Cata Diaz featuring Hilda Quick

Hi and welcome back to the Skate Creative Podcast. My name is Joel Curtis. I'm a musician and skateboarder. My guest this week is Katadia. Cata is from Valparaiso in Chile and has spent the last few years living in Barcelona and London. A new part, Claritya, premiered recently on Greyscateboard Mag's YouTube channel and was edited by Hilda Quick, who also joins us on this conversation.

I talked to Kata about her time starting skateboarding in Chile, making the move from there to Barcelona, the positives and negatives of social media, her influences and inspirations, filming in the UK, her love of Leeds and the North Meeting Hilda, adjusting to the cold, and learning to trust the cards and manifest your destiny.

Kata's style, personality, and infectious positivity have made her rise in skateboarding seem effortless. But in this conversation we discuss how her cancer diagnosis made her draw on all her strength and energy to regain her physical confidence. and come out with her most progressive and soulful section yet. I do hope you enjoyed this episode. It was really fun to meet Kata for the first time and reconnect with Hilda again. And yeah, okay, here we go.

So Hilda was saying you were trying to make it up to Leeds, did you make it up there? When? Last week? Yeah. Oh my god, that was insane. So, um, I wasn't sure because I was kinda like some issues with like resident stuff in in Spain that I had to figure out. And I was like planning on going to Leeds because I wanted to see everyone before I go to LA.

Um so I was like ready to go on like Thursday, but then this whole thing happened and there was a possibility that I had to go to Spain and that was gonna be like an extra money before LA that I didn't wanna spend, etcetera. So I was like, Oh And so I decided like, uh maybe I shouldn't just go. But then the next day Rai texted me like, Um I'm gonna go, you wanna jump in the car? And I was like, Yeah. Ha ha ha. I went just for today. Um right.

Okay. Literally like I went for like an evening and came I came back at three in the morning. Yes. Oh shit, okay. Your first megabus experience. Yeah. Um took like a bus. It was so gnarly. Was it? You you got the best there? Wow. Oh okay. Pretty tough. I like... Yeah, it's uh everything happens at most, doesn't it? It's like oh I was at w I was working today and then um My wife's going to India for ten days tomorrow, so she's been running around doing everything I'd come back.

Cook dinner. Uh Cater, I'm in Bath, which is near Bristol. Oh okay. Yeah. Have you been to Bristol? I'm sure you've been to Bristol before, haven't you? Probably. Um yeah, I went once actually, but like for like literally also like a day and Right.

I mean maybe we could s we could uh obviously I really wanna talk about the section you just you you uh just put out. kind of not the main thing for this but just, you know, a a a focus point for it. I mean but maybe we could start just talking about you starting skateboarding really and and just'cause you're from Chile, wh which part of Chile are you from? So I'm from Valparaíso. It's like a city in the coast. Um

It's uh way smaller than Santiago. Um, but it's like two or three hours away from it. So it isn't like isolated on the north or whatever. It's kinda like So born near so it's not like that dead, but um still it doesn't have like industry at all or soever. So it was kinda like a crazy place to start skating, to be honest. Right.

So what what's the theme like out there?'Cause I mean I I think uh uh uh uh b from a European point of view, I think we've probably seen a lot of like Brazilian skateboarding and things like that, but other bits of, you know, like South America we've kind of maybe don't have an idea of in a way, I don't know. Yeah, I feel like it's it's really funny. A lot of people when they hear that I'm from Chile, they like really think like I'm from the Caribbean. Right.

Okay. You know, they're like, uh you must not be used to the cold, like you're from Chile, you know, it's like uh it must be so hot there and it's like is it the Um so where I come from we have a like it's one of like the very few cities in the world I think for what I've read a couple of years ago that it has like A temperature that never goes below like fourteen or above like twenty five. So it's very safe. Okay.

ha we're close to the the ocean. So it's not either hot or cold. It's just very like stable all year long. It variates a little bit in between like winter and summer, but it's very like mellow and so like yeah it's it's just Thank you. It's just not Caribbean, you know, it's just like a normal Yeah. ご視聴ありがとうございました Oh my god, it's like Colombia is not. Right. Does it does rain much? Um no, not really. No, okay that sounds pretty Yeah.

So y I I read that you e you started skating just after working in a skate shop, is is that right? Yeah, so I got um I got a job in a skate job before I started skating. Um It was basically'cause I got kicked out of school. So I was like doing nothing besides working there. So I spent a lot of time like talking to people there and the guys who were coming, they were like uh you should try it, blah blah blah. And I was like, yeah, maybe I don't know. Like I wasn't really into like

anything like it before. I wasn't even into sports, you know. So to me it was a bit weird. I just remember like the first time I tried like pushing, I just felt like oh my god, this is the most fun thing I've ever done like right away. So since it just started. So there's good there was a good community of skateboarders there that you kind of just just started skating with or was there any a was it was it all m men skateboarding there or was it other other women too?

So I started with a group that it was like so I was like sixteen and the guys who taught me how to skate and they were helping me and whatever, it was like a group of just guys. And they were all like 30s, mid-thirties. You know, um And one two that it was my age.

So like at that time in that area of the city, uh I was the only girl, but um from other parts of like I don't I wouldn't know how to say that here. It's like You know how there's like Bromley to London, which is like almost like Kent, but still London. Yeah, yeah. Sure. You know, so that we will have like girls from places like that, like outside the city but still part of it.

But they will come sometimes to skate and whatever. But it was like two other girls and and we did became friends and we skated as much as we could when they were like. during the summer or whatever, but I was the only one who was like who didn't have school or any anything else. Right. So you're doing it pretty much we did it like kind of all the time around working and that was just just what what you mainly did?

Yeah. Yeah. Then the next year I got into a different school. Um And I like so in South America we start the year in March, you know? Oh I got there and I got kicked out like in May. So I was buried in school that year either. Right, okay. Mm-hmm. So f I mean f like how did it progress from there to like being were you sponsored in Chile for a start or was that did that happen afterwards?

