Among the many great things about the promise of skateboarding, high among them is seeing people given an opportunity to sidestep gatekeeping through talent alone.

Unique to the World Skateboarding Tour is the sheer width of our international talent draw. Supporting that fact is an IOC initiative called the Youth Athlete Development fund, through which we identify skateboarders of untapped potential in nations where the support infrastructure for contemporary youth activities is not yet commensurate with their individual ability. Among those which the YAD identified is nineteen-year-old Juan Polania, from Bogotá in Colombia.

His 2021 Junior Pan-American Games bronze medal win in his own native Colombia, in the words of one with insight, helped change the perception of the governments of not just his own, but neighbouring nations about skateboarding’s potential to engage young people.That a local Colombian street skater won a prestigious Pan-American medal in his own backyard, in what is undeniably a massive continental event, was, in its own way, quite seismic.

After making his World Skateboarding Tour debut at the 2022 WST Sharjah World Championship, Juan again rejoined us in Italy once again ready to rip and came a commendable 28th place at the WST Rome World Championships just this last month past.Besides his innovative and fluid skating- which includes every variation of the Gonz grind you can imagine, and done in a way which might draw comparisons with Donny Barley’s different ability- Juan is one of those effervescent personalities who always seem to be on the sunny side of the street. That, surely is something we could use a little more of in our lives, and so through our much-appreciated Natalia Sanchez we followed up with Juan, just after he made it back home to Colombia from his Italian experience.

The purpose of this interview is to hopefully shine a little more light on the story so far of someone who is not only a very talented, but humble skateboarder who is taking his chances to shine as they present themselves to him. As such, he represents part of skateboarding’s Latin American new-wave who are expressing themselves from every nation on the continent these days. But Juan’s background made his success in life very far from certain. We will let him tell us all more, here: enjoy getting to know the man himself, coming at us live and direct from Colombia.

All photos: Kenji Haruta

Hi Juan, tell us a little bit about the skate scene in Bogotá these days: where do people usually meet up?

The skateboarding scene in Bogotá is vibrant- and constantly evolving. This city has become a hotspot for major events, which have brought together Colombia’s top skaters. We’ve seen the rise of collectives and organisations like Progreso Skateboarding- which is working to promote the sport- but not just locally, across Latin America. They use high-quality audiovisual productions to showcase the culture and passion behind it.

But, in Bogotá- skateboarding is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life… a culture that’s deeply embedded in the identity of the people who skate here.

The local skaters here have built a tight-knit community that’s driven by passion and our shared love for skating. You will find us gathering together in places like Tercer Milenio Skatepark or some of our other iconic spots… Fonta Bar del Río, El Japón, and Las Margaritas Skatepark. They aren’t just skate spots; they’re hubs- where our community comes together, where we express ourselves, and where the culture continues to grow. 

What does an average day at home look like for you?

A typical day for me at home… starts at 7AM.

I get up, take a shower, and have breakfast. Then I prepare everything I need for the day and head out by around 8:30… that’s when my training begins.

I meet with my coach and other athletes, and we start with a gym session, focusing on strength training, endurance, and mental conditioning… because your mindset is just as important as your physical strength, when you’re skating.

In the afternoon, I usually go swimming for a while- and after that, it’s all about skating for the rest of the day.

When evening comes, I head back home, have dinner with my parents, and, if I need to, I’ll edit footage for my videos, or work on my English lessons. Once I’m done with all that, I wind down and get ready for bed- making sure I recharge for another full day of skating, and training!

Kickflip Front Board

Yourself, Jhancarlos Gonzalez and Camilo Henao are part of the new wave putting Colombia on the skateboarding map today...

As a kid, I’d always be out skating, recording every session, and pushing myself harder. It paid off. I started competing at a young age and winning right from the first contest I entered. That’s when I knew this was more than just fun— this was my way to survive, my way to chase my dreams. As I got older, it became clear that skating was my future. I even dropped out of school. My teachers made me feel like I’d never amount to anything because of my skateboard. They told me I was wasting my time. But I never lost faith in myself. I knew skating was my calling. So I made the decision to leave school behind and dedicate myself 100% to skating. During that time, I started competing in national events all over Colombia. I kept winning, and every victory meant I could bring food home to my family.

