March 13, 2026 • 37 mins
Vitória Mendonça is having a moment. Fresh off Women’s Skater of the Year at Brazil’s STU Awards and a new part in Element’s Search video, Vitória joins GLWT to talk about growing up in Campo Grande, Brazil, moving to São Paulo to be in the mix, turning pro in the middle of absolute Copenhagen Open chaos, and buying her mom a house in the same year.We get into Brazil’s skate scene, style, sponsorship politics, the power of showing up to community events like Unity Fest and Wheels of Fortune, and why Vitória believes dreaming shouldn’t be a privilege.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What's Up, Skaters. My name is Ashley Raefeld, and this
is good Luck with That. Victoria. You just won Women's
Skater the Year at the stew Awards. Your new part
and Elements search video just dropped on Thrasher about two
days ago. You're ride for Adidas Element Venture. You've also
become known as one of the best female ledge skaters
out there, and your heel flip is terrifyingly good. Since
(00:36):
turning pro in twenty twenty three, you've been helping making
the world of skateboarding so much bigger, so much more
in live. I'm so excited to have you on the podcast.
Victoria Mendoza, Welcome to Good Luck with That.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Thank you, Thank you, Ashley. I really love it. When
I saw your message, you like inviting me to come.
Let's take it from the top. The search video just dropped.
I looked like it was a really long filming project
with Element. Tell us about where you're filmed, where you're
talked about your part?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, walk us through.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
So we spent one year filming. I went for two trips.
I'm from Brazil. I'm most of the time in Brazil,
so I only went to chool. But I super nice,
you know, like to be without the team. Everybody is
really connected and everybody is from other countries, different countries,
and that's crazy. Like when we the van, everybody speaks
(01:26):
a different language. Before, like four years ago, I was
not speaking English, you know. So they paid for my
English classes. So is that why I can't speak English today?
So I mean grate for them, like for elements.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That's awesome. I didn't know that about English classes. Are
you still taking classes?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah? I'm still taking classes because you know, I think
English is always changing and I think I need to
be more confidous, you know, Like so I keep doing,
keep going and trying to learn more and more.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You got Women Skater the Year, which I think is
so well deserved. Big congratulations on that. How does it feel?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
So it's like in Brazil we have g music competition
that codes squ and the end of the year they
do this big event like a WADS you know, so
how I super happy, you know, but the other girls
was super good show, so I didn't expect it, you know,
(02:33):
like I've been doing many stuff, but I never like
think like, oh I maybe I got this.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Year or not.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know, I don't think. I just do my stuff,
you know. So I was pretty happy when I got
this trophy.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Speaking of how great you're skating is. You're skating is
like super technical and my my eyes, it's fast, but
also there's like a calmness to it, so you can
you have like all this quality around your skateboarding that
makes you make it look effortless. How would you describe
your own style and how did you develop it?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I grew up like in Reo.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I'm from Rio, uh is a city in Brazil, and
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I grew up with my.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Friends seeing they're skating, and I was, oh, I wanna
I wanna do alli like geez. Like back in my
my city has a guy his name is half Ale,
and he always he always do like only like you know,
like bigi Oli's and uh, he skates fasci and stuff.
So I grew up what he is skating and I was, oh,
(03:44):
one day, I wanna have gez speech, you know, I
wanna high, go highly high, you know, like.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
I think skateboard is about, like uh, to see and
learning as well you know, like you learn.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Skating, but I think you if you watch videos and
uh watch people.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Skating, you can learn too, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
So I think mostly watching videos and uh watching my
friends skating too, like Gisiva and Vittore Boutolo as well.
She skates super fast and it's crazy to watch her skating.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Her skating.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
She's like one of my best friends. Like she's her
you know, like she's coming to my house tonight, she's
going to stay here for a few days.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Tell her we want her on the pod. I am
such a fan. She's such a cool artist and also
just does skating her own way. So we'll get her
on and I'm really stuck. She's on taking now, which
is so cool to see. Which, speaking of, Brazil produces
an unreasonable number of world class skateboarders, Like it's insane.
There's this entire industry in Brazil that is so connected
(04:56):
and also i'd say almost kind of disconnected from the
majority of the skating industry. Like what's in the water
down there? What is a passion for skateboarding? Like how
does this happen? How are you guys all so incredibly
talented at skateboarding?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
You know, we we say like, yo, it's the bees,
you know, because we eat a lot of bees here.
But no, like I think we don't have like much
opportunity here, so we try. When you're trying something like
skateboarding or anything, really you know like try, we really try,
(05:33):
Like yeah, we go for it. So I think it's Geez,
don't we don't have much things. We don't have much
his source. So when you have something, we like just
oh I need I want to do giz perfect perfect,
you know, So I think it's Geez, like the we
we got this motivation, you know, that most motivation.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So you grew up in Campo ground there, which is
any real help help me get the map?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Oh, they're like Comp's super like far from uh Jiano downtown.
So I was like two hours to go go in
the train to get in downtown for skating, to film
me to go to the events. Growing up, So I
was pretty hard, you know, to to skate. No, no,
(06:25):
we you didn't have many skaters as well, so I
had to to skate being from Compare you know sometimes
like I did like two years ago, I did my
my my boss day in Kompug and my friends, they
every everybody came to Rio to celebrate in my mom's house,
(06:48):
and they told me like, oh, it's so far. You know,
how did you did? You came from campug and you've
taught him in dawnstand now like you you you have
a sponsor, like you go to La, to go to Europe,
to go everywhere. You know, Like that's crazy, you know,
(07:09):
and I yeah, it's crazy to be from Campugaji and.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You live in Saint Paolo, which is basically like the
equivalent of moving to La or New York to be
in the skate scene. It's like where you go, it
seems like the scene. It's just a more central city,
better skating. What's it like to live there? Is that
why you moved there?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah? I moved to Saint Paolo when I was eighteen
years old and I went just for one month when
I came, and I'm here now I'm twenty six now
and also almost eight years here, and when I went,
I just felt more like, oh, I can't skate more.