So I had a sponsor of boards. Yeah. Um but it wasn't nothing big. It was like the same skate shop that I started working on. Okej, cool, ja. But it was awesome. The guys are like fucking amazing to be honest. Until today that dude is the one that keeps like the whole scene of my city together, you know, like keeps doing events and bringing people and doing stuff and doing videos.

and the sponsors my best friends and like it's pretty cool to be honest. Like now when I went it was like one of the first person I went visit and stuff, you know? Um but it wasn't like anything you could see to like a feature, you know,'cause it's like a small shop in a small scene. It was more like look, you don't have to buy your own words. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Um so I mean uh w was that was did you kind of after that point was that when you decided to move to Barcelona? Was that the kind of next step and what you were doing at the time or? I got kicked out of my second school and Chile is very competitive with the way you get into university. So

I started preparing for my test and trying to get the best qualifications in like what we call free exams. They are like um the exams you do at the end of the year to like the state to prove how much you know and whatever. So like a forty percent of go you going to college is that, like how like your grades through the last four years of school or well, I didn't feel like I didn't

Um finish in a normal school. So I just had three years. And I did two years in school and then one in a school that it was two years in one. I started like uh training myself for that for the test that is the sex sixty percent. And in the forty percent I was already really good, but I wanted to get into medicine and hopefully with a scholarship because if not it wasn't uh possible for me to afford it. Um

So as it's really competitive, I was just like, I don't know, just like constantly studying and preparing for that. Yeah. Um So it was i so I was just really focused. Then it came the time where I did my test. Um I made it to uh like the second best of my country with a school. I got on it. Um, the focus of this university is kinda like Catholics.

So it's very um traditional and it was kind of like degrading two women, like I don't know how to explain it, but they were Yeah, they were just like really uh rude and he they like f like we were literally like in the career at that time in that generation we were like five women and like one hundred and fifteen guys. Wow, okay. So it was really hard to just like exist in the system and then like

Just in general, so to pay the part of my s my university that it wasn't like sponsored or whatever, I had to work in a bar. So I was just really burnt out. I was just very exhausted all the time'cause I'd be like working from like Ten in the night till seeking. Then get in my car, drive to the university parking lot, sleep in the parking lot.

Get into class at nine, get out at like three something, sleep another hour in my car and go skating and then go to work. So it was just like Yeah, and that limit to get like really depressed and like bug place sort of thing. So I I decided like by the end of that year like I wanted to quit the like quit the career. But my dad suggested that I freeze it and took a couple months off.

So that's what I did and I was like, okay, I'm gonna go to Barcelona and do myself, film a video part so I can say goodbye to this part of my life with skating and everything and I can just focus on my career and forget about it forever. And it just happened the complete opposite. It was like my minute came back for it. This w this was your career and the rest of your life, so that's fine. That's a great fact.

But my dad still all the time every time we talk he's like when are you going back to the career? Like he's still like P parents love to do that stuff, don't they? Just like Yeah, and like I don't I don't think I can study for fifteen years another career.

Okay. So um yeah, so Barcelona that's obviously a a a massive skate mecker and has been for a long time and I I just watched a few videos of yours today and I watched uh one of them was the the followed one that Pocket Skateboard magazine did with you um it's a while ago now, it's a a few years but

Didn't get a real sense of the kind of community there and all y you know, your friends and stuff and it was I r it's it's it's such a positive video that and just um I think what really comes through is you have a very kind of infectious positive

uh v vibe when you when you're out with people and skating and stuff like that. So uh'cause I mean I suppose I've did skate in Barcelona and Rock, but it was quite a while ago. I haven't been there for a long time. So d is this does this there is this still massive kind of A tight knit community that's still there and

Yeah, like Barcelona is always gonna have like a huge amount of skaters there and people and community. Yeah, definitely, yeah. You know, like all my friends are still like there. I just feel like throughout the time that I like been living there that is like a almost like seven years yet now. Um I just I just like

became such a like because I moved there with eighteen, you know? And now like at the moment I felt like I was a grown up and I was fully formed and I thought I understood everything and whatever and like everything seemed to like just fit in with me as well, you know? Um, and the first like three years I had like a whole story and a whole different situation with the city. Um

I made a brand with my best friend. I I was filming loads, maybe even more than skating. Um It just like was like a lot of other things than all of my group of friends kind of like went back to their countries or to their cities and I like fitted in another group of friends, this last group of friends that is slightly currently the one you saw and followed, um, that I truly love and appreciate. But then I kind of like felt like It was like my time to be like living as well, you know,'cause um

I just wasn't the same person I was when I moved there when everything seemed shiny and fun and everything like I needed to experience other stuff too. And I was kinda like I just also like after I got sick and I had such a horrible time of my life there and I felt so lonely. I was like, what is the point of me being here really? What am I constructing for like my future here? You know? So was that the point you decided to move here or was that

Um so the thing is like um when I got sick I didn't want to do treatment. Um I had like um a stomach and esophagus cancer. Oh wow, okay. In twenty twenty two I was diagnosed and I got in remission um on uh August twenty twenty. Right. Wow, okay. That's amazing. So um when I when I got sick, uh I was in Copenhagen in the the Elfen. And I had to go to my country and it was um I had to get like three surgeries and after that going to chemo. Um chemo felt like shit. I really didn't wanna do it.

And um I really felt like I didn't wanna be in Chile throughout that process. So I came back to Europe and it kinda like

tried to finish it in Barcelona, then I quit it. I started like skating. I don't want to do this. Kind of like this is a future me problem. Um but then um I almost died again. And I had to actually get like And I extrained chemo again and my boyfriend uh was like, you have to take this seriously or you're gonna die and my dad too and everyone and they got me like a treatment here in London closer to my boyfriend and she like Um like a more

Safe environment for me to actually commit to it. This is way harder when you have everyone around you like, ah whatever, let's go skate. And and then it was then everything in my life was like in pause and I got to see um you know, because when you're like skating all the time and doing stuff and doing video parts and this and that and traveling.

