Interview by Desiree Franco
Photography by Gisela Rodriguez
I had the opportunity to sit down and dive a little into Valen’s brain. It’s always interesting talking to skaters who found skating the hard way, through necessity. Valen is still very young, but there’s a stubborn, feral strength in the way she approaches skating and life. As we talked, it became clear that skating pulled her out of a world that never quite fit her.
How many years have you been skating?
I have been skating for almost four years, three-and-a-half years more or less.
How did that connection between you and roller skating begin? What happened that gave you that click, where you said, ‘Wow, I really like this’?
Well, the truth is, I discovered quad skating when I was really depressed. I had many family problems.
How old were you?
I was about 15. And you know, that’s the age…
The age of wondering what I’m good for in this world?
Yes, literally. Also, I have a religious family that is Christian. And well, at that moment when I found out about quad skating, I had left the church.
Was it when you discovered quad skating, or was it just a coincidence?
I had just discovered quad skating, and obviously, it was different. I was having many problems with the church, and since I didn’t feel identified with it, it was like a routine that kept me in a bubble, you know? And quad skating was like a kind of awakening. I had a very daily routine, and I was literally a kid. I wasn’t like the other normal girls, and that really toughened me up. I felt like it was something else, like there was another life besides this routine I had been living since I was born. Because I’ve been going to church since I was born. I didn’t know any other way besides that, going to school, doing homework during the week, and going to church on Sunday. That was it.
I used to sing in church, and music was the only thing I liked. I went to church because I liked singing and music. But, well, there were many people, and my family made me doubt the church a lot. I didn’t know if that was really what I wanted for myself, and I didn’t feel identified or comfortable.
One day, I even told my mom I didn’t want to go anymore, and that totally changed my path. My family pushed me aside a lot because I have siblings who all go to church. No one says no. And I was the youngest to leave, so at first, they took it as rebellion. Like, well, she’s doing her thing, that skating made you like this. When they saw I didn’t come back and that it wasn’t just a moment of rebellion, that’s when they started pushing me aside, like I’m totally crazy, rebellious, you know? She’s possessed, she has a demon inside, whatever.
Quad skating was my only reason to live. And of course, all that anger, so many things kept inside because I couldn’t even tell anyone how I felt. And not feeling like there was someone there supporting you… my mom and dad were everything to me. I couldn’t do anything without them.
I was also growing up, and it became very hard emotionally and mentally to feel so alone at that moment. I just skated, and it made me feel good. But at that moment, it was like, I’m going to skate because I have nothing else to do. And that was it. Yeah, and also because it felt right.
It’s really crazy that you’re telling me your story, because I also come from a Christian family and used to sing at church with my mom.
Well, I used to sing with my family; they were the musicians. My dad was the main guitarist, my brother the drummer, and my sister the lead singer.
I suppose you love that part! The necessity of a group, belonging, and connection with music was genuine. Since we’re talking about music, before quad skating, did you listen to any music other than Christian music?
No, not at all. They didn’t allow it. They didn’t allow me.
And how was that process of discovering new music? Because they didn’t allow you, it probably made you feel judged, like this is wrong.
Yes, I remember that. Imagine there were music videos; I never watched music videos. I always listened to music with headphones so they wouldn’t see my screen by accident or something. As I got more confident, I started putting music on the TV and singing, screaming, everything and just letting loose. They’d come back from church, and I’d take everything off.
I wanted to ask you, what music inspires you to the point that when you close your eyes, you imagine skating with it?
I really like bands from the United States, but the ones that aren’t so well-known. For example, here I like Fun People, bands like that. And also, for reels I like swag-type songs, which are like… you don’t understand anything, but you see yourself skating. I used to listen to a lot of music with headphones while skating until I messed them up, broke them, and cracked them. So, I don’t do that anymore.
Yeah, I feel so insecure when I have my phone in my pocket! I don’t know how people do it. Do you do any art besides skating?