I can't skate more here, like every week have something happening,
(07:51):
and now the brands are here, like almost how the
brands are here? They have big skate shops here as
well doing events like best treek and stuff. And after
I move here, everything it starts happening to me. I
start skating for you just Brazil like first, and I
start skating for Elements Brazil as well before go to
(08:14):
the Global team. So I think some Paolo gave me
many stuff. You know, is it really important to come
to the city to just crazy and the het city.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, it seems like it's like a proving ground. It's
kind of like where you just have to be to
be in the mex What do you think is different
about the women's scene in Brazil compared to the US scene.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Here it's a Paolo, I have more girls.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I think every time I go to skate I see
more girls and more girls and.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's super cool.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
But I think in USA and Europe it's more easy
to live with Skatebarney, you know, like it's more easy
to get sponsor to people's to see you. You know,
I think you're here, it's so hard to do people
see us and evening if if you if you're not
like a girl, that it's like really pre re or
(09:13):
like Famo, you know, they don't sponsor you.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
That's crazy, you know, I I know so many.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Girls really good skating and they don't have sponsor, you know,
like the way a woman looks.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I wouldn't say it's even just a
Brazilian thing. It's a national conflict of being a very
talented female skateboarder. It's even more in the culture.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
You think, yeah, I think you hear even more and
it's not.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
It's not just skateboarding, but in everge like spots like
like Sarka or something. If you don't if you're not like,
oh I'm a super family family, like they don't sponsor you,
that's crazy, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, I wish that wasn't the barrier of entry. It
should just be let the skating speak who you are
as a person, what you do for the community, what
you're gonna do for skateboarding in general, Like let's start there.
But yeah, it is crazy how that continues generation after
generation to be one of the first bar of entries
(10:19):
into the whole thing. Both were working on it.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, Like one time a few years ago, I was
skating for a brand and they told me, like I
just was, oh, I'm gay and stuff like I'm rich
a girro and they was, oh, okay, but you don't
tell geez. You know, you don't need to talk about that,
but you can't say too. You can't say geez for anyone.
(10:43):
I was, what the fuck? And also I just stopped
to skating for them, And I think things start happening later,
you know, like after that. But it's crazy to hold
that and you know, like, oh, you can't be yourself
because I don't know, like people's don't know, don't don't
(11:03):
goanna like, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Crazy, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah, I've always admired that about you, like without knowing you.
I mean, you and I have seen each other for
a handful of years at all the contests and just
at spots and myself working in the industry trying to
help plug you into things. It's just but the one
thing I've that has always stood out about you is
that you know who you are, you know what you want.
(11:27):
You know, like you're not going to back down, like
you said, to not say who you are as a
person and who you are as a skateboarder. And I
think it's amazing because it's really scary to do. Like
the opportunities are limited, right, but I don't know that
you compromise. I feel like you're just really grounded in
who you are, and there's something to be said about that.
Did you grow up playing any other sports or how
(11:49):
did skateboarding like become the main thing for you.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah, I grew up like play soccer and I really
like it to run as well. So and my mom
always supported me, like she was. We was super par
like my family and stuff. But no matter what I
wanted to do, when I ask it for my mom,
she was, yeah, but we're gonna try. You can't try,
(12:17):
we see, you know. But she never said no, you can't.
You know, it's not for you, you know. So that
was super important to me. So she was always supported me.
So I was playing soccer. I started playing soccer in
this plaza in Compugrange and I was seven or eighty
(12:38):
years old, like almost eight years old, And why is
this mini ramp there? And I after playing soccer, I
was going to this mini ramp and playing around, like running,
and the skaters got like super whats the fuck? You know,
like what skates, go go play someone, you know, like
(13:01):
somewhere else. So but I never know it's my place too,
you know. I Mean, I was totally wrong because I
was just playing around and one day some guys just
say to me like, oh you go, you go say
it to me. He's my friend onto now on two
there's days and he told to me like, hey, it
came it first for skating. You know, I teach you
(13:24):
how to skate. Just came call me with with shoes
and I teach you. So I start to go not
just for soccer, to play soccer, but for skating too.
So I start like like, jeez, and what.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Made you fall in love of skateboarding?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I mean I really like it everybody. You know.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I like it because playing soccer was nice because it
was a team and everybody was helping eachada. But when
the game ends, everybody was okay, bye, see you tomorrow
or something. And do with skateboarding it was different. You know.
Everybody was staying at the skate park and having a
conversation talking about life, talking about like how ie hurt
(14:14):
sometimes and how it can be better, how we can
improve ourselves to be I don't know, so as always
gep conversation in skateboarding after the session, and I love it. Then,
you know, like oh I think I found my people,
you know, and I just fell in love. No, not
(14:34):
just suits, the boards, but with the people's like the skaters.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, yeah, I totally identify with that. Do you remember
when you were like, I think I could be really
good at this, like I could have a career or
when did that happen for you?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
So, since I was skating since I was seven years old,
but I was always helping my mom with her job.
She was working in this family house. She was doing
everything like cleaning, like watching a kid, and I start
to help her with that. I start to take care
(15:15):
of this kid when she was cleaning the house. So
I was always like walking with my mom and I
didn't like I think for years I was skating doing contests,
but I didn't like had this hope, you know, like
because I'm super far from me you know, from my reality.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
So as no, that's not for me, Like I think
it's kind of impossible, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
But I remember when I was like thirty or forty
years old, I start to ring more the contest and
in my hometown, and I was, yeah, I maybe, you know,
like because I was getting more like money but more
like boards, more wheel. So I was always selling and
(16:06):
helping my mom in my house, like paying a bill
or something, you know, then I was, yeah, maybe I can,
I don't know, keep it doing the contest and stuff
and get some money from that. Then I'm in twenty seventeen,
they did the first ESTUO in real and I did
(16:29):
my first final, like in the Global Contest. It was
the first time that I met and I saw Alexa Blonde.
She came to Brazil and do I super sick because
I'm a super fan, and I was, yo, I don't
know whey, you know, like it's happening, maybe it's possible.
So I did my final. I did the final, and
(16:52):
I was the first time I wa was Paige for skateboarding.
I got paid, so I changed. I I did like
you know them, I know, the room in my mom's
house because we was leaping together. Our whole life was
me and her and my three brothers, and so I
(17:13):
did another room.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I did another.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Hairst room for us, so like it was not so
much money, but it was nice to improve something for us.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
And that was twenty seventeen. Yeah, twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Okay, so we're gonna do a little lightning round of
questions called get a Grip, one of our new segments
on the program Best City to skate in Brazil.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Brazil.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Every time I go there, I got so much photoge.