Um, I feel like you don't get like a moment to like step back and see who you are now. It can be so different. And when I realized all the things uh I was learning and becoming Um I realized I didn't fit in so much in Barcelona anymore. Or if I said I didn't feel it so much in me anymore, so... It was w just like at the end of twenty twenty three when I was like maybe I should go somewhere else.

And that was the when you came here. Yeah. And how you f how have you found England compared to Barcelona in that way? Is it is it how has it been England is uh England is so different to be honest. Um so like I just find it like healthier, like a healthier space between like the skate community, you know? Like, um, I don't know, just like a way more evolved scaseying, I'll say.

Also, like where it's so much more embraced on it. Like way more like styles and ways to perceive skating and ways to do skating. So I really enjoy how like everything like feeling here, you know? Uh in Barcelona w it still feels like it's like the nineties, you know? Okay. So do you like the gnarly strick ledge? Or like Okay, right. Yeah. And if not, it's not like you know, it's not worth it. So in that in that regard I feel like it's it's just like better to me right now in this moment.

spots are like harder to find, so it's way more rewarding when you get a trick and you like enjoy that more. Yeah, yeah. I feel like you develop like um like a relationship with the sport, you know, everything's so hard and you always have to like Find out how the fuck to get the speed and or maybe fix something or whatever. So it becomes like personal in a way.

Yeah. I think that's I mean Barcelona from Uh my my experience of skating there and stuff is like when you you know, when you go there from especially from you know, like like I did from England and everything is rough as hell uh There are so many perfect spots there. And it's kind of a funny thing, isn't it? Because it makes you when you have those perfect spots you kind of think I've got to do something really perfect here,'cause this p spot is so perfect.

And if it's like a a slightly rougher spot or a different spot then it's it's maybe what you do on it is slightly different.

I feel like you get to a place where you don't even appreciate. Like I think you're exposed. Imagine, yeah. I don't know. It's just like it I like as I said, like it's a really different way to perceive skating as well. You know, and also like I felt like So I got an remission, I started skating again and when I was there I decided like um like a new project. But I also was like Like I've been skinning here so long, you know?

It's it's just gonna be more of the same. Like it's just gonna look like another insta clip to do another part here, you know? And And also like Varius was going through a particular moment on his life. uh where I feel like we just needed each other a bit more. Um, I think living in the same place and for him in his career. he was pursuing stuff that could only happen in England. So to me it was like a lot of like okay I'm willing to explore outside, but also a lot of like

Like, he's just not like my boyfriend. He's someone that I like l they literally kept me alive when I wasn't going to keep myself alive. So I was like, Yeah, I'm coming, you know, whatever wherever you're going and I'm like here to root for you. So Oh so we decided to come back and now it's like yeah and I I was willing to give my best effort. But I'm not gonna lie, it was so hard at the Again. I don't know. Like Being the new kid again was so crazy. Ja, cool, ja, sure.

You know, especially when it's like I'm an immigrant, you know, so I know what it's to be in the position I I was when I just moved here. But the last time I was that person, I was eighteen. kinda like fun and hilarious to be in that position again, kinda like. Uh but as I said like the the uh whole scene in England was very welcoming and and nice and open and and fun.

You know? Um and like for example when when I like because I was I I was like, okay, I wanna do a part but like who films here? with what could I do it, you know? And like contacting random people and doing this whole project happen. Even the way me and Hilda got to know each other is so crazy if you think about it. So how well we maybe we can talk a bit a little bit about that and Hilda, when did you meet Cata or and vice versa, I suppose, yeah. Yeah.

I just got like a message from from her on Instagram and I was like, Why the fuck is Casa Diaz messaging me? And she was just like, Are you down to film? and I was like, Yeah, let's do it And she just um Came stay for a few days and we went filming. It leads, isn't it? Like in the interview. He'll always laugh at like how I put it like in the great interview, like She was like, Yeah, close. She like she like quoted what my reply was. In the message and it sounds nothing like me what she's but

Yeah, sure. I'm waiting for you. Here, let's go film. And you're gonna graduate my cows. You can stay at my house and we can go and film. So good. You say everyone's so welcom welcoming Katter, but I feel like they have no choice with you. You're just so friendly. You don't give people a chance to like be unfriendly. Well that's a that's that's a massive quality that's f that's fantastic. That's pretty good.

Actually I feel like I was lucky as well, you know. Like I ran into people who was nice too. Sometimes. There were some people who wasn't, but it was fine for the most part.

So th so this project was kind of just like a j j just literally cause you wanted to do something just'cause you wanted to do another video after getting back into skating again after after being sick and stuff like that and was there any kind of like Did you were you just kind of did you have goals you wanted to do or was it just kind of a case of just getting getting back on it again?

I did when like on a trip before as well. But I just had like the feeling of like Can I do a part again? Could could I even do a part like in England? So I wanted to get back on it, but I also was like It like not scared but like at the time I didn't feel the way I was feeling now with my body. I was still like recovering. So

I still f I still felt like this crazy pains I don't know where from the chemo and shit like that, you know? Like weakness or like you know, like I don't know, you just feel like fucking so to give it a try. And I thought, uh, may maybe this is the only way I can I can see if it's like an actual real thing, you know, like by pushing it and like making it happen, even if it's like something short.

I think I started feeling like I'm so fragile, like yeah, it was so scary everything, but then it was just like Having the determination and having to like have it like all too rely on the other. so much and also this feeling I think it was so good for me. You know, that feeling of being like new kid and like like all these flashbacks went from when I went to say teen and just like it helped me felt stronger. Felt like I had like You know, like oh my god, I still got it.

