Skateboarding in eastern europe looks a bit different, doesn’t it? Some might say its rough and some might say there are not enough sunny days. At least over in Latvia & Lithuania that’s what it might seem like. But I shit you not, this year I skated in -10 C, freezing cold on the 2nd of January and it was the coldest session I hav ever had. That was the second time me and my buddy Lloyd from Wales skated the brand new bowl in Vilnius. We were struggling to feel our toes.. But it was completely dry and still a fun session, even though we could only do 40 minutes max. Both of us we are expats, enjoying the fruits of Lithuanian life. Sorry, I meant – enjoying Cepelinai – the Lithuanian Potato dumplings, the epic, not much skated spots, the awesome girls and super cheerful local life. You know what they say? Happiness is being Lithuanian! Well I am from Latvia, so I’m not too different I’d like think…
I firmly believe it’s important to live in the same place as where you have grown up. I love to notice the seasons change, walking through Latvian forests and sniffing the so familiar fresh air. It just brings me right back to being 12 years old, stuck in an appartment building and waiting for the bricks to dry. I love home and Lituanians are like brothers and sisters to me, that’s why I always come home and never stay too long living abroad like I did in Barcelona or London. People used to always ask me if I would move to California, skate there and pursue my career close to the bubble. “I’ll go visit,” I’d say, but I have a strong urge to see my parents back home. Sometimes I just miss ice bathing or cocooning at home and hibernating. These limbs need some strengthening and living the endless summer lifestyle is nice, but perhaps not for me. A good balance perhaps is right? Maybe I should film a street part snowboarding? Ahh, it’s too dangerous…
Recently I bought an HPX out in California, so it films in the NTSC format, which is compattible with other American made cameras. I wanted to make sure I can do the same thing at home as when travelling with Element or other brands. Now I can finally stay home and stay productive… Well that is the dream I have been working for, you know? Survival by skate or die! The cities of Vilnius and Kaunas have both been built on hills, so there’s lots of stairs, handrails, cool hillbombs and it’s good for cardio too. I don’t want to brag about it, but what the hell? Come on over and shred your butts on our hills, it’s gonna be cool, make sure to stop by Commune DIY in Vilnius for a propper welcome. You know, it’s a commune here and there are plenty of Cepelinai for everyone, so don’t worry. You are bound to eat! And I mean no food or water before you land your trick, that’s right!!!
The homie Wes Kremer recently just came to Lithuania and on his way to the airport, about to go home he kept saying: “Kaunas… Kaunas… Gotta get back to Kaunas”. He just wants to skate there, no cameras, no nothing, just doing laps. It’s a dream spot built by my Latvian friends from Mind Work Ramps, this time not as a skatepark, but as an urban space below the BLC business centre. Wes would tell me: “We have to keep it a secret, low key, so this shit don’t blow up, you know? And we could keep it to ourselves.. or maybe Franky Villani could come here and show this place to the world with his manouvers.” This might sound a bit like surfing, but do not be mistaken, I felt the same way the first time I got there. God bless the Baltics for this skatespot.
Don’t be shy and reach out to the locals for their shpatz, everyone is welcome here. And it’s good to know where to go, hit me up and I’ll try to point you the right direction and I promise to come skate Poland as well, let’s stick together and appreciate the beauty that is so unique to our urban spaces. Have a happy winter and hopefully the bricks below your window dry fast. See you when the flowers bloom!
Tekst: Madars Apse
Photography: Kuba Bączkowski
