue growing in my career.
I proposed doing a caveman slide on this handrail and committed to landing it. The agreed-upon day was a Tuesday in 2016. I needed some time to warm up and mentally prepare in front of the handrail. Just then, Mario Fortea arrived, considered the best filmer in Spain and one of the top filmers and editors in the skateboarding world. Accompanied by Adrián del Campo, a professional skater from Madrid, they were there to film a line for their video in Thrasher Magazine. Seeing that I was about to attempt the trick, Mario offered to film me. With a photographer, the magazine owner, the best filmer in the country, and a few curious tourists, my attempt began.
The first attempt was the hardest—breaking through fear and uncertainty. I knew I had to fully commit or risk getting injured. I jumped and slid the entire rail, but I let go of the board at the last moment, which gave me an adrenaline rush. I ran back to the stairs, preparing for the next attempt. I failed the next three attempts as I slipped off the rail—the handrail is hollow inside, and the wheels can get stuck and hit the metal base. On the fifth attempt, I fell onto the board, but the pressure made me lose balance. On the seventh attempt, I managed to complete the trick, but I descended the stairs in a manual over four steps without doing an ollie, which left me unsatisfied.
Finally, on the tenth attempt, everything came together perfectly: a well-executed caveman slide, a solid landing, an ollie down the stairs, and a backside bigspin on flat to finish. Both the photographer and the filmer were happy, and I felt an intense rush—not just for landing the trick, but for everything it represented: appearing in a magazine, contributing to my video part and Mario Fortea’s “Sucubo” video for Thrasher, and surpassing my own expectations with the sponsors I had at that time.
This achievement reminded me of the importance of seizing every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how small it may seem. We should never underestimate these opportunities; on the contrary, we should embrace them, learn from them, make mistakes, improve, and remain persistent. Taking advantage of opportunities doesn’t guarantee success or that our expectations will be met, but every step forward helps us grow personally and professionally.
Personal growth is an area I’ve worked on at different points in my life. From my beginnings in football, through skateboarding, my studies, and now in my personal and professional life, I always strive to maintain a healthy and intelligent balance. The most important thing is to face life and enjoy it to the fullest, always aiming to be the best version of myself.
