Augustina Montañés

Photography by Raisa Abal

I couldn’t help but notice Augustina as soon as I stumbled upon her years ago. She’s absolutely stunning and has this peculiar aura about her. Maybe I’m just an admirer, but I find her to be inherently stylish in her skating as well as her general vibe. You might see her at your local tattoo shop before you ever see her skating professionally, but it’s by choice. 

Have you always been in Barcelona or did you move there recently?
No, no. I am from Argentina. Then I moved here with my partner, Alejo in 2021 for 10 months. We had to move because my paperwork was not... I had to work illegally because, I don’t know, bureaucracy here is very slow. And also, it was COVID time. So, then we moved to Berlin. Then we went to Berlin for one year, then we moved to Copenhagen and we stayed there for one and a half years. Now, we are back to Barcelona because it was too cold.

Adventurous. What’s your background? Did you do sports before you started roller skating or were you always a roller skater?
No, I did a lot of stuff. When I was young I lived right next to a river and I was jumping to the rocks. My mother, when I was like four or five, sent me to dance classes. Then swimming. Then from nine until 11, I did figure skating. Those were my first steps in roller skating. I remember I was in competitions and everything in my country, but it was too much for me. I was too hard on myself and I was only 10.

Yeah, that’s way too young to feel that way.
Yes, because my teacher was super cool, but she was pushing me super hard. I wanted to improve super fast. I was 11 competing with other girls that were 15, so it was too much. Then I started field hockey. Yeah, I did that when I was 12 until 21 maybe. I was shooting the penalties, the corners and also training CrossFit. So, I have always been a very athletic person.

That’s a lot but I’m sure it’s helped you so much in your skating. Why did you stop playing field hockey?
It was too much. I was training five days per week and I was also studying. I was in my last two years of university and it was a private one, so it was very, very expensive. I had to pay it because no one else could help me at that moment. I was working, hockey, friends, the university and everything. So, I had to quit field hockey. I really liked it, but it was too much for that moment.

I was dating Alejo and he was a skateboarder, but I never went to skateparks. It was not my place. I started going with him and drinking maté. And he was like, “Don’t you want to learn?” But I was not really interested in skateboarding. My biggest brother, he’s the owner of a very big skateshop in my city. He has 10 stores. It’s very big. So, I was a little bit into the skateboarding world because I was also working in one of his stores, but never attempting to skateboard.

One day, I showed Alejo my old skates. I remember my mother bought them for me three or four sizes too big so they would last as I was growing. I used to wear them with two socks and two insoles. And then they fit me when I was 22. So, one day at the skatepark he asked me, “Don’t you have roller skates? Why don’t you bring them to the skatepark? You can use them.” And I was like, “What?” It sounds super ridiculous. What am I doing with these?”

He showed me some videos of girls in Cordoba who did that. One of them was Luz [Alen] and another was Clara [Rosauer]. I thought they were super cool. Yeah, I want to try this. I remember the first time that I tried to skate them. I didn’t have one toe stop. It was very, very sketchy. I didn’t have any pads. But my body still remembered how to skate. It was a super-weird feeling. 

I started jumping everything. I remember I was super scared about dropping in the mini quarter. It was like 20 centimeters maybe. I was like, “What the fuck?” I don’t understand it. I took lessons from a girl from Cordoba also. She was the only person teaching quad skating at that moment. I had two classes with her and then I unlocked everything. It was the end of 2019.

That’s so cool. I feel like everyone remembers their first time dropping in because that seems like the scariest thing you could do as a beginner.
Yeah. When I saw that for the first time, I went right up to it and thought, There’s no way. I can’t. 

You started on your old, artistic skates. I assume they were high tops. Now, you’re on low tops. How do you feel about that switch?
I don’t know. I feel like I don’t have many issues with changing them. At that very, very beginning, it was just what I had. But I was looking to these cool girls in my city wearing the shoes with wheels. Ah, I want those. They look super cool. I thought. 

So, it’s more aesthetic for you?
Yes, at that moment. And I didn’t like my white, artistic boots. They were super, super hard. The first time that I wore them, I wasn’t using high socks so I burnt all my skin over there super bad. I started saving money to buy something else but it was taking too long. So, my brother gifted me Vans on my birthday that year. Some people helped me put in the metal insoles and everything.