No, you can We still haven't, you know.

So uh Hilda w we you you edited this this section that Kat has just put out. Um uh when did you kind of did you Were you just a a film at the start and then s then asked to edit it as well, or how d how did that progress? Yeah, I was just filming some clips and then I actually came on to editing it quite like last minute. Um So

Okay I'll do it. Um so I was like a little bit stressed about it but it actually was like pretty it works out pretty like easy I think Um Didn't want you to do it at first, she was like, Oh no, like Yeah, I mean I was like I don't have time. I like I'm not I'm not gonna be able to do it like justice, like You don't want me to do it. And she was like, I do. I really do. Nice to meet you. And I um I remember talking to Josh Hallett and I was like

What do you think? Like do like do I do you think I have the time to do it? Like What's your honest opinion? And he was like, you do it, if you fuck it up, I do it. I was like, great, that's what I need. That was the reassurance I needed. To back up, that's always good. Yeah. Yeah, he's got my back big time.

How long did this did you have to film this part with? Like did you did you have much kind of inf not influence, but just did you get to go and see Hilda and edit it with her at all or was it just left up to her? It's cause um I feel like me and Hilda just connected right away when the we first met. I was like Kind of like

Like I left Leeds the first time I went, like wanting to come back. Like, oh my god, this was amazing, you know, and getting to know everyone. Um I just feel like like we connected really good. So There was a lot of times especially at the end of the video when it was like raining all the time and it was impossible to film that I'll just go to Leeds and hang. Like just for You know? So like, but also before that, um

I did have an idea of how I wanted it to be. And Hilda really understood that idea and really honored that. So it was kind of like easy. Honestly she's really good at it too, you know. She doesn't believe it but she is Oh no, she's really good, yeah. This was the first time I've like worked on something that like wasn't all up to me, I suppose. Like it was like it was for Kata so like I had to like take her vision into account. But so I was a bit nervous about like

you know, like I don't know, I've just not had the experience of like having to change things a lot and stuff, like if someone else wants them differently. So I was worried that that like might not be as easy as I thought. But like I think it actually was fine, like

As Catha says we have like similar we had similar ideas, I think, of um how we wanted it and yeah, I'd just send her an edit and be like, Tell me what you like, tell me what you hate and she'd just like tell me straight up and I'd be like, Cool and then we'd just go from there. So what were the kind of what what kind of notes would you give on something? Would there be things that you'd be like? We could we go we could go to that if you want, but we don't have to.

There was one where she was like doing a TikTok dance and there was a clip of it and she was like, No, it's too recognizable. We can't have the TikTok dance in it And I was like, Noted Yeah. Everybody knows that TikTok does. Everybody knows. I don't'cause I'm like I'm not on TikTok, I don't know the shit. So I was just like okay, yeah Um also like a couple ones that I was like talking that I was like, oh my god, no, I can't handle this. Like please don't. Ha ha ha. Um

I think as well'cause you've you've filmed yourself and like edited yourself before as well. You had like just like like f kind of filmer opinions as well on it. Um which was nice because like I felt like you really understood like the job I had and what I was doing,'cause sometimes when you're editing things, like people don't really understand that like once you change one thing, everything changes and but I feel like you really got that. Yeah, like I feel like I also was like

lucky'cause I had like Das in the loop who was like, I think this would look cool with slow mo and whatever. And a lot of the things we kept on there was like just das giving advices that were random or like That was super helpful. Oh. Yeah. Quran was more like, yeah, that's that's dope. But it's still like Quran's opinion was like, great Like But they will send in something and he will be like, yeah, I like that. I'll be like, don't

He's uh he's another person with a a r a very good positive attitude, Grand, he's fantastic. Oh, he's awesome. He's the fucking best. Um, but yeah. Also in the session, you know, with Hilda all the time, it's just like The best, she's like so positive and and like She always pushed me in the middle. Like just enough, you know, like in that right on taste line that I did on the first.

There's like three times that I was like almost about to land and I didn't land it and just look at her like about to cry like Hila will be like, No, please just do it. Yeah, giving you the look, like, just do it now. Yeah. Film has had enough. Come on, start to move up. Literally. We w we were about to like miss a premiere as well, so I was like, Come on Every time I was like are we still on time? We made it, so That's all good. It all it all worked out in the end. Yeah. Much fun.

Oh and that's the other thing. We had like so many filmers on it. Um I I did see the list of films was quite a lot of people, but I mean obviously l some of them were London uh most of them London based, some but uh there's a couple of Barcelona ones too, probably. No. Yeah, I think they're all UK. It's just UK footage and UK filters and UK everything. Ah, cool. Right. So but yeah, so like what happened at the end when we were coming to the edit, it was like Oh God, we don't have any B rope.

Oh god, the B-roll. Yeah. So we had to we have to like It was just gonna be trick, trick, trick, trick, trick and I was like, Nah, this is like as well, like you have so much personality and like B roll like helps with that and it was just gonna be no personality without B roll. So we had this like mad scramble. Be wrong. Yeah. They're like she was like, Oh fuck, maybe we can do it with the little camera.

Just add beats and whatever, go to the spots you have already filmed stuff and maybe take the camera to London. Which is what I did with Rye that we had like but it was like all fake mirror. Ha ha ha.

But it I think that it it it it works very seamlessly together, I think the way the way you've um all the way shots work and some of the kind of like Some of the kind of stuff which is the non skate stuff that you've put in there, uh Hilda really works uh That's good'cause none of it was shot at the same time as the tricks. Right, yeah, yeah, that's fine though. But I think it already works and it's like it's one of those things that you'd only know that through Yeah, it makes sense.

It's just always one of those things that we always do. You know, we we s uh accept these things as a as a formed thing and we don't really you know. That's true.