I mean, some power is good to you, but I
BRAZILA for me is.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
The best.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Dream skate destination that you haven't been yet. But it's
on the list.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Madrid.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
One trick for the rest of your life, for you
female skateboarder that the industry needs to pay more attention to. Lol,
you all heard it first. All right, Well that wraps
up this quick get a grip lightning round Lao. I
(18:18):
feel like is kind of blowing up. They're like hitting
the trips. You you're you're on the same team. Such
a technical combo skater. It's so fun to be around.
So yeah, I think more and more to come. We
need to have a low on the pod. Maybe you
just helped to set that up for us. All right,
everyone hold that thought. We'll be right back Copenhagen Open
(18:52):
It was insane walk us through the moment that you
turn pro.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I was like I did body super you know, like
I changed your friend and I was, what's happening?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
You know? So I was oh, but not really, you know,
just the time.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Wise just passing in. Nothing was happening, and I was Okay,
I think it was just something from my mind. I think,
nothing going to happen, you know, and damn like crazy crazy.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Okay, Copenagen open thousands of people, I don't know, hundreds
of people were packed into the major skate park in Copenhagen,
and all of a sudden, a marching band just comes
jamming in the middle, is partying the seas of skateboarders
in the middle of an event, like a huge, loud
(19:46):
Brazilian marching band, And then does your board pop out?
And you realize you're pro It was nuts. It was
like such a spectacle. It wasn't just like a bunch
of people running at you a skateboards. It was like
a sea of people in madness happening with this marching
band behind you. It was so cool. And then what
(20:06):
happened when you saw your board?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know, when I saw my boge, I like I
was no way, you know, like that's crazy, and so
many people's you know, it just was like flowing, you know.
So uh some some David from from here he put
me in his his back and I was there like
seeing everyone like screaming and uh yeah, I cry, you know,
(20:32):
like what's crazy? And after, like, I called my mom
and I told her, like, Mom, I'm pro now, and
she was, what the fuck? You know, like and she
wasn't my brother my big brother. And I started crying
even more, you know, because uh, she she didn't know it.
(20:52):
How how important was that? But she she she felt
my happiness.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
You know, so she was, oh, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
So super hyped and we start crying, me and her like,
it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Can you confirm did you after this moment? Going pro?
You know, things change. It's not like you're raking in
tons of money, but you now have a paycheck because
you're a pro skateboarder. You bought your mama house.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Was that yeah?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Tell us?
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, like that happening in.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Yeah, just the same year, in the same year, in
twenty twenty three, I got my mom house in real
And when I come back to Copenhagen, I came back
to Brazil and I was Alwaddy were seeing and Soshi
for a summer house with her. And when I came back,
(21:51):
I just said home, Mom, it's time. You know, so well,
it's crazy, crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
So cool. And then was what I thought, so cool
is Jeff Chung did the boarder for your first pro board.
Can you walk us through like how did that connection happen?
And why? Jeff? So?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Uh? I was I was always like, uh see watching
videos Uniti video and uh seeing their stuff like your
There's stuffs and Uniti stuffs, Jeff stuffs. So uh when
the when Diego asking me, oh if you if you
has a budge one day Wishi artist she invited.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
You would like to have in your boards?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
So oh Jeff and uh and I think I know
that Diego Uh did that connection you know with Jeff
and Element between them, So I thought.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
That was even just more of an amazing way to
celebrate you and Element and Jeff and just like bring
it full circle like what Jeff does for those there's
you know Jeff Chung, he's incredible multimedia artist. He's a
community leader with his partner Gabe, they run Unity and
they're what they do in skateboarding is important. But the
(23:11):
fact that you it was on your radar in Brazil
and it still meant something to you that helped represent
like who you are as a skateboarder. That was so cool.
It was like you made such a statement with that.
Let's talk about your colorway, Let's talk about your shoe.
So about a year ago Adidas, you have a superstar
(23:31):
with your name on it. It's an amazing colorway, can
you walk me through like the details and why.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
The way that I dress myself is super like simple,
you know, like you always black your white. I don't
like him like oh like big yr logos are or something.
So is that why I put my naming like almost invisible?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
You know?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
And the text thor it was because the ground in
Brazil that people's I think everybody knows the ground is
not so good. So I try to bring some Brazil
for my first shoes. At the end my poetry. I
do poetry since I was a kid, So I try
to put some some stuffs from myself, from my heart
(24:21):
to the shoes.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, Like one of the lines was I want dreaming
not to be a privilege. And I thought that was
such like a powerful line, not just about skateboarding. But
what were you trying to say when you wrote something
like that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
It's because I know I came from these neighborhoods like
and from this family.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Everything was super hard and impossible, you.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Know, all kind of I don't know everybody dream you know,
everybody dreams, but for this dream come true. I think
if you don't have money or if you don't have
a resource, it's super hard.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I want one day that can be different, you know,
just can be different. So for things to change for
more peoples, more black peoples, more black girls be pros,
to see more black peoples being pro and.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
To see them living their dreams.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, you get to travel all over the world
for skateboarding, but then you've I feel like you've decided
to show up at really important events that aren't necessarily
like the main like it's not Coping Girt Open or
Tampa Pro, but you've shown up at events like Unity
Fest and like a Girl Wills of Fortune. Those aren't
always the biggest platform moments, Like why have those events
(25:45):
been important for you to show up at those ones?
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Because I think is there for me?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It's my favorite events, you know, and I think is
there once that really change something? Know, I mean Copenhaggin
Open change many things. You know, if you go and
do skate goods, you can maybe God sponsor or something.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
You know. But I think.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
What like Unity are doing or skate like a Girl
are doing is super big and this changing life is
you know, people are feeling more, are feeling part of something,
you know, and I think that can change lives, you know.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Is that's why I go, and I love to go,
and they for me, I go every year, you know, like.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I want to go every year because I really feel
connected and.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Part of something, part of something, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah, people get so stoked to see you at Unity
Test and Wheels of Fortune, So I'm excited to see
you there this May. We'll make sure to get you out.