Those were my skates for one year and they were very bad because the metal insoles were breaking all the time. Since I was 16, in my family, the economy was not good at all. So, for me to buy some good pair of skates was super far away from me, super far. I remember people were like, “How the fuck are you doing that with those skates?” And for me, they were fine.

Kenneth, Ragnaroll, suggested that I come to Skate Love for the demo that year. I was like, “What?” It’s my second year skating and I will be with all the people that I really admire. It was Bomba Hache, Estro Jen, Barbie Patin, Thais— lots of people that I was looking to as my idols or my inspiration. After that event Chaya proposed to me to be with them on their team. I received my first good quality skates and I cried. 

At some point, I was thinking that I wanted to wear some heels, but I didn’t have any option in Chayas to do that, at least for the skatepark. So, I just got used to these ones. I did a video for their first heel skates for the skatepark recently. I only wore them that one time and they were fine. Sometimes I wonder how it is. Maybe it’s easier to go down really low with heels. But yeah, I’m fine with this. The new Barbie skates are really, really cool.

Yeah, I like the way they look, especially the black ones. I’ve mostly always skated with a heel, but this last pair of skates I got have a shorter heel because I wanted to try it. I feel like the shorter heel makes it easier to jump, but it can be harder to get low in your landings. There’s pros and cons to both.
Yeah, you have to choose which skill you want to have.

Exactly. I feel like watching your street skating, it always seems to look so natural. Were you doing that at the same time as you were learning at the skatepark or did that come later?
No. When I was in Cordoba, I didn’t have anyone who went to the streets. I was also very new. When Alejo went with his friends to the streets here in Barcelona, I would go a little bit but it’s just very spontaneous. Sometimes, I think I would like to do more street stuff, but it’s like I cannot do it alone. I need someone to do it with. In Copenhagen, I was also very, very alone. I met some people from inlining that were super nice, but it was so cold and it was difficult to meet. I didn’t skate in the street for that whole one and a half years. Now, here in Barcelona, there are more people who want to go out to the streets. But I feel it’s way more difficult than skateparks because the surfaces, it’s not prepared for skating. I feel like I still have to learn more and skate more in the streets, but I only enjoy it if I’m with people, with friends.

Yeah, it’s hard, especially to stay motivated. When you’re by yourself, I don’t know, it’s kinda boring. Now that you’re back in Barcelona, is there anyone you’ve been skating with or are you still on your own?
I’m always skating with some friends. I have a lot of friends here. The one that I skate the most with is Ailen Herrera. She’s a tattoo artist also. It’s super nice because I feel so motivated now since I have friends. In Copenhagen, I was super sad. 

It feels sad here, too. I don’t skate with many people. But you’re in Barcelona now, which is basically street skating heaven.
Yes. Oh, my god. Now, I’m seeing spots all the time. Going to a supermarket, “Oh, a spot!”

I’m so jealous. Obviously, you were in the “friends” section of Strange Visuals. Do you have any plans to make another street part?
Yeah, I’m not really thinking about it. It’s weird for me. I don’t like to film too much. Maybe, of course, when I land a new trick, then I feel motivated to film something. Or when I have a sponsor it’s like, “Oh, fuck, I need to do something.” I never thought about the idea of filming a video part. Sometimes I have to remind myself to film. But it’s better when it comes naturally. Like, “Hey, can you film this?”

If you were to make a video part, do you have music in your head that you think would represent you as a skater?
I feel like I have so many personalities. Sometimes I’m like a funky person, then I’m pop, then I’m like an 80’s hits person. So, that’s hard. I prefer fast music. I feel more represented with fast music rather than something too dramatic. I think maybe punk, it represents more my way of skating maybe.

You’re so good at gaps by the way and I’ve always admired that.
Oh, thank you. That’s so cute.