What has gone into it, yeah, definitely. And like the music as well, I think works really well. Was that your choice, Keter, or? So we actually had a different a different choice at the beginning. We were gonna do it with another song also of Cape Wood,'cause like I was liv like that's crazy but like I was living when I we did the whole part I was living in um Orpington and she used to live there, like in Bromley around that area.

So it was like interesting how like the song was like matching the energy of the part, but also like she ha I was related to like my situation that I was going in a way. But we started with a different song, um, with which it was Cloudbusting, also from her. But Oh yeah, I know that song. And last fucking second. We realized like it was already used in another video. Ah, okay, right.

I don't yeah, I checked that and I mustn't have checked very well'cause uh then Henry checked it. And uh yeah, it was used. So Right, fair enough. But luckily I had a little backup. Yeah, like when I went to Leeds the last time, Hilo was like, Hey, I also thought about another option for it, but then I wasn't sure. And I was like,

Let's listen to it. And I listened to it and I told her I really liked it. But at the moment we were like, No, let's just stick to the other one'cause everything was like already added in a way that it fits. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I don't think you saw of an edit to the like alternative song until very late on, did you? Yeah. Cause I did I did one to see if it would work but I just never showed you it'cause you were like, Uh, I like the first song.

Yeah. And it was like actually no, it was like you told me about that song and we were in the car and you were like, I tried it but it fits better the other one and that was Yeah. Yeah, yeah yeah. But you know what? I've actually hyped on the on the song we went with in the end. Well it's it's uh it's a kind of is the the thing about especially that album that it's still got quite a similar sound to all the songs. It's like

Um, but that's a kind of lesser known one. So that's a nice thing of having that thing of, you know, so it's familiar but you don't know it really well, so it gives it probably gives it a bit more long longevity. Yeah, I think cloud busting seems a bit more like serious and epic and um the big sky the one we use gives like feel good, happy vibes, which is like cattle all over. Yeah. Maybe save save the other one for your your rail section.

But it also gave more like a light vibe, which is what we wanted because we did this part in like three, four months. It wasn't like You know, we d like it is kinda epic the way it worked. It was cool, but like I feel like um it it wasn't that serious, you know. I I wasn't pursuing to do like this is the gnarliest last trick I'll ever do or sort of thing, you know?

Yeah, it it flows really well and it's like Like Hilda said, there's just uh a real positivity about Um Yeah, I suppose you're going to LA coming up. What's is that for anything specific or just to travel or? The gal of England. I guess. Yes, some sunshine maybe. Yeah, he's running away from winter trying to film some stuff there. But like me and Hilda are gonna do like a UK project um with a lot of the girls and

Well, there's a lot of things coming up with that. But we're gonna do a like a project from like May this year or like April probably. Probably April until like December. We're gonna do something longer and Hopefully more epic, maybe Cloudbusting this time. So I really don't know what I'm gonna film for there. But I'll have like some footage there.

That's good. That's good. You've been running for Nike S B for a long time as well and how's how did that relationship start and how did you I'm not really sure of your other sponsors. You must have a lot of other sponsors, but I I'm not sure which ones you've got. I like Nike is the main one I kind of associate with you'cause it's been a long relationship. Ah, what do you want me to answer first? Any of I'm not being a very good interviewer tonight, I'm sorry.

Um okay. So um I started at Nike on twenty eighteen. That year it was when I it's really funny because I was really like putting parts out there that were like done in my phone before that were like leading nowhere. So I was like, ah, you know what? Actually, fuck skating. It's never gonna take me anywhere. I'ma just post all my shit on media and just keep working my part-time job and living my best life in Marcelana. And H that was when like

social media decided like, oh wow, we love her. And a lot of people started following me and like Things actually started working with skating. And at the beginning I got an offer from from New Balance and Adidas, like Kind of like good offers. Um but it was everything moving too fast. Cause at the time I think it was just like at the beginning of like.

like escape in social media and whatever how that was like kind of like becoming a thing. And so I was having like also like board sponsors offers and all this stuff and like I didn't I never had any of that. I never even planned for any of that. So I didn't know how to manage it. But at the time I did know because I used to skate Generalski all the time. All the time. They were my favorite show. So I was like fuck. How if I reach fucking at US I'm not gonna reach fucking Nike, you know?

And I think because I was young and I'd be delusional and crazy, I was like, I'll just wait. So I just asked if I was an extra. Yeah, I instruct it out. Like now I look back and I'm like, whoa. Um but yeah, so I asked them to wait to give me a couple of weeks. And um I swear to God this is the most magical thing that's ever happened to me. I get home in the guy of of new balance is like, Hey, we need an answer today. If you don't give us an answer, this And

I like bread reading and like at the time I was like very spiritual. So I was like Then it's not meant to be for me, you know, what I want it will come for me, it will find me. Like Nike will reach me out. So I told the guy like, you know what? Then it's fine. Don't worry, don't wait for me. And I just like sent the message, dropped the phone on my bed and went to shower. I remember getting in the shower and thinking, oh my god, what I thought I'm an idiot!

I ran out of the shower, put like the towel, went to my phone. grabbed it and I remember like just getting the message of Bon on Instagram where he was a TM. I'm Bon from like QSV, would you like to write like literally everything happened in that hour. Oh my god, that's insane. Oh, it was so crazy, and I just like I was so relieved. I like cried and everything. I was like, oh my god, like I'm not insane. You manifested that.

I was gonna say you the the spirits were with you with that one, that's pretty good. Yeah, oh my god, it was so crazy, you know? Um but yeah, it was pretty funny.

So uh do you y do you have board sponsors and uh and different stuff like that as well, or you just kind of do whatever? So uh I do write for like Venture, Nixon, Speedfire, Yo Yo, Bearings, Jessup, but um yeah, that's that's what's going on. It's everything pretty pretty chill. So maybe we could talk a little bit about kind of Instagram and stuff like that'cause I think you know

Well, I mean y you're far and away the most followed person we've ever I've ever had on the podcast and probably the most famous in that way, definitely. I mean that's uh you know it's like nearly half a million followers you have that. That's uh that's pretty pretty big tone. Thank you. Ha ha ha.

