Olympic Skate: the Patagonian tour of an Argentine team that confirmed the sport’s boom

“Skateboarding is a medium that takes us down different paths and in this case being able to make such a journey, with all the experiences and learning that it generated us, is something very special. I’m still processing everything we lived through…”. Wendy Soler She is 28 years old but has a long journey in skateboarding, from her beginnings in her native Caleta Oliva, at the age of 13, to her present day in the city of Córdoba, with her skate school for girls. She’s been through it all, from suffering discrimination in a historically macho sport to a serious knee injury that required two operations. That is why she now enjoys this special moment of her sport, in full swing, much more democratic and open, with more opportunities for everyone. And all.

The 16-day tour organized by DC Shoes, which included visits to 10 cities in southern Argentina, is one more proof and she is grateful. “Skate has come a long way but it is still in full development, especially the female branch. That is why a brand planning a trip like this, through beautiful places and with many activities, is one more milestone in the history of this growth for which we have all been pushing”, completes about the growth of this sport that is already Olympic, a move that although resisted by some in the environment, has brought new opportunities. Of course, Wendy was not alone in Patagonia. She was accompanied by Sandro Moral, the brand’s star skater, Ezequiel Larrosa, another long-standing talent, and Camila Poli, the other girl who completed the team that, precisely, had gender equality. Diego San Martín was the photographer and Fernando Natalucci, the filmer. The troupe, which traveled in two Ford Rangers, was completed by two managers of organization and logistics.

The first leg, starting in Buenos Aires, reached Neuquén, where they stayed for four days, skating the city and honoring local obstacles. The team fell in love with the central square, which has a beautiful promenade, a corridor with fountains, sports and cultural spaces, with the particularity that the train passes through the middle. That’s where the most human -and transcendent- moments began to be lived, from the logical crossover between the most pro skaters and the amateurs who live in the area.

A boy from Neuquén looked for them on the street and not only invited them to eat at the house but also took them to see the different spots in the city, especially a part of the Limay River that was not in the plans and it was great. “You can have everything arranged, organized, but skateboarding improves from the contribution of the people. And many times the locals add value. Such is skateboarding. In addition to being urban, it is open, participatory. In other sports you don’t run into pro athletes on their courts. Here yes. Skateboarders go out and find them, on a track, in the streets. In the cities they knew, through the boys’ social networks, that they would pass by and appear… And they contributed. And the kids gave them a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, a board… That’s the good thing about skateboarding, it’s not exclusive. On the contrary. It has no limits”, analyzed Juan Cruz Lanzinetti, leader of the excursion due to seniority and experience, but always shrewd when it comes to observing and reflecting.

The team then traveled to San Martín de los Andes, full of adrenaline. And that’s where Chino Moral made his “appearance”, a kind of leader of the gang. He first jumped into the river from a bridge (see photo). And then he broke it in the main square, despite twisting his ankle. Difficult to stop Sandro with his passion and energy. Ice, bandages, an analgesic and keep walking. “I’m from Sagittarius,” he laughs. I took many beautiful things with me from the trip, among them several bruises that I will never forget. Everything turned out to be special and it meant a lot because it was a family trip, ”he admitted. There were two magical days there, with local skater Facundo Vial Sotomayor as a guide and Jorge Belardi as a magical host.

Then, on Route 40, the band headed towards Bariloche, after stopping at Villa La Angostura. Walking in a skatepark next to Lake Nahuel Huapi was another beautiful experience, although not the only one. As in the rest of the cities, the kids walked the streets but not only skated they lived… They did beach, mountain and lakes. And they left for Comodoro Rivadavia, with stops in El Bolsón and Esquel, where Gael Dobar was waiting for them, the other member of the team who, at the age of 17, ceased to be a promise to be a reality. In Rada Tilly, the spa that is 12 kilometers away, they put together an event together with the local Al Límite, with 50 registered, prizes (with the classic “money for tricks”) and about 400 people. Everyone was surprised by the good vibes and the level of the kids in the region. And of the landscapes, of going from the mountains to the sea in a few days. There was also time for two days in Puerto Madryn and a visit to the Valdés Peninsula. The end came in Epecuén, the flooded city. A different afternoon.

“One of the most emotional things was seeing the sea again and feeling at home, also seeing the happiness of my colleagues when they got to know Patagonia and this incredible country that we have. Skateboarding is a medium that always takes us down various paths and one of the dreams that many of us share is to travel with the skateboard, and to do it abundantly with a brand that supports you beyond cost, that is also lovingly is incredible. We live days of enjoyment, celebrations, laughter, tears, love, company, what surprises me the most is that several days have passed since we separated and that each one is present in me as if it had been yesterday that we were submerging ourselves in the Limay River.”, Wendy remembered with the sensitivity that characterizes her. Things that were happening, that make the country known. “The kids enjoyed everything, not just skateboarding. They had a glimpse of how people live in the South, with the brightness and the shadows, and the always special feeling of living the road. Skateboarding transforms and on trips, you learn”, completed Lanzinetti.

“It was another demonstration of how sport can lead you to live very nice experiences. From day 1 until it all ended, we went through magical places and lived special moments, from mounting ramps to jump to jumping into the water from a bridge”, was the balance of Moral, who reflected on what skateboarding provides him as a vehicle. “Being able to enjoy walking at any time, at any age and in any place gives the touch to my life. It is something that I appreciate every day that I walk. On top of the skateboard I feel in a very comfortable place, where I get rid of everything, ”he added.

Wendy nodded. “Embarking on a tour with a team where I didn’t know everyone was an emotional experience. Many things were going on in my mind, but I can still feel the tranquility and fun that I experienced from the first moment. I also thought that we all put aside our routine, our home and family so we also saw ourselves pulling in the same direction to find balance and enjoyment. This is skateboarding, in my case a philosophy of life ”, she completed, who thanked for the place that women are gradually occupying in a sport that historically was basically for men. “It was always difficult to win spaces and be able to express ourselves, but everything has been changing and we must thank those who encourage it, as in this case DC. Until next time…” she closed.