Do you have any advice for people when it comes to gaps?
I think it’s very, very important to train your core. You have to really prepare your body to do it if you want to improve it. As I told you, I used to do CrossFit. I’ve always been very strong because of all the sports that I did. So if you want to improve the gaps, you have to improve your jumps. And to jump, you have to improve your core, your leg strength. Really focus on your body and your technique. Put your knees to your chest. For me, if I have to put it in a few words, it’s like strength, then speed, then confidence. Before I do a gap, I always try to jump next to it or on the floor. If I reach the other side, then I do it. Or if I’m just in a crazy moment and I feel super confident, I say, “Okay, fuck it, let’s die.” And then I jump. 

I think that’s good advice. I’m always shocked by how many skaters don’t do anything outside of skating, like no other type of training. I don’t really do that much either, but I do circus stuff and other training like that to keep my body feeling good for skating. And it’s good for life in general. You want to be mobile when you’re 70 years old.
Yes. When I see people who are 70 years old and they cannot move, I’m like, “Oh, my god, no. I don’t want that.” So, now, I stopped smoking. I haven’t smoked since one and a half months ago. Let’s see how much I can stay with that.

You said you went to university. Was that in the art field?
Yeah, I studied fashion design and I finished it. It was, how do you say, like a very high-level degree. It was five years.

Here, we have bachelor’s and master’s.
Yeah bachelor’s, it was four years and then the final project. I finished that 20 days before traveling here to Europe.

What made you not pursue fashion and get into tattooing?
I had some experience in the field because my father was the owner of a factory for a brand and everything they produced. So I had been around that world since I was five. When I was 15, every summer vacation he would say, “Okay, now to work.” And I was at the factory doing some easy jobs in the production area, helping. So, I knew about that world. Then I just thought about studying it. When I came to Barcelona, I didn’t have much experience so it was very, very hard to find a job. I didn’t have any good portfolio to show. At that moment, Instagram was also important. My Instagram was just of my friends and skating. 

I applied to one job because one of my teachers recommended me, and I had an interview for a production manager or something like that. It was a very independent brand. I didn’t have all my paperwork ready so I couldn’t start working. When I moved to Berlin, it was even more difficult because I couldn’t communicate in English.

I feel like you speak English really well.
I had to improve living in Berlin and Copenhagen. I was super shy about talking in English because of my accent, and I didn’t understand people when they would talk to me because they have a different accent. So, I was super afraid of sending in applications. I started working on other things. I spent six months doing deliveries, and it was super hard because it was cold as fuck. Then I worked in a hotel.

I couldn’t find any opportunity for a junior designer or assistant. All the jobs that I could find were for free. It was very difficult for me because I was here with Alejo and we were alone. I had no one to help me economically. I got very angry about that and I started tattooing my friends. I always made some drawings, very silly drawings, like ignorant ones. One of my roomies here in Barcelona was like, “Do you want to tattoo me?” So I did it with hand poke. It was taking too long and he told me, “Don’t you want to grab the machine?” And I was like, “What? Okay, yes.” I was tattooing people on the table all the time.

I didn’t want to risk everything for tattooing because it was something that I was not sure of and I didn’t know much about it. But at the same time, I was doing nothing, just working in a hotel. I thought, Okay, if I’m not doing this fashion thing anyway, at least I want to learn this other thing, something that I really enjoy. 

It was very difficult to start because it was almost the same as fashion. If you want to start, at first, you will not see money. I was still working in other places to do it, but at least, it depended on me, not other people.

Yeah, that’s what I was going to ask. Did you have to do an apprenticeship first?
No, because I had some experience by myself in the tattoo studio. At first, they told me no because they didn’t have space. But a few months later, a girl contacted me and asked if I was still interested because there was a spot. So, I went and they gave it to me. I was at a weird level because I was not an apprentice from zero, but I had some experience. So, at the moment, they let me tattoo people that I know and charge them money and some walk-ins that were easier. So, I was earning a little bit of money, but it was not enough to live.

Right, yeah. But it’s worth it. If you find something that you actually love doing, it’s worth whatever effort and time is needed to make it happen rather than just doing some bullshit you hate.
Yeah, because it’s pointless. Now, I don’t have shit for money, but at least I’m doing what I like and I’m trying.