It's a ma it's amazing, yeah, it's really good. But it's like I I don't know, uh how does that make you feel about kind of your relationship with s with social media?'Cause I I feel like you're someone who's you know A hundred percent just core skate seems to be your kind of like your um what you wanna do and stuff like that.

Uh i you know, I'm sure y I'm sure you must have a lot of offers from i outside companies from outside skateboarding with that amount of followers, do you know what I mean? And things like that, which are kind of like D do you ever think of that's a c uh uh you know, from what I've seen of your stuff and the stuff you've put out, that's does that not interest you really? as i said before um Bye. I could have had a career. My interested in like I'm not the evolutional like

social media is just like a fucking app. It's not reality. Like I'm not like any anything important or special for any reason just because of it, you know? I'm very lucky and I'm really grateful. There's people that like what I do. But um I don't need any of this to put myself in anything that it is in skating. I'm here because I like skating. I wanna be legit in skating. I wanna do skating.

But I'm not gonna do like a fucking collab with Nutella just because I wanna make money. Like if I wanna money, I'll finish my I was gonna say you turned on at the teleclub. Yeah. You know, like I If I if I would have made more money, I would have finished my career in medicine. You know, and I can still do that and that's fine with me.

Um but I don't I don't wanna like like I I hopefully can open a door for more girls in skating and inspire more people like me from little places in the world like going out and trying to do the best they can, like maybe bring out something that is more creative or more joyful or whatever you can bring into the scene can be important just because you're you, you know, and because you're a character as well. Um, but you know, I don't want to like um contaminate that with anything else, you know.

Sure. No, definitely, yeah. I mean I think that's you know, I I've I I would never um judge or or say anything for anybody's feet, you know, if someone gets paid for something that's amazing. But I mean I think that's what comes through with your where you're skating and your parts. But also your Instagram as well, which is not always the case of just being like

just pure skate, do you know what I mean? And just about having fun and stuff like that. It it really comes through and I think that's that's probably why you have so many followers as well, because that it it's it's It's genuine. You know. Yeah, it I felt like I always wanted to give the message of like

Like show like my skating and the way I perceive the world through it, you know? I think that's what I want people to stick with more than like like this gridiness of like I'm gonna take every fucking opportunity. Like It's not what I'm here for really, you know.

I suppose we we could talk about kind of early earli ki uh kind of or well s not necessarily early but influences who who who really inspires you in a sk in skateboarding? Have you ha do you have a favourite skater and stuff like that and people who you really love? So many to be honest. So so so many. It's crazy. Um I feel like in a lot of ways I have a lot of like skaters that I love, of course, but I also have like certain parts that are more than the skater sometimes.

Okay. Oh my god, that part. really like gets me every time, you know. But um I guess the classic ones, you know, the one everybody likes. Like I'm not like Any different. You know, I love Elisa Steamer, Andrew Reynolds, Tom Penny. I'm gonna just say what everybody knows already. You know, if I have to say something different, people that really inspire me today with like that is like that I could say is like out of the the bag that ev what everybody likes because

It's true, like those are like the most, you know, epic great skaters ever. But um I don't know. I uh I love Vittoria Mendoza. Um I Mm. I don't know. I I I lately f I don't know for which reason, but I've been watching a lot of Peter Smolik and Oh okay. Nice. Yeah. It's uh a kinda lot of like nineties, early two thousand heads. This is pretty good. Yeah, I can relate to this. It's all right.

Yeah. Uh yeah, um my friends in general, you know, like fuck I think I have watched Welcome to Hell like five thousand times since I moved to to England already. Oh my god, so many times. We watch it every night. as I think of it now. It's like we meet up and it's like, Mm, you weren't much welcome to health? That's the welcomes uh welcome to Helen. Oczywiście, yes. Yeah. Welcome to Welcome to Hell, yeah. Number two. Number two hell, yes. Well that's a great video. It's it's it's fantastic.

It's so good. It's so good. Um but yeah like either that or like um in London lately I've been watching like a lot of videos like usually So when I just moved here I watch like, you know, all the classic ones from London, of course. And all the old schools too. Like all the blueprints and stuff. But like Uh it's random because you know like how in skating just randomly something can be like you can be really into something but you don't even know why.

You know, sometimes it can be like a really big production or sometimes just like something really mellow. Uh when I just moved here, the thing that inspired me the most, like to get me really hard to go out skating, it was like the regulate. There's like Austin's videos he did for G Okay. I love your reaction. That's exactly what I expected, like Okay. No, but I really enjoyed those. Like it really like was like, oh my god, that's it that's the hype. Um yesterday I saw the video of always.

So good. Uh really loved it. So many spots from here too. Like really, really cool. I think the whole videos here. Um but yeah, I don't know. Also like so many videos from the north. Like I love that scene there.

What what have you got coming up Hill during that you could you could talk about? Or is there a is there possibly another welcome video in the pipeline? Is there anything Um not at the moment. Um, I'm sure there will be. Yeah. Uh Drafts four. I don't know. I've not filmed too much for that, but it's kind of slowly doing its thing in the background. Um Um Yeah, but I'm gonna try whilst Kat is in LA I'm gonna film more for drafts. Yeah, yeah I'm gonna go out on Friday, skate with jazz.