Unity Fest is going to be happening again. But yeah,
it is so cool that you just get right in
the mix. And I think that's the distinction of you know,
Copenhagen Open is like for the industry, it's a great
(27:08):
moment that you can potentially launch your career in front
of all the industry heads, and that's awesome. But these
events that we're talking about are like from people that
can just be from anywhere. You don't need to be
a pro skater to show up at these events and
be a part of the mix and the community. And
so for you as a pro skateboarder to be in
the mix with everyone, it's just so cool and I
(27:29):
feel like you're always vibing with everyone and making it
really about you add so much value to that event
or those events. So anyways, I think it's cool that
those are on your yearly calendar and that you make
the trip. It's not easy to travel from Brazil all
the way out here, so very appreciated. All right, everyone,
(27:50):
We're going to take a quick ad break. We'll be
right back. Well, okay, So you have such an amazing
scene down there. There's such a big women's street skate scene,
and I feel like it's just growing every year. I've
(28:12):
got to highlight some people that I've been there for
a long time. Can you tell us about Pepa and
her mag and just filmer of the Year, Like why
does Pepa matter? Tell us about Peppa Susa Pipa?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
So Pipa.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I know Peopa c cl wise ten year, eleven years
old because I started watching videos and I remember the
first video I watched, like from girls skating people, whys
on this video?
Speaker 4 (28:45):
So whise.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
We can't do it? The name of the video, Yeah,
we can't do it. So I watch this video and
I sell people for the first time skating like another
black girls skating?
Speaker 4 (29:00):
No way, you know, like it's possible.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
I can't film it too, because in my mind just
uh was just contest skaters, you know, so was on
the first time I saw girls skating, and h I
start to all get crazy with people.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
So uh, A few years later I saw her.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
I met her in real life when I when I
was fourteen years or fifteen years old in Pasa Kins.
It's a biggie plaza in real and she was there
and I was no way. I was crying, like and
I tell her like how she was crazy skating for me,
(29:46):
like and importance and uh and super I'm super proud
of her because she's just getting bigger and bigger. She
she's doing a magazine here in Brazil, is the only
femo magazine here and Into the Mijo the name of
the magazine is Into the Mijo. And she's doing great,
(30:10):
you know, like she's doing a great job. Like she's
she's doing like she she's getting us space, you know,
like for girls that don't have.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I don't know, like I.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Hope for some reason, you know, or no space in
the magazine is here in Brazil have like I mean
now I think I have one or two magazines in
Brazil and people is in the one is one of them.
So two magazines and uh and the one magazine if
(30:49):
you open is just one girl that's crazy and People's magazine.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
Like Man of Girls.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
So she's doing part and for us, and she's filming now.
She already dropped her two videos or a three, I
think it's two or three videos. And she's filming so good,
so good. Sometimes I film me with her here and
she's sick. And is that why I think she deserves.
I think she deserves even more, you know, because she
(31:22):
she's been doing so much stuff for so skating for
us for too long, like almost twenty years. She's been
doing some stuff for us like improving our skating, like
try to open space for us.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Like two I don't know, to help us. So she
deserves for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Big shout out, big shoutout. In fact, we'll get her
the crew shout out for this week. I feel like
community work, ripping skateboarder and just like levels up all
the time, Like so much work goes into making a magazine.
So much work does end up putting together a skate
video and underfunded at that, and then to make sure
(32:07):
it's about women and general expensive skateboarding, and just like
from her perspective so so cool. Your Element Search video
just dropped. That's to you, award whending you Women's Skater
of the Year. It just happened. What are you building towards? Now?
Where do you go from here? Victoria?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
So now I want to film a potch but independent
part to like stay I don't know, spend one year
when you didn't have filming, because I feel like seees
my first video for Treasure Them.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
For Azau.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
I feel that I'm always dropping videos but without time,
you know, with a shot headline, so like maybe sometimes
it's four months, sometimes it's like six months. And I
felt like, you know, I could do more, you know,
I want And I think she is a feeling of
our skaters because I think we always feel that we
(33:09):
can do more, we should do more, or we can't
feel me more.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
But I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
I think I need g's, you know, I need to
I want to feel me GI spots just for me,
you know, no brands evolved, just my my only time
and my my only countries and all my only spots.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
You know, like I don't know, no pressure, you know, yeah,
I mean we all want that part, and I think
there's something real about what you said is like, you've
been so busy since you got started on this whole journey,
and all the trips you go on, you know you
need to show up and get clips, and they all
go to whoever sent you out to that spot. So
(33:54):
if you're on an Element trip, those clips are going
to Element. You're on a Dida trip, those clips are
going to do an Adidas project. But how cool would
it be if you at the time the resources to
just do it on your own, do it your own
way with your people. I feel like the part would
be the most like expressive.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Of you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Actually, So what do you need luck with this week?
Do you need some luck? Jesus week?
Speaker 3 (34:23):
I need you luck the next week because I'm going
on a trip with me and Vittoria. Were going to
skate with Mighty. My day is in Brazil.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
She she's in north western Brazil.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Yeah, I think she's gonna live here soon, you know,
because I think she is. She's gonna move to Brazil
soon because she's always coming here now. And so she's
in gcity that called Salvador, and we're going to skate
with her there and film her and Shu Shu it's
our friends and so gonna be a girl's trip. And
(35:03):
I think I think we need we need some good luck.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Okay, Well, this is a heavy lineup. It sounds hectic
and rowdy and fun. So you're gonna need some luck
with good spots, clips and hydration.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
And thoughts, you know.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Yeah, oh my gosh. Well, maybe we can tune into
that trip somehow post some clips of the making of it.
That sounds epic and such a good lineup of people. Okay,
my day in Brazil. What a what a little world traveler.
I love this. You have such great people you get
to skate with. It's really cool. Well that wraps up
(35:43):
this episode of Good Luck with that. What an honor
to have Victoria Mendoza on the podcast. We are so
stoked to have you here. I feel like we get
so much to look forward to this year from you.