Yes! Music, I like it a lot. I always wanted to make my own music, but I haven’t had the tools to do it. A friend of mine, Nube, gave me her old microphone on my birthday and said so that you can start. But well, it hasn’t happened yet.
I love it! Do you play any instruments?
I know how to play a little guitar. I have a musician family, but I never got good enough to ask them.
Sure, but you have an ear! How would you connect the art you do with your skating?
I think music really inspires you to skate. I mean, if you’re sad and you put on sad music, you skate with that energy you transmit. Music connects a lot with skating. It teaches you how to skate.
What do you think you transmit when you skate? Do you think that depends on how you feel at the moment?
I think you can really feel how I skate. Because when I’m not very motivated, I do a dumb trick and laugh at how stupid it was. Because I’m not motivated, I’m just going to mess around. When I’m motivated, it’s not trouble at all to get up right away. I try a trick and whatever happens, happens. If I don’t succeed, I will go again.
And in that process, do you feel any fear?
It doesn’t happen to me much. I do it. It often happens that when I watch the videos later, I think, Wacho, I could have been seriously fucked! But at the moment, I really want to do it, so I think more about how I’ll feel after landing the trick than about what might happen. I often visualize myself already doing it and landing it. So, I don’t want to be afraid and go with that confidence.
So, are you more of a “just go for it” kind of person?
Yes, I visualize it in my mind. I’m not paying attention to my feet, how they’re doing, or anything like that. If I don’t land it, I go back and think about it, and I try to visualize it with my body, like the movement of what I have to do. For example, I’m currently filming a video part here in La Matanza with a group of quads. I was seconding a girl, and I thought of a trick that I hadn’t tried yet. I visualized it in my mind and I almost landed it! I kept trying until I got it. I didn’t even think about my feet or anything. I just had it in my head.
That’s beautiful, that feeling! What’s the trick that you feel best represents you?
I think of down rails and gaps.
And what’s the spot of your dreams?
I don’t even have to think about it, the stairs in Ingeniería.
Do you have a lot of people there to skate with?
There are very few girls who skate. I’m one of the youngest, and this girl called Olivia, who’s killing it! I used to go to the capital a lot, which is two hours from here, and skate with Sere and the other girls. There are some girls here, but they skate very occasionally. They already have their own group and don’t skate with other girls.
I understand. How do you feel about groups and teams?
The truth is, I always skated pretty much alone. Always for myself and not for others, until I started meeting people. When I get the urge to skate, I do my own thing. I skate, I enjoy it, and that’s it.
I can see that you skate with a lot of strength and enthusiasm. But when you are unmotivated, what helps you say, “Screw it, I’m going to throw myself and whatever happens, happens?”
I think one of my biggest motivations is my grandmother. She’s the one who got me into skating. When things were bad with my family, she got me my first pair of skates, and she was the only one who watched my videos. My grandmother passed away two years ago, and I’ve been thinking about her ever since. Her name was Paulina. When I’m filming, every time I try a trick, I think, I’m gonna do it for you. And I always heard her voice saying, “Be careful, but do it.” Every time I land a trick that I thought was impossible, I cry because I’m thinking of her.
Grandmas are the best! Is skating something you take seriously, or something you do without expectations or pressure?
It’s something I do because it makes me feel good. Beyond all the things I experienced because of skating, things I never would have imagined. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, out of my house, but I never left. And then, out of nowhere, I was in Córdoba, in Santa Fe, alone with skater friends, skating in the streets. It doesn’t make sense. Luckily, I always had skater friends who were there for me, giving me advice and helping me out. My family isn’t exactly wealthy, so if I needed something or wanted to go somewhere, I had to sell things or give lessons. Cami and Fiona helped me a lot with that. I love them so much.
Those are the friends we all need. Is there any project you’re working on or anything else you want to say?
I’m getting organized to start my own skating school here in La Matanza. I don’t want to see it as a job. It’s more about sharing and showing what I do, and about wanting to transmit that feminine power without prejudice toward people, ignoring society’s standards.