But yeah, like nothing nothing immediate. Nothing we get nailed down. Yeah. I think next drafts should had at least one feeble faku. Yeah. Ha ha. Alright, I promise. I'll try my best. It's it's all filmed now. There's no going back on that. I know. I don't know where this like street transition though is scary, I don't think uh you're gonna have to find me a spot. Mm-hmm. It's more kind of like any more corny foot. It's just like final like a really mellow band. Ha ha

Um no, I haven't been filming Connie as much recently. Um her time is a bit more split between other things at the minute. She's like got loads of exams so she's been like super bogged down with that. Um and then she's been filming for Short Straw. Um So yeah, she's a busy way. Yeah, they're all in Copenhagen at the minute, aren't they? Tak, tak, tak. That course looks pretty fun. I dunno saw pictures and just thought, ooh, good luck Connie. The obstacles look horrible.

Yeah. Oh, this ghost looks so shit, honestly. But I think she got some street skating in, so that's the same thing. Oh that's good. Yeah.

Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok Yeah. That was like... Yeah! It was absolutely freezing. It was so cold. Yeah, I was gonna say that. Like, why are we pretending you can skate outside in Copenhagen? Even in the summertime probably is quite cold. Yeah. Yeah, you probably wouldn't survive. I feel like you had the coldest skate you've ever had when you came to Manchester, didn't you? Yeah, well we were doing the kickplay money with them. Oh my

Like, couldn't move your feet, like and me and Dale were like, This is this is just what it's like, mate. Sorry, every key. I was like, Oh my god, it happened. Yeah. I'd always have to I'm I'm from Sheffield, Cater, which is yeah, n in the north as well. But I'd always like I'm not going out unless it's at least ten degrees because I just feel like I could never get warm It was just so I like to film anything or do anything like that, I was just like I can't do it.

It's so much harder. So much harder. Yeah. Yeah. I got down of the car and I was like, killed, I don't think I can do this. I had to really talk you into it, didn't I? I didn't get there! Yeah, I was like, it'll get better, you just have to keep jumping around like You don't even know I did like a whole heat like hit uh plus on it. That was so hard.

So on your LA trip, Katar, have you got have you got spots in your mind or any tricks in your mind you'd like to do, or is it just do you just go with the flow when you're skating? Um it's yeah, so I have like three tricks that I really want to do, you know? But it's kind of like confusing in a way, because I'm like I have two options. Like would I just like maybe film this with And or with someone and just give it to Nike so eventually they might use it?

And it could be like a good clip for a video or could I just do something really gnarly for the gram? Yeah.

Well how does that I mean that's another thing as well, isn't it? Yeah, how does that decision come up just like Is there a certain amount of stuff you feel like and there's something you think, Oh, well that's just, you know, save that for that and then Well like video or Instagram, it it just depends on the trick I In the last year I was just like everything I'm gonna just do like parts or whatever, save clips for other videos or for other brands, you know.

So I was working on a video for Nixon. I'm still working for it. But it's like moving really slowly. But whatever I have like time, I just filmed that. And then Like yeah, I was like filming this part and it's been just like this year like that. But I was surprised because then we did like a post with Gray of like last year Instagram clips and there was so much shit that I was like, oh my god, I've been posting actually. I just felt like I did it, but I did.

Yeah. I suppose it kind of all builds up and you kind of think about everyone on its own rather than all together, I suppose. Yeah, um but I don't know, now I like I don't know, it's kiss Um I feel like I just wanna be like a legit skater. So I'm like a bit like not turning away, but I like I don't I'm not like like that interesting and keep like growing in social media or putting more effort in social media when in reality like I wanna do the things that feel more lasting in my life. Sure.

I mean that's the thing about, you know, having it like you know, having a video part like you just put out, it's like that's gonna be there for, you know. a long, long time and be something that people will go back to and then, you know, find again and And yeah, I think that's the thing about especially I mean obviously

The difference between like an Instagram and anything else is the is the form factor and like how long it is. But you know, but We you just couldn't you we obviously you could put a s a two minute section up on Instagram and stuff like that, but I think people view it in a different way and like it's maybe a bit you know, the the when you watch your something even on YouTube it's like you you actually sit down and watch it.

There's no swiping to something else or like clicking off it to something else. I guess it's harder to like go back to stuff on Instagram as well'cause you can't like search easily for like the video you're looking for. You have to like scroll through their profile, try and find it, like it's actually kinda hard. It's not designed to go back and watch be watched again.

I'm I'm an old man so it's it's quite different but I always find like like I literally see something on Instagram go, Oh that looked interesting and then it'll just disappear'cause I'll have refreshed it as soon as like I can't find it again now, it's just disappeared. It's just gone. So Yeah, then I have to search for a can. Mum has the same problem. It's not just you, don't worry. Okay, now that's that's made me feel really old.

Oh yeah. I don't know. I just feel like also the algorithm works so differently than when I started posting loads like before like even like two years ago you could post like one clip a month or two clips a month and you will still be like growing. It will be like productive. Because Web Netter was like quality and the quality content will give you like You know?

Like more views or whatever. And now it's like actually quantity. The most you post the more you get like viewed or whatever. And I like I'm not that down for that. Also like as I said I just wanna do shit that is legit for me and like that helps me keep becoming like like more like a legit skater. I don't want to feel like like I'm just like producing tons of bullshit for the sake of it. Yes. You know?

Yeah. No, that's amazing. I think it's like I said, uh that's that that section is really I really like it. Oh thank you. Kill the editor.

But then again, I see you know, like uh but like the you know, the conversation we've had tonight is obviously like it's all about the connection between you two and that's that's amazing, you know. It's like that the the best thing about that kind of you know, those relationships between filmers and skateboarders is is like the the f all those aspects always come through.

Yeah, I'm excited for the next project we do'cause it's just gonna be I think Rye is gonna help us with it as well. Um but it's it's just gonna be like we know who's filming it. And we're just gonna get on with it and I feel like I'll film more on top of it.'Cause like it's pretty hectic editing something with like clips from like seven different filmers. Is it seven? It might be more, I don't know, like that was hectic. Yeah.