And yeah, thank you so much for being a guest.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Thank you, Ashley.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
And I mean, I'm a shoe learning English, So sorry
about anity, you know, but I'm super hyped to express
myself and to speak with you and have space here too,
I don't know, to have this conversation too, to share
some some stuffs about myself.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
According to.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
and partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. We are
your hosts Ashley Rayfield, Dora of Askenzello's, and Alex White.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Produced by Tarry Harrison, Daniel Goodman and Grace Views. Listen
to good Luck With That, a skateboarding podcast, on iHeartRadio, app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What's Up, Skaters. My name is Ashley Raefeld, and this
is good Luck with That. Victoria. You just won Women's
Skater the Year at the stew Awards. Your new part
and Elements search video just dropped on Thrasher about two
days ago. You're ride for Adidas Element Venture. You've also
become known as one of the best female ledge skaters
out there, and your heel flip is terrifyingly good. Since
(00:36):
turning pro in twenty twenty three, you've been helping making
the world of skateboarding so much bigger, so much more
in live. I'm so excited to have you on the podcast.
Victoria Mendoza, Welcome to Good Luck with That.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Thank you, Thank you, Ashley. I really love it. When
I saw your message, you like inviting me to come.
Let's take it from the top. The search video just dropped.
I looked like it was a really long filming project
with Element. Tell us about where you're filmed, where you're
talked about your part?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, walk us through.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
So we spent one year filming. I went for two trips.
I'm from Brazil. I'm most of the time in Brazil,
so I only went to chool. But I super nice,
you know, like to be without the team. Everybody is
really connected and everybody is from other countries, different countries,
and that's crazy. Like when we the van, everybody speaks
(01:26):
a different language. Before, like four years ago, I was
not speaking English, you know. So they paid for my
English classes. So is that why I can't speak English today?
So I mean grate for them, like for elements.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That's awesome. I didn't know that about English classes. Are
you still taking classes?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah? I'm still taking classes because you know, I think
English is always changing and I think I need to
be more confidous, you know, Like so I keep doing,
keep going and trying to learn more and more.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
You got Women Skater the Year, which I think is
so well deserved. Big congratulations on that. How does it feel?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
So it's like in Brazil we have g music competition
that codes squ and the end of the year they
do this big event like a WADS you know, so
how I super happy, you know, but the other girls
was super good show, so I didn't expect it, you know,
(02:33):
like I've been doing many stuff, but I never like
think like, oh I maybe I got this.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Year or not.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know, I don't think. I just do my stuff,
you know. So I was pretty happy when I got
this trophy.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Speaking of how great you're skating is. You're skating is
like super technical and my my eyes, it's fast, but
also there's like a calmness to it, so you can
you have like all this quality around your skateboarding that
makes you make it look effortless. How would you describe
your own style and how did you develop it?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I grew up like in Reo.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I'm from Rio, uh is a city in Brazil, and
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I grew up with my.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Friends seeing they're skating, and I was, oh, I wanna
I wanna do alli like geez. Like back in my
my city has a guy his name is half Ale,
and he always he always do like only like you know,
like bigi Oli's and uh, he skates fasci and stuff.
So I grew up what he is skating and I was, oh,
(03:44):
one day, I wanna have gez speech, you know, I
wanna high, go highly high, you know, like.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
I think skateboard is about, like uh, to see and
learning as well you know, like you learn.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Skating, but I think you if you watch videos and
uh watch people.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Skating, you can learn too, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
So I think mostly watching videos and uh watching my
friends skating too, like Gisiva and Vittore Boutolo as well.
She skates super fast and it's crazy to watch her skating.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Her skating.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
She's like one of my best friends. Like she's her
you know, like she's coming to my house tonight, she's
going to stay here for a few days.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Tell her we want her on the pod. I am
such a fan. She's such a cool artist and also
just does skating her own way. So we'll get her
on and I'm really stuck. She's on taking now, which
is so cool to see. Which, speaking of, Brazil produces
an unreasonable number of world class skateboarders, Like it's insane.
There's this entire industry in Brazil that is so connected
(04:56):
and also i'd say almost kind of disconnected from the
majority of the skating industry. Like what's in the water
down there? What is a passion for skateboarding? Like how
does this happen? How are you guys all so incredibly
talented at skateboarding?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
You know, we we say like, yo, it's the bees,
you know, because we eat a lot of bees here.
But no, like I think we don't have like much
opportunity here, so we try. When you're trying something like
skateboarding or anything, really you know like try, we really try,
(05:33):
Like yeah, we go for it. So I think it's Geez,
don't we don't have much things. We don't have much
his source. So when you have something, we like just
oh I need I want to do giz perfect perfect,
you know, So I think it's Geez, like the we
we got this motivation, you know, that most motivation.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So you grew up in Campo ground there, which is
any real help help me get the map?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Oh, they're like Comp's super like far from uh Jiano downtown.
So I was like two hours to go go in
the train to get in downtown for skating, to film
me to go to the events. Growing up, So I
was pretty hard, you know, to to skate. No, no,
(06:25):
we you didn't have many skaters as well, so I
had to to skate being from Compare you know sometimes
like I did like two years ago, I did my
my my boss day in Kompug and my friends, they
every everybody came to Rio to celebrate in my mom's house,
(06:48):
and they told me like, oh, it's so far. You know,
how did you did? You came from campug and you've
taught him in dawnstand now like you you you have
a sponsor, like you go to La, to go to Europe,
to go everywhere. You know, Like that's crazy, you know,
(07:09):
and I yeah, it's crazy to be from Campugaji and.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You live in Saint Paolo, which is basically like the
equivalent of moving to La or New York to be
in the skate scene. It's like where you go, it
seems like the scene. It's just a more central city,
better skating. What's it like to live there? Is that
why you moved there?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah? I moved to Saint Paolo when I was eighteen
years old and I went just for one month when
I came, and I'm here now I'm twenty six now
and also almost eight years here, and when I went,
I just felt more like, oh, I can't skate more.
