Vale

Vale is a street skateboarding video filmed all over Europe. In the fall of 2021, I spent four months with my cousin Dylan Beattie living in Barcelona, taking classes, traveling, and, most importantly, skating. We went to 15 different countries and documented all of our experiences. Living in Europe has been a life-changing experience for both of us. It has taught us so many things, allowing us to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. Every country we traveled to had a different culture, and they all spoke different languages. Even though every country is so different, skateboarding is the same everywhere. Interacting with the locals in each country was such a fun experience. Regardless of where a skater is from or what language they speak, we instantly have a connection with them. We were able to form bonds with people from all over the world just through a piece of wood with four wheels. Two of our closest friends we met while abroad are from the U.K., with who we still keep in touch. We also met some skaters from Germany who didn’t speak much English, but skateboarding brought us together, allowing us to communicate. We shared spots, tricks, and laughs with each other. 

One of the weekend trips Dylan and I took was a trip to the sixth smallest country in the world, Liechtenstein. On this trip, we flew into Zurich, Switzerland, and took a train to the small country of Liechtenstein. We spent the whole day skating parks and spots we found along the way while skating 9 miles across half the country. In the small country of Liechtenstein, we came across an unexpected skate scene with some fantastic skateboarders you wouldn’t expect to find in such a random place. Some of the locals even asked us what we were doing there, and we said, “we saw this country on the map and looked up photos and just decided to make it happen.” We then took a train to Innsbruck, Austria. Innsbruck is home to some sick skateboarding and some beautiful scenery. We skated and went paragliding in Innsbruck, then took a train to Vienna where I met up with my girlfriend, and we flew back to Spain. This trip was four days long, and we skated over 20 miles. It was one of the many life changing trips that we went on because we learned so much about ourselves and the world around us. ​

It was my second time living in Barcelona, and every time I am out there, it is truly amazing. I love the culture, as it makes the skate scene so much more prominent. The reason I chose to come back to Barcelona again wasn’t just because of the skate spots, but because I longed for the sense of community Spanish culture brings. Since Spanish culture and skateboard culture are so alike it is easy for me to feel at home in Spain. For example, at any time of the day you can show up at MACBA, and you will see hundreds of skaters from all over the world. Unlike the U.S., where locals tend to be distant until you “prove” yourself, in Spain, all the locals will come up to you, dap you up, and say “que pasa.” At MACBA, everyone is there to have a great time, meet new people, and share the love of skateboarding. On our last day in Barcelona, Dylan and I were at MACBA, and one of the locals came up to us, randomly starting a conversation. After talking with him for a few minutes, we played an intense three-way game of skate. It was so much fun, and we instantly became friends. Many skateboarders may think the only reason they love Barcelona so much is because of the skate spots, but in reality, it is also because of the intertwined synonymous Spanish and skateboarding culture. We are so grateful for these experiences, and we will remember them forever. Living in Europe has been one of the best experiences of our lives, and this video is a visual manifestation of our experience.