Interview by Danitza Maldonado
Photography by Hector Gonzalez
Desiree is a dedicated roller skater from Puerto Rico; a small Caribbean island that brings its own challenges. Humble but courageous, she has a unique aesthetic that translates into her skate style. You may not have seen her before, but she’s here and she’s here to stay.
What inspired you to start roller skating?
When the pandemic happened I was left without a job, so I had a lot of time for myself. I would watch Instagram videos of some friends, one of them being Juliana [Diaz] and that was my first time seeing anyone roller skating. I remember when I was a kid, I skated inlines for a month, and it was really fun to me. So I was like, “Hey, let’s give it a try,” and I bought some Moxi’s. I pre-ordered them so I waited seven months for the skates to come. I was nervous and very excited because I was watching everyone improving, and I was like, “Fuck, I want to skate.”
Being from Puerto Rico, how challenging has it been to grow in skating?
Very challenging because it’s a really hot place! I live in the Caribbean. It’s too hot to skate in the morning and during the day. Also, it’s hard to find people to skate with. They want to skate the parks, and there’s not many skateparks to challenge me.
Skating in Puerto Rico is hard as fuck.
It’s on another level. I was seeing a sponsored skater, and he showed me street spots. That’s when I learned that “Oh, I can actually do this in the street.”
Do you prefer street skating more than park skating?
I mean, street skating is really rough in Puerto Rico. You’re not going to find a sweet spot or a perfect spot, and everything is big. But I prefer it way more than park skating because there comes a time where I just stop using my creativity when I go to skateparks.
Speaking of creativity, you have a part coming out soon with Omnibus. How would you describe your skating style in your next part?
Well, I don’t think that much of my style because I just have fun and try to make it flowy. I prefer something wavy or something that looks aesthetically pleasing. I like to stare at things. Since I’m a photographer, I do that a lot. I try to imagine different ways to skate spots, and enjoy the process.
When it comes to style, are there any skaters that you look up to?
Yes, I like Moco a lot, and I have liked her style since I started roller skating. She inspires me a lot, and she’s actually a really good friend of mine now.
And you guys became close because of skating?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, Moco [Dimango] and Silvia [Kambourdis]. I love Silvia’s style... I love how she sees the world, and I love her as an artist, too. Eshna [Goenka], too. I love her manuals. I love how she dances and then does the grinds.
They all have very unique and different skating styles.
Yeah, they’re different. I get really inspired by them. Sometimes, when I’m blocked in my head and I’m going to a spot, I watch their videos.
I know that you are a part of Rockstar Bearings, and so are the skaters that you look up to; Silvia and Moco. When you first started skating in Puerto Rico, would you have ever imagined that you were going to be a part of a team alongside your inspirations?
I mean, I dreamed about it, but I never thought it was going to happen because I mean, in Puerto Rico, we have a lot of artists and a lot of people that have been making things happen, but it’s a really small island, so I never thought anyone would see me in there.
Would you say that being sponsored has changed your outlook on roller skating?
Yes, because I went on my first tour with them. I went to Amsterdam. I went to Berlin for the first time. It was my first time being in Europe, and it was my first time seeing all those spots. It opened my mind to the possibilities. I knew Silvia, but she wasn’t my friend at that time, and I got to know her on tour.
So you’re also a photographer. Would you ever consider photographing roller skating?
Actually, I’ve been doing it. I’ve been working with some roller skaters from Chile. They’re called Calles Sin Salida. They inspired me a lot.
Coming together?
Yeah, coming together. I love putting all of my art together, photography and roller skating.
That’s amazing. Do you currently have any goals or aspirations for your future regarding your roller-skating career or maybe even photography?
Yes, yes, yes. As I said, I would like to combine photography, skating, and music. I’m trying to learn the guzheng, which is a Chinese harp. I would also love to travel the world, meet new people in the community, and do projects with them. Projects with Latin American skaters and Caribbean skaters. And I would love to afford a piece of land on my island.
That’s the ultimate goal. A piece of the motherland. Fuck yeah. So roller skating in Puerto Rico is obviously really hard. And I don’t think it takes much for anyone to understand how difficult it could be to skate on an island. Obviously the resources, the quality…
And I think that it has a lot of hurricanes.
Yeah, on top of that. And then you mentioned you want a piece of your homeland. Could you ever picture or imagine living full time anywhere outside of Puerto Rico?
It’s a really hard question. My boyfriend is from Argentina, and we’ve been talking about this. But I love my island. I love everything about it. I know it’s a struggle to live there, but maybe I could... I wouldn’t say forever, but maybe I could try to live somewhere in Europe for a while. Just for a while.
How long do you think you can go without roller skating?
Fuck. I’m a cancer. I think of some really sad stuff. I imagine hurting myself or something and having to stop skating for a while.
You’re paranoid of getting hurt?
Yes. I think I’ll go crazy. I can take a week without roller skating, but then I start to watch videos.
How did you persevere through all the challenges and obstacles from being basically alone? I didn’t see this fire of wanting more from anyone the way I saw it in you.
Well, roller skating is amazing and it’s very personal. I just look at myself and think, Where do I want to go? What do I want for myself? I’m in love with roller skating. I just think of learning, and I don’t like to put pressure on something I love.
You don’t think too far ahead. If no one can skate today, that’s okay, but I want to.
I want to and I want to learn this. And I want to keep myself from overthinking the spot or the trick. I want to be able to feel like I’m progressing and satisfying myself. Which is really hard because when you roller skate, you’re always pushing yourself and trying to…
Be better, do better…
Do better. Yeah. And we are humans, sometimes we don’t feel it. We don’t feel like roller skating, even at a spot that you wanted for months.
I love you.
I love you.