Are you at a shop in Barcelona now?
I’m working in the same studio as Ailen. She was super nice and asked the studio if I could tattoo there, at least as a guest. So, I have the space to tattoo. It’s a very cool studio with very cool artists, but I can only go to take my clients there. I can’t take walk-ins. So, I’m looking for another place where I can stay longer and can take walk-ins. I know that it’s going to get better. Tattooing here is pretty hard because there are too many tattoo artists. Very good ones, but it’s also a nice place to get motivated and learn.

Where do you find inspiration for your art and the specific style you like to do?
Well, I follow a lot of tattoo artists. I have two Instagram accounts. One is for roller skating and the other one is for tattoos. On my tattoo account, I only follow tattoo artists. It’s super weird because it’s like you’re changing all the time, the things that you like. But I tried to focus on traditional tattooing, but then I found some artists that I really like that are more animated or more silly. I find it more fun, funnier than other traditional styles.

I also really like ornamental stuff. I started to draw very silly plants, like dark plants, so I want to include that in my ornamental to make it look organic. Everything is one style, but just expressed in different forms.

That’s cool. I like that. Do you feel like you have long-term goals for skating, or has your focus shifted more onto your tattoo career?
I think that I must focus more on my tattoo career. I do roller skating because I’m very passionate about it. I have a lot of fun doing it, and it took me into different places that I could never imagine before. If I could tell the younger me, 18-years old me, when I was trying just to finish my career that I met so many people from different places, I would be crying in my bed like, “No shit, I don’t believe you.” I couldn’t imagine myself outside of Argentina. Then suddenly, I did. And now, I feel like I’m connected with a lot of parts of the world because of this. Maybe I would still just be looking for a fashion job. So, I think I will skate for a long time because of this kind of adventure feeling. I don’t think of it as a profession, but I will never leave the roller skating world.

The best thing that I’ve gained from roller skating is the connections I’ve made with people and places. I don’t think I’d ever give it up because of those connections, but when I hear people like you say, “I want to focus on other things,” to me, it sounds like a relief sometimes, because it’s so hard. Putting everything into skating, it’s difficult and unpredictable. You become too hard on yourself and the future is so unknown. 
Yes, yes, I can imagine. If you feel like it’s too much, it’s nice to have a different background and just do it because you’re really enjoying it.

Okay, my last question is totally off topic, but do you celebrate Halloween?
Oh, I love Halloween. In Argentina, when I was a kid, we used to celebrate it, but it was not such a date as maybe it is in the United States. Also, it was super hot. You cannot put on very cool costumes if it’s super hot, but I love it. Now, I have a friend who’s staying here with me from Argentina. We love the fantasy about Halloween and horror movies and everything. But we have never been in a place that celebrates it. So, it’s like I’m not celebrating by myself.

Have you ever been trick or treating?
When I was a kid, maybe at eight or seven years old, but just around this little neighborhood and always with a parent, because it was not very safe. But some friends lived in this private neighborhood where they have security outside and everything. So that’s where you could go out with your friends and knock on the doors, but I was very small. But yeah, I did it. I was a ghost, and I knocked on the doors, and they gave me candy.

I’ve been curious now that this issue is our Halloween issue, how Halloween is in other countries. I always knew they didn’t celebrate like we do, but maybe it’s just different. Like are there pumpkins around this time of year in Barcelona? Do you see Halloween stuff around at all? 
No, it’s like any other time of year. I never saw a pumpkin until I was in Copenhagen. So, imagine. 

You would love being in the States around October then, especially where I’m from. I’m from what we call the Midwest. Maybe it’s out of boredom, but most people in the Midwest celebrate Halloween to the extreme. 
Oh, my god. Yeah, I would love it.

Yeah. We’re entering into a house decorating contest for our neighborhood, I work for a haunted house, and people have Halloween parties where they go all out. So, yeah, you should come visit in October. You’re always welcome here, although it’s not as exciting as California maybe.
Oh, my god, yes, I would love to. Alejo and I were planning to go to different parts. Ashley told me to go to her place also. So, I think we will do it at some point. It’s super nice to have this information and people opening their arms to make it possible.