A couple months ago, a videopart of Paolo Giannattasio was released (see HERE). It was edited by Nicola Am-brogioni and Jacopo Tardito. To promote the new section “Specials” of The Last Page, we wanted to know more about the rider originally from Battipaglia (Naples), who decided to move to Barcelona a few years ago... TXT Gallo HD / Simone Muccioli Pics Courtesy Hubert Ferroni / Luca Carta / Franco Giomi / Oscar Piljek

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You have lived in Barcelona for a few years now, why did you recently come back to Italy?I lived in Barça for about 3 years, but I had to return to Italy for family problems. Although I feel right at home in Barça, family has always been a priority for me, so I did not think twice about returning, but I’m feeling the change.Barcelona is always described as the ideal desti-nation for every skatetrip, how is it living there? Is the energy still the same?Barcelona by all accounts - including Transworld Skateboarding - is definitely the best city in the world to skate. There are many spots close to each

other, all being easily accessible by Metro and va-rious maps. You feel a different energy that can only be felt by living here-- the people are ‘turned on’ and you feel it in the air.Are there things, however, that have changed in the city?Yes, for some years now, especially since the PP (Popular Party) won. Now you experience a much colder vibe. Also, due to the high amount of tourism, the city has become more commercial, so they had to adopt a different policy. Now the police are charging more to fine people, especially on holidays. And more police,

UP BACKSIDE TAILSLIDE TRANSFERT, PARALLEL, BARCELONALEFT OLLIE, UNIVERSITY OF FISCIANO, SALERNO

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consequently, leads to more repression. It’s a city that still has its contradictions, but this does not change it from having the title of most libe-ral city, or being less hypocritical than other world capitals.Describe your perfect day:I do not have a typical day, thankfully, I’m not sche-matic. Let’s say, I wake up, I do coffee with a nice

cream :) and go for a walk. I really enjoy walking and seeing things. What fascinates me the most is that you never know what can happen to you, it can be anything or nothing.Do you have a favorite setup or fad when you go out to skate?Well, if I get a Habitat board with Ace trucks, 52mm Enjoy or Small wheels, ceramic bearings to go fa-

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UP FLIP BACK TAIL, PLAZA UNIVERSIDAD, BARCELONA

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ster and faster and a nice pair of Janosky… that will make me feel more than comfortable! I start with a backside shifty!How long did it take you to film your last video-part?Not too long! It took more or less one summer. I don’t like to stay too long trying a trick. Obviously, I wanted to come out with something good, but was

not planning to be a pro at first. We went out to skate with others and Jacopo got behind his camera. That is how it started. We basically filmed what we wan-ted. We thought of something only when we realized we had some material. But I’m never happy and I see it incomplete.What trick, if there is one, gives you the most sati-sfaction to film?

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LEFT FRONTSIDE BOARD, SALERNO UP OLLIE, CATANIA

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They are all fun and gave me satisfaction. Generally, I’m stub-born when I am set on something, so sometimes I get exhau-sted on stupid things. It also depends on what spots you like and what tricks will fit. For example, at Montbau, I never thought I could nosegrind it, I didn’t think I had that trick down anymore.And the hardest one?The hardest? It doesn’t exist because I haven’t already closed it, haha! I’ll say that the most absurd spot was where I kickflip-ped and ended up in the street. After seeing the spot, Julien said I was crazy. I actually ended up on a road that crosses Barcelona from side to side. It was dangerous, although there was a traffic light and three of us to stop cars. I wanted to varial heel flip it, but it didn’t work and we never went back there.Do you have any interesting stories about the filming ses-sions?It’s all very relative. There are people who take a month to film a single line. I’ll surely end up in a mental institution or hospi-tal! I work on good tricks and then mix them together.Coming back to the relationship with the police in Barca, I have heard strange rumors. Can you tell us more?The security is forceful and perhaps even drugged! They give as many tickets as they can, some of them up to 1500 euros for skateboarding in Plaza Universidad. They are in civilian clothes(“secreta”). Dario Federiconi knows, one night at Uni “Run, Run!” Running :) running away and not being caught is the only solution.Other than skateboarding, what are some of your other in-terests?Many. Recently, I’m into cooking. Who knows what will inspire me in 10 years...How’s the BEATSTRAW VIOLET Skatepark in Battipaglia going? Do you still manage it?That is a project that has not been monitored and/or treated. People complain, point their fingers and sit comfortably wai-ting for me to make a mistake. They do not appreciate the im-mense effort I put in. I think it was a step forward for a city that was not ready to welcome such a project, which, I think was one of the most solid projects in recent decades. Economic

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FRONTSIDE FLIP, CENTRO DIREZIONALE, NAPLES

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LEFT BACKSIDE TAIL, SALERNO UP KICKFLIP, CATANIA

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and political interests have initiated an inevitable decline, sucking the SOUL out of its true spirit and then leaving the peel to dry soil-- which is what now remains and transmits the place.How was 2011 and what are your plans for 2012? What are some of your dreams for the future?2011 has not been too bad. I skated enough and that is fundamental for me. Otherwise, I’d feel like a mi-sfit. I constantly have my board under my feet, so I don’t think that will change, even in 2012. I want to skate more and stronger. My body and mind are in balance. I’m still very fit, even though many think I

should calm down. Today is a nice sunny day and I think I’ll go to the Centro Direzionale (business di-strict) in Naples to skate. The future? For me, that is something that doesn’t exist. It’s like a slideshow. Sometimes things happen in life and make you re-alize that everything can change at any moment. When you see your plans go up in smoke, it is not so pleasant. The future is in there somewhere waiting for me and I’m going with open arms, good or bad. On the other hand, it’s part of life. The future is only the second after the present. It’s the consequen-ce of our actions interacting with external factors.