I can't skate more here, like every week have something happening,
(07:51):
and now the brands are here, like almost how the
brands are here? They have big skate shops here as
well doing events like best treek and stuff. And after
I move here, everything it starts happening to me. I
start skating for you just Brazil like first, and I
start skating for Elements Brazil as well before go to
(08:14):
the Global team. So I think some Paolo gave me
many stuff. You know, is it really important to come
to the city to just crazy and the het city.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, it seems like it's like a proving ground. It's
kind of like where you just have to be to
be in the mex What do you think is different
about the women's scene in Brazil compared to the US scene.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Here it's a Paolo, I have more girls.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I think every time I go to skate I see
more girls and more girls and.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's super cool.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
But I think in USA and Europe it's more easy
to live with Skatebarney, you know, like it's more easy
to get sponsor to people's to see you. You know,
I think you're here, it's so hard to do people
see us and evening if if you if you're not
like a girl, that it's like really pre re or
(09:13):
like Famo, you know, they don't sponsor you.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
That's crazy, you know, I I know so many.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Girls really good skating and they don't have sponsor, you know,
like the way a woman looks.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I wouldn't say it's even just a
Brazilian thing. It's a national conflict of being a very
talented female skateboarder. It's even more in the culture.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
You think, yeah, I think you hear even more and
it's not.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
It's not just skateboarding, but in everge like spots like
like Sarka or something. If you don't if you're not like,
oh I'm a super family family, like they don't sponsor you,
that's crazy, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, I wish that wasn't the barrier of entry. It
should just be let the skating speak who you are
as a person, what you do for the community, what
you're gonna do for skateboarding in general, Like let's start there.
But yeah, it is crazy how that continues generation after
generation to be one of the first bar of entries
(10:19):
into the whole thing. Both were working on it.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, Like one time a few years ago, I was
skating for a brand and they told me, like I
just was, oh, I'm gay and stuff like I'm rich
a girro and they was, oh, okay, but you don't
tell geez. You know, you don't need to talk about that,
but you can't say too. You can't say geez for anyone.
(10:43):
I was, what the fuck? And also I just stopped
to skating for them, And I think things start happening later,
you know, like after that. But it's crazy to hold
that and you know, like, oh, you can't be yourself
because I don't know, like people's don't know, don't don't
(11:03):
goanna like, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Crazy, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah, I've always admired that about you, like without knowing you.
I mean, you and I have seen each other for
a handful of years at all the contests and just
at spots and myself working in the industry trying to
help plug you into things. It's just but the one
thing I've that has always stood out about you is
that you know who you are, you know what you want.
(11:27):
You know, like you're not going to back down, like
you said, to not say who you are as a
person and who you are as a skateboarder. And I
think it's amazing because it's really scary to do. Like
the opportunities are limited, right, but I don't know that
you compromise. I feel like you're just really grounded in
who you are, and there's something to be said about that.
Did you grow up playing any other sports or how
(11:49):
did skateboarding like become the main thing for you.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah, I grew up like play soccer and I really
like it to run as well. So and my mom
always supported me, like she was. We was super par
like my family and stuff. But no matter what I
wanted to do, when I ask it for my mom,
she was, yeah, but we're gonna try. You can't try,
(12:17):
we see, you know. But she never said no, you can't.
You know, it's not for you, you know. So that
was super important to me. So she was always supported me.
So I was playing soccer. I started playing soccer in
this plaza in Compugrange and I was seven or eighty
(12:38):
years old, like almost eight years old, And why is
this mini ramp there? And I after playing soccer, I
was going to this mini ramp and playing around, like running,
and the skaters got like super whats the fuck? You know,
like what skates, go go play someone, you know, like
(13:01):
somewhere else. So but I never know it's my place too,
you know. I Mean, I was totally wrong because I
was just playing around and one day some guys just
say to me like, oh you go, you go say
it to me. He's my friend onto now on two
there's days and he told to me like, hey, it
came it first for skating. You know, I teach you
(13:24):
how to skate. Just came call me with with shoes
and I teach you. So I start to go not
just for soccer, to play soccer, but for skating too.
So I start like like, jeez, and what.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Made you fall in love of skateboarding?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I mean I really like it everybody. You know.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I like it because playing soccer was nice because it
was a team and everybody was helping eachada. But when
the game ends, everybody was okay, bye, see you tomorrow
or something. And do with skateboarding it was different. You know.
Everybody was staying at the skate park and having a
conversation talking about life, talking about like how ie hurt
(14:14):
sometimes and how it can be better, how we can
improve ourselves to be I don't know, so as always
gep conversation in skateboarding after the session, and I love it. Then,
you know, like oh I think I found my people,
you know, and I just fell in love. No, not
(14:34):
just suits, the boards, but with the people's like the skaters.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, yeah, I totally identify with that. Do you remember
when you were like, I think I could be really
good at this, like I could have a career or
when did that happen for you?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
So, since I was skating since I was seven years old,
but I was always helping my mom with her job.
She was working in this family house. She was doing
everything like cleaning, like watching a kid, and I start
to help her with that. I start to take care
(15:15):
of this kid when she was cleaning the house. So
I was always like walking with my mom and I
didn't like I think for years I was skating doing contests,
but I didn't like had this hope, you know, like
because I'm super far from me you know, from my reality.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
So as no, that's not for me, Like I think
it's kind of impossible, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
But I remember when I was like thirty or forty
years old, I start to ring more the contest and
in my hometown, and I was, yeah, I maybe, you know,
like because I was getting more like money but more
like boards, more wheel. So I was always selling and
(16:06):
helping my mom in my house, like paying a bill
or something, you know, then I was, yeah, maybe I can,
I don't know, keep it doing the contest and stuff
and get some money from that. Then I'm in twenty seventeen,
they did the first ESTUO in real and I did
(16:29):
my first final, like in the Global Contest. It was
the first time that I met and I saw Alexa Blonde.
She came to Brazil and do I super sick because
I'm a super fan, and I was, yo, I don't
know whey, you know, like it's happening, maybe it's possible.
So I did my final. I did the final, and
(16:52):
I was the first time I wa was Paige for skateboarding.
I got paid, so I changed. I I did like
you know them, I know, the room in my mom's
house because we was leaping together. Our whole life was
me and her and my three brothers, and so I
(17:13):
did another room.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I did another.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Hairst room for us, so like it was not so
much money, but it was nice to improve something for us.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
And that was twenty seventeen. Yeah, twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Okay, so we're gonna do a little lightning round of
questions called get a Grip, one of our new segments
on the program Best City to skate in Brazil.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Brazil.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Every time I go there, I got so much photoge.