Uh yeah. It's gonna be it's gonna be nicer just like From the start, yeah, no, I'm really excited for that to be honest, also because it's like I don't think I have ever experienced uh having a a connection like that with a filmer. You know, like in Barcelona I filmed with like The guy who was working for Nike and we do get along and everything, but we the the age gap is like

hard for us to connect, you know? So and we have like very different personalities. So despite the fact that we uh end up doing my other part and whatever and it was cool and it was nice. Um It's not like with Hilda that I feel like she's my friend, like just thinking I'm going out skating with her is like, Yes, that's the hype. Like It's I don't feel like oh my god, I ha like I have to invite someone to the session because if not it's just heal then me. It's like it's totally fine, you know.

And she can film as well, that's great. yeah literally you know so that's I guess it's less less pressure as well when you're just going filming with your friend. It's not like, Oh, like we wouldn't hang out unless we were filming so I've got to perform. It's like it's like w if you don't want to skate, we'll just hang out, it's fine.

That's always the the the best the best atmosphere though,'cause when you think it it's like if I ever wanted to like film something specific and if especially if it's something was quite hard or something like that or like Stairs or something like that. I I'd kinda be it's like you've got to do this point, this thing, and it's it makes it su it's such a different vibe to being just like, Oh, you know, we just

Hanging out. But you can just go in obviously you can go into those things and have a real like thing you want to do, but if you're having fun with someone you can just it fuck about at the same time as doing that. Yeah. You can just wait for the time you actually feel like it's a good time to do it rather than having to plan it with the Yeah, definitely. And oh my god, you should tell them about um

your mum knowing the right day to do tricks. That's such a good story. So Like you know how there's people who's like raised in religions and stuff very strongly? I've been raised in like tarot cardinals astrology. Oh okay, right. Like that's the the thing my mom brought me up. Okay, cool, right. Being a kid.

So this this year I was like very anxious about like'cause it was like my first project after a long time. So I was like, Oh my god, every every like also I didn't have many opportunities with a lot of the filmers, like especially in London. So it was like

Oh my god, this is the right day. Do I have to go now? It's like is it the right call? So my mom was like all the time like like I'd be like, Uh mom Can you like read in the carrot if it's charrot cards it's like today's a good day to that trick and she like do like a whole reading and be like yeah go or no don't go today? Yeah. And by that, you know, when I started lending stuff, I'll be like, today was a great day. And she will do like an astral chart of that day on top of my chart. Right.

And she's been saving it. So now we know the transits in the sky that are better for me to learn. Right, you know the angles now, that's it. So yeah, so like we're looking forward to use that information next year. I was gonna say, yeah, that's but that that could be a really interesting part of like your like a video part, goodness. You can set that out and start and go right, this is all good. Film at start and then see if you could get tricks there. Bye. Literally it's really funny'cause like

And for example for Darius it's like astrology is so not a thing. It's like Just go share it. And to me, it's like the only legit thing. It's like, how can you not? Yeah. Yeah, well stars on you, Joe.

Uh I'm a cancer. I can't as well, okay. Very sensitive, um, yeah. Cool. Well I mean uh well when you do this other project next year I'd love to have you back on, both of you back on but maybe No it's uh I promise I'll have to do that. Everything charge. Well all all I can say is you you you stop putting out such good work, that's all I can say. when we find you back on again. I next time I promise I'll charge my phone, I'll charge my headphones.

Well that's all I'm I'm s and I thank you so much for doing this, Castro. I know you've kind of, you know, got a lot of stuff to do and you traveling soon and stuff like that. So I appreciate Yeah, no worries. It's been really fun. Good. Also yeah, I'm leaving on Friday. I'm like happy in the UK somehow, which is crazy, it's so fucking cool. So it's kinda hard to leave now.

I'm sure when you g when the when that plane door opens and that sunshine hits you in the face, you'll be like, Oh, okay, I'll be fine. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I don't know about that, but we'll see. I'm lazy. Like me and Hyoda were like oh are we gonna like trash talk like Yeah. No. I made her practice, I was like, You're not gonna trust try to talk anyone are you? Still time, we're still rolling.

No, but because I was like, please don't. No uh I was like, I'm just gonna say this and she was like no Yeah. No, I'll just show this it'll be really nice and then say something Salvage and I was like Yeah. Yeah, I was w well willing to do that, to be honest. Ha ha ha ha. Well maybe ne next time next time. Yeah. Yeah, we do like an episode of Live Beef. Yeah, please. Cat is beefs. Yep. That's alright. Yeah. Well thank you for having me. Thank you so much and thanks. Thanks for hearing.

Thanks for having us. Yeah. Hopefully next time we'll be able to talk a bit better in God, yeah, we're through. I didn't really notice it at all. I thought I was gonna have like a really husky voice, but um Me neither, it's fine. Oh Sam Barrett said to say hi to you. Oh, say hi to Sam Barrett. I've not seen Sam Barrett in the I will. And and Rai too. Right says high. Oh, that's nice. I'm not saying right. I thought you were supposed to be Oh you getting so many highs.

That's nice. This is this is my way of socialising these days. It's great. Yeah. Ha ha ha. Cool. Well have a lovely trip, Katter, and I hope it's really fun for you. Okay guys. Thanks so much. And a lovely evening. You too. Thank you very much. Bye. Yeah. Thanks so much for Kata and Hilda for being my guests on this week's episode.

You can find out more about them by following the links in this podcast description, I'll put links to her new part and her interviews that we discussed in the show notes. You can subscribe to this podcast wherever you're listening by searching for the Skate Creative Podcast and if you have time please leave us a review.

It really helps the podcast be more visible and reach more listeners. You can follow us on Instagram at Skate Creative Podcast for more information on up and coming guests and episodes. Uh there are Spotify and Patreon subscriptions are now available. I'll put a link in the show notes for them as well. Hopefully I'll be back soon with another exciting guest and another interesting conversation. I do hope you join me then.