INTERVIEW WITH CLICHÉ’S JAVIER MENDIZABAL

Cliché’s Javier Mendizabal will be coming down to South Africa for the Quiksilver Bowlriders at Wavehouse on Thursday 16 December, so we hit him up with some questions about his previous trips to the country, his travels around the world, growing up in Spain and of course, skateboarding.

You were in South Africa a few years ago, what was your last trip like? Did you get to skate any street spots or do any tourist stuff?
My last time in South Africa was my second time over there and it was a great trip….  good times. I already knew a lot of people from my first time there when I went alone. Being alone you normally make more friends and that’s how it was the first time. Dane from Quiksilver and the rest of the crew really took care of me, showing me thousands of skate spots, going out at night, playing soccer… I had a lot of fun!!

What are you looking forward to most about coming to South Africa again?
The sun… going back to the summer is gonna be so good and then meet up with my friends over there that I haven’t seen in a while and skate some good spots and pools!

What are some of the other crazy countries you’ve toured in so far?
Probably India or deep China…  countries were the culture, the food, the language… everything is so different and the skateboarding scene is so small. But I really enjoy it, going to these countries and see how other people live!

What’s your favorite city to visit and skate?
It’s always hard to choose one, but I say New York just because I have a lot of friends there and it’s always good times!!

What was it like growing up and skating in your hometown?
I am coming from a small town in the basque country but there has always been a big skate and surf scene and it’s where the oldest skatepark in Spain is. It was a cool place to grow up, mellow but with a lot of different things to do. When I was a teenager living there the skate scene was amazing, a lot of good skaters, different styles. One of the main skate magazines was from there, people doing videos, music… I was lucky growing up there!!

What’s it like being on the Cliché team? What do you like most about it?
It’s a great team of great people and great skaters. It’s the only board company I have ridden for in my 21 years of skateboarding and I have never thought about trying to ride for any other company. I knew Jeremie and Al even before they started the company and we have an amazing relationship. They know me pretty well and they really let me do things the way I like to do things… like this photo book we did with some of my photos traveling with Cliché.

Have you been doing much other touring or filming lately? If so, please fill us in.
I’ve been spending some time at home and skating with my homies. But right now there are a lot trips coming up. I am starting my second interview for Kingpin mag here in Europe and I have to finish my Cliché commercial with Fred Mortagne.