I mean, some power is good to you, but I
BRAZILA for me is.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
The best.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Dream skate destination that you haven't been yet. But it's
on the list.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Madrid.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
One trick for the rest of your life, for you
female skateboarder that the industry needs to pay more attention to. Lol,
you all heard it first. All right, Well that wraps
up this quick get a grip lightning round Lao. I
(18:18):
feel like is kind of blowing up. They're like hitting
the trips. You you're you're on the same team. Such
a technical combo skater. It's so fun to be around.
So yeah, I think more and more to come. We
need to have a low on the pod. Maybe you
just helped to set that up for us. All right,
everyone hold that thought. We'll be right back Copenhagen Open
(18:52):
It was insane walk us through the moment that you
turn pro.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I was like I did body super you know, like
I changed your friend and I was, what's happening?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
You know? So I was oh, but not really, you know,
just the time.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Wise just passing in. Nothing was happening, and I was Okay,
I think it was just something from my mind. I think,
nothing going to happen, you know, and damn like crazy crazy.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Okay, Copenagen open thousands of people, I don't know, hundreds
of people were packed into the major skate park in Copenhagen,
and all of a sudden, a marching band just comes
jamming in the middle, is partying the seas of skateboarders
in the middle of an event, like a huge, loud
(19:46):
Brazilian marching band, And then does your board pop out?
And you realize you're pro It was nuts. It was
like such a spectacle. It wasn't just like a bunch
of people running at you a skateboards. It was like
a sea of people in madness happening with this marching
band behind you. It was so cool. And then what
(20:06):
happened when you saw your board?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know, when I saw my boge, I like I
was no way, you know, like that's crazy, and so
many people's you know, it just was like flowing, you know.
So uh some some David from from here he put
me in his his back and I was there like
seeing everyone like screaming and uh yeah, I cry, you know,
(20:32):
like what's crazy? And after, like, I called my mom
and I told her, like, Mom, I'm pro now, and
she was, what the fuck? You know, like and she
wasn't my brother my big brother. And I started crying
even more, you know, because uh, she she didn't know it.
(20:52):
How how important was that? But she she she felt
my happiness.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
You know, so she was, oh, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
So super hyped and we start crying, me and her like,
it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Can you confirm did you after this moment? Going pro?
You know, things change. It's not like you're raking in
tons of money, but you now have a paycheck because
you're a pro skateboarder. You bought your mama house.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Was that yeah?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Tell us?
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, like that happening in.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Yeah, just the same year, in the same year, in
twenty twenty three, I got my mom house in real
And when I come back to Copenhagen, I came back
to Brazil and I was Alwaddy were seeing and Soshi
for a summer house with her. And when I came back,
(21:51):
I just said home, Mom, it's time. You know, so well,
it's crazy, crazy.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
So cool. And then was what I thought, so cool
is Jeff Chung did the boarder for your first pro board.
Can you walk us through like how did that connection happen?
And why? Jeff? So?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Uh? I was I was always like, uh see watching
videos Uniti video and uh seeing their stuff like your
There's stuffs and Uniti stuffs, Jeff stuffs. So uh when
the when Diego asking me, oh if you if you
has a budge one day Wishi artist she invited.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
You would like to have in your boards?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
So oh Jeff and uh and I think I know
that Diego Uh did that connection you know with Jeff
and Element between them, So I thought.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
That was even just more of an amazing way to
celebrate you and Element and Jeff and just like bring
it full circle like what Jeff does for those there's
you know Jeff Chung, he's incredible multimedia artist. He's a
community leader with his partner Gabe, they run Unity and
they're what they do in skateboarding is important. But the
(23:11):
fact that you it was on your radar in Brazil
and it still meant something to you that helped represent
like who you are as a skateboarder. That was so cool.
It was like you made such a statement with that.
Let's talk about your colorway, Let's talk about your shoe.
So about a year ago Adidas, you have a superstar
(23:31):
with your name on it. It's an amazing colorway, can
you walk me through like the details and why.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
The way that I dress myself is super like simple,
you know, like you always black your white. I don't
like him like oh like big yr logos are or something.
So is that why I put my naming like almost invisible?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
You know?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
And the text thor it was because the ground in
Brazil that people's I think everybody knows the ground is
not so good. So I try to bring some Brazil
for my first shoes. At the end my poetry. I
do poetry since I was a kid, So I try
to put some some stuffs from myself, from my heart
(24:21):
to the shoes.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, Like one of the lines was I want dreaming
not to be a privilege. And I thought that was
such like a powerful line, not just about skateboarding. But
what were you trying to say when you wrote something
like that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
It's because I know I came from these neighborhoods like
and from this family.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Everything was super hard and impossible, you.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Know, all kind of I don't know everybody dream you know,
everybody dreams, but for this dream come true. I think
if you don't have money or if you don't have
a resource, it's super hard.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I want one day that can be different, you know,
just can be different. So for things to change for
more peoples, more black peoples, more black girls be pros,
to see more black peoples being pro and.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
To see them living their dreams.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, you get to travel all over the world
for skateboarding, but then you've I feel like you've decided
to show up at really important events that aren't necessarily
like the main like it's not Coping Girt Open or
Tampa Pro, but you've shown up at events like Unity
Fest and like a Girl Wills of Fortune. Those aren't
always the biggest platform moments, Like why have those events
(25:45):
been important for you to show up at those ones?
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Because I think is there for me?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It's my favorite events, you know, and I think is
there once that really change something? Know, I mean Copenhaggin
Open change many things. You know, if you go and
do skate goods, you can maybe God sponsor or something.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
You know. But I think.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
What like Unity are doing or skate like a Girl
are doing is super big and this changing life is
you know, people are feeling more, are feeling part of something,
you know, and I think that can change lives, you know.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Is that's why I go, and I love to go,
and they for me, I go every year, you know, like.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I want to go every year because I really feel
connected and.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Part of something, part of something, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah, people get so stoked to see you at Unity
Test and Wheels of Fortune, So I'm excited to see
you there this May. We'll make sure to get you out.