The support from Colombian brands, the Skating Federation, and even sports segments in the media is crucial. Those are the platforms that give us athletes the visibility and encouragement we need to keep pushing forward. It’s thanks to those reasons that Colombia remains firmly on the global skateboarding map- it gives skaters the sense that we’re not doing this alone; there’s a whole network of support behind us.

What are the realistic sponsorship opportunities in South America these days?

In Colombia, there’s a lot of excitement when it comes to skateboarding- one of the key opportunities is the support from the Ministry of Sports. They’ve been actively supporting Colombian skaters in international competitions, which shows the government’s dedication to developing skateboarding as a sport in our country- which is a big step forward for all of us involved.

Here in Colombia, not all brands have the resources to support skaters the way we truly deserve. There are so many talented skateboarders here, but the brands can’t always provide the kind of backing that could make a real difference. For example, we don’t have the luxury of changing shoes every 20 days or getting a new board every 15 days, which is what a serious skater needs. So, you learn to survive with the little that the Colombian skate scene offers.

But I have to give credit to Mostro Skateboarding, a brand that has supported me with the boards I need to train and compete. They’ve been a huge help. There’s also a brand called Monkeys Skate that distributes American-made shoes. They’ve made sure I’m comfortable with the shoes I need for skating. Without this kind of support, it would’ve been much harder to keep progressing. I trained harder, learned more, and focused on becoming the best skater I could be.

Beyond that, the Colombian Skating Federation is another huge player- they offer a platform for skaters to connect with potential sponsors and secure financial backing for our careers. The Federation also organizes national and international competitions, which bring more attention to the scene and help us get the exposure we need to grow. 

Thanks to the support from Colombian skate brands and the Federation, I’ve been able to keep pushing forward in turning my dreams into reality. 

Nosebluntslide

What has been your favourite place to visit, so far?

Dubai, and Rome- both places were… absolutely incredible. I had the chance to compete there, and hang out with some of my favourite skaters- which was a dream come true. I’m so proud of being able to represent my country on such big stages, and my time in Rome was especially memorable, because I made it to the quarterfinals.

That was a huge achievement for me… one of the highlights of my life.

I want to say a big thank you to World Skate, the Olympic Committee, and the Colombian Skating Federation for giving me these opportunities- and for helping create such unforgettable memories.

Skateboarding has given me so much- I’m grateful for everything. 

You are a teammate of Jazmin Alvarez, who hurt her knee during practice for the Paris Olympic Games- that must have been devastating for everybody in your team, not just her?

It wasn’t just devastating for her, but for the entire team... and all her followers, too. No-one saw it coming; I think it had a real impact on Colombian skaters, as well- because Jaz was representing all of us. Her loss was a blow that rippled through our whole community.

Backside 360 Nosegrab

There seems to be a group of South Americans coming through who are all knocking on the door of a big World Skateboarding Tour result- I’m thinking of you, Deivid Tuesta from Peru, Mauro Iglesias from Argentina and Gabryel Aguilar from Brazil, specifically here- what does it take to break into the top tier? Is old-fashioned luck part of it?

It’s not just about luck- discipline, and focus… are the real keys to standing out in skateboarding. Getting to the top level requires time, effort, dedication- but also the right mindset. You have to stay positive and focused on your goal; but, above all, you’ve got to enjoy the process.

That’s where the magic happens- when you’re fully immersed in the journey. 

Alley-Oop Backside Ollie to fakie 50-50

Here’s the microphone: what would you like to say to the world out there?

My Dad works collecting trash and recycling on the streets. One day, while he was out working, he found a beat-up skateboard; not a professional one, just an old Variflex that someone had thrown away. He brought it home and gave it to me. From that moment on, my love and respect for skateboarding has only grown deeper. I realised how much it could change my life, how far it could take me. Skateboarding has given me a path, kept me on track, and gave me hope that I could pull my family out of the situation we were in. I want to tell the world to make the most of every opportunity life throws at you- don’t hold back. Push your talents to their limits. Believe in yourself, because if you do… dreams really do come true.