Skateboarding
Our latest scorching Checkout interview edit touches down with Brazil’s latest one-to-watch as he makes moves into the sponsored ranks within the USA.
An interesting thing is happening in Brazilian skating right now: not only is it racing ahead – which it always has – but it is also bursting prismatically in different directions at the same time.
Giovanni Vianna may not be from the classic school of Brazilian ledge brilliance and boomed flips, but he represents both a perhaps more creative and certainly gnarlier edge.
First coming to a global audience courtesy of one of 2018’s most memorable Bangin’ sections over at The Berrics – which has done so much to pioneer new talent, and particularly from Latin America – Gio has also just won the slugfest which was 2019’s recent Phoenix Am contest against all-comers from across the USA and beyond.
In that time, the São Paulo local has also, and not coincidentally, been picked up by Paul Rodriguez’s elite Primitive Skateboards.
All told, you could say with some confidence that his star is in the ascendant.
An out-and-out street rat, why not take a well-earned moment from your hectic schedule to jam with one of the skateboarding world’s stars of the future, as we roll on out with São Paulo’s latest ballistic missile: Giovanni Vianna.
Hey Giovanni, what’s your story? Where are you from, how old are you and all that?
My name is Giovanni Vianna Galera, I’m eighteen years old – and I come from Santo Andre, which is in São Paulo, Brazil.
Let’s jump right into it. How did skating come into your life?
I started skateboarding when I was just… two years old.
The local boys would gather out the front of my house to skate, and so when later I went to the supermarket with my parents, they eventually got me a skateboard.
Ever since then, it has never left my side.
You just won the Phoenix Am contest and are working, as I understand it, on an introduction part for Primitive. It looks like you are starting to make moves toward the pro ranks – is that a conscious thing, or did it just happen?
I'm no different from any skateboarder. I’ve always dreamed about living from doing what I like.
So yes, I've always made plans, but more things happened naturally along the way – which is something that makes me happy.
How do you see yourself five years from now? How would you like things to be for you by that point?
I see myself working, a lot: I love what I do and so… I pray to God for the strength to continue for another five, or ten… or even fifteen years.
How do you find skating in Brazil on a day-to-day basis?
Brazil is a good place! I have many friends here, and we link up every day to skate; when you are with your friends, everything is always well!
So who would you say were your idols when you first started skating?
Ryan Sheckler has always been my idol… I've always liked his unique style.
As a send-off question, can I ask as someone who is living this moment when the door is opening – what advice would you give to someone who wanted to come up in your footsteps?
I would say love what you do, and don’t worry about the difficulties that will appear along the way.
Always strive to do what is right, and the rest will turn in its time.
Amazing, Giovanni. Thank you!
Thank you!
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