Unity Fest is going to be happening again. But yeah,
it is so cool that you just get right in
the mix. And I think that's the distinction of you know,
Copenhagen Open is like for the industry, it's a great
(27:08):
moment that you can potentially launch your career in front
of all the industry heads, and that's awesome. But these
events that we're talking about are like from people that
can just be from anywhere. You don't need to be
a pro skater to show up at these events and
be a part of the mix and the community. And
so for you as a pro skateboarder to be in
the mix with everyone, it's just so cool and I
(27:29):
feel like you're always vibing with everyone and making it
really about you add so much value to that event
or those events. So anyways, I think it's cool that
those are on your yearly calendar and that you make
the trip. It's not easy to travel from Brazil all
the way out here, so very appreciated. All right, everyone,
(27:50):
We're going to take a quick ad break. We'll be
right back. Well, okay, So you have such an amazing
scene down there. There's such a big women's street skate scene,
and I feel like it's just growing every year. I've
(28:12):
got to highlight some people that I've been there for
a long time. Can you tell us about Pepa and
her mag and just filmer of the Year, Like why
does Pepa matter? Tell us about Peppa Susa Pipa?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
So Pipa.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I know Peopa c cl wise ten year, eleven years
old because I started watching videos and I remember the
first video I watched, like from girls skating people, whys
on this video?
Speaker 4 (28:45):
So whise.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
We can't do it? The name of the video, Yeah,
we can't do it. So I watch this video and
I sell people for the first time skating like another
black girls skating?
Speaker 4 (29:00):
No way, you know, like it's possible.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
I can't film it too, because in my mind just
uh was just contest skaters, you know, so was on
the first time I saw girls skating, and h I
start to all get crazy with people.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
So uh, A few years later I saw her.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
I met her in real life when I when I
was fourteen years or fifteen years old in Pasa Kins.
It's a biggie plaza in real and she was there
and I was no way. I was crying, like and
I tell her like how she was crazy skating for me,
(29:46):
like and importance and uh and super I'm super proud
of her because she's just getting bigger and bigger. She
she's doing a magazine here in Brazil, is the only
femo magazine here and Into the Mijo the name of
the magazine is Into the Mijo. And she's doing great,
(30:10):
you know, like she's doing a great job. Like she's
she's doing like she she's getting us space, you know,
like for girls that don't have.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I don't know, like I.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Hope for some reason, you know, or no space in
the magazine is here in Brazil have like I mean
now I think I have one or two magazines in
Brazil and people is in the one is one of them.
So two magazines and uh and the one magazine if
(30:49):
you open is just one girl that's crazy and People's magazine.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
Like Man of Girls.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
So she's doing part and for us, and she's filming now.
She already dropped her two videos or a three, I
think it's two or three videos. And she's filming so good,
so good. Sometimes I film me with her here and
she's sick. And is that why I think she deserves.
I think she deserves even more, you know, because she
(31:22):
she's been doing so much stuff for so skating for
us for too long, like almost twenty years. She's been
doing some stuff for us like improving our skating, like
try to open space for us.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Like two I don't know, to help us. So she
deserves for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Big shout out, big shoutout. In fact, we'll get her
the crew shout out for this week. I feel like
community work, ripping skateboarder and just like levels up all
the time, Like so much work goes into making a magazine.
So much work does end up putting together a skate
video and underfunded at that, and then to make sure
(32:07):
it's about women and general expensive skateboarding, and just like
from her perspective so so cool. Your Element Search video
just dropped. That's to you, award whending you Women's Skater
of the Year. It just happened. What are you building towards? Now?
Where do you go from here? Victoria?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
So now I want to film a potch but independent
part to like stay I don't know, spend one year
when you didn't have filming, because I feel like seees
my first video for Treasure Them.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
For Azau.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
I feel that I'm always dropping videos but without time,
you know, with a shot headline, so like maybe sometimes
it's four months, sometimes it's like six months. And I
felt like, you know, I could do more, you know,
I want And I think she is a feeling of
our skaters because I think we always feel that we
(33:09):
can do more, we should do more, or we can't
feel me more.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
But I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
I think I need g's, you know, I need to
I want to feel me GI spots just for me,
you know, no brands evolved, just my my only time
and my my only countries and all my only spots.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
You know, like I don't know, no pressure, you know, yeah,
I mean we all want that part, and I think
there's something real about what you said is like, you've
been so busy since you got started on this whole journey,
and all the trips you go on, you know you
need to show up and get clips, and they all
go to whoever sent you out to that spot. So
(33:54):
if you're on an Element trip, those clips are going
to Element. You're on a Dida trip, those clips are
going to do an Adidas project. But how cool would
it be if you at the time the resources to
just do it on your own, do it your own
way with your people. I feel like the part would
be the most like expressive.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Of you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Actually, So what do you need luck with this week?
Do you need some luck? Jesus week?
Speaker 3 (34:23):
I need you luck the next week because I'm going
on a trip with me and Vittoria. Were going to
skate with Mighty. My day is in Brazil.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
She she's in north western Brazil.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Yeah, I think she's gonna live here soon, you know,
because I think she is. She's gonna move to Brazil
soon because she's always coming here now. And so she's
in gcity that called Salvador, and we're going to skate
with her there and film her and Shu Shu it's
our friends and so gonna be a girl's trip. And
(35:03):
I think I think we need we need some good luck.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Okay, Well, this is a heavy lineup. It sounds hectic
and rowdy and fun. So you're gonna need some luck
with good spots, clips and hydration.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
And thoughts, you know.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Yeah, oh my gosh. Well, maybe we can tune into
that trip somehow post some clips of the making of it.
That sounds epic and such a good lineup of people. Okay,
my day in Brazil. What a what a little world traveler.
I love this. You have such great people you get
to skate with. It's really cool. Well that wraps up
(35:43):
this episode of Good Luck with that. What an honor
to have Victoria Mendoza on the podcast. We are so
stoked to have you here. I feel like we get
so much to look forward to this year from you.
And yeah, thank you so much for being a guest.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Thank you, Ashley.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
And I mean, I'm a shoe learning English, So sorry
about anity, you know, but I'm super hyped to express
myself and to speak with you and have space here too,
I don't know, to have this conversation too, to share
some some stuffs about myself.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
According to.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Good Luck with That is an iHeart women's sports production
and partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. We are
your hosts Ashley Rayfield, Dora of Askenzello's, and Alex White.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Produced by Tarry Harrison, Daniel Goodman and Grace Views. Listen
to good Luck With That, a skateboarding podcast, on iHeartRadio, app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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