DOGWAY
‘Dogway is the magazine with the longest history in Spain and on its pages you can see the evolution of national skateboarding.’
Javier Menendez
Editor
Dogway skatemag
June 2023
On Redbull’s website your mag is called ‘Spain’s skate bible’. Would you agree with this statement?
Dogway is the magazine with the longest history in Spain and on its pages you can see the evolution of national skateboarding. It would not be comfortable calling it a bible but rather an encyclopedia that compiles the best that has happened in Spain over the last two decades.
Can you tell us something about yourself?
I am another one of those skaters who left his city to move to Barcelona. I always had an interest in writing and had already collaborated for some magazines. So, Patxi Pardiñas (founder and director of Dogway) offered me to be part of his project. I have always worked in the skateboarding industry, but in Madrid I was only able to do it for distributors and skateshops. Thanks to the opportunity that Dogway gave me, I have been totally immersed in a world that I am passionate about. I was a subscriber to the magazine, was featured in it as a skateboarder, and now I have the honor of being the editor. In addition to taking care of the Dogway texts, I also film and edit videos for Macba Life. I left Madrid at the age of 25 and now I’m 41. I’ve given up the nightlife a bit but basically I’m still one of those skaters who left their city behind to move to Barcelona.
‘No Spanish city compares to Barcelona.’
Barcelona is the epicentre of European skateboarding. What is the situation like in other big cities in Spain like your hometown Madrid?
No Spanish city compares to Barcelona. There are strong scenes in Madrid, Valencia, Almería and others, but they are more local and static scenes. In Madrid there has always been good skateboarding and now there are much more attractive spots than when I left, but the weather and the long distances make me not want to go back.
As per your IG you are celebrating 25th year of Dogway Mag and released 151 issues? How did it all start 25 years ago?
Patxi Pardiñas started the project in 1997. The national magazines had closed and skateboarding had lost people’s interest. Dogway was born to keep the scene united at a low point and they succeeded. 25 years have passed since then, but the philosophy remains the same.
When you look back, what has been you proudest moment?
In 25 years there has been time to do many things to be proud of. From organizing the first trip around the world to setting up a kind of King Of The Road based on Spanish skaters that resulted in unforgettable moments. But one of the things we do with the most affection is the Masterweek. It is an event in which we select nine new talents, and we take them to live the experience of a professional Skateboarding Tour. This creates the opportunity for a new generation to get to know each other despite residing in different parts of the country. We make a special magazine dedicated to the event and a video that gives them a platform to the industry. So, we can proudly say that many of the careers of Spanish skaters that are a reference today began thanks to this event.
Everything is a challenge when you decide to dedicate your life to the world of skateboarding.
Can you list a couple of names that have come through Masterweek and ended up being pros?
I could mention Stevie Culhane, who has just made his professional debut, but it’s not easy to talk about pros in Spain. The Masterweek has been attended by skaters who have acquired international relevance such as Felipe Bartolomé, Pol Catena or Mikel Vidal.
What has been the most challenging?
Everything is a challenge when you decide to dedicate your life to the world of skateboarding. To be in this, passion is essential. This sounds like a phrase you might read on a mug you find in gift shops, but it’s as true as the sky is blue.
And the most fun please?
It’s impossible to select one among all the funny moments that have happened. There have been hundreds of trips with people of all kinds, and everything has happened. I think the best answer I can give you is that skateboarding doesn’t make you a millionaire, but it does give you the opportunity to live an unforgettable youth. Everything becomes more fun when you understand that.
I was a subscriber to the magazine, was featured in it as a skateboarder, and now I have the honor of being the editor.
What has changed the past 25 years around skate publications and how did you guys adapt with Dogway to keep alive?
Until now we have remained faithful to the magazine’s format. We have reached Skateshops and from there skaters for 25 years. Our intention was to stay the same, but the rise in the price of paper has made us rethink the situation. We will work throughout 2023 on a special issue that will be published as a collectible book. This will give us the opportunity to work on the content with more time and offer readers something valuable to put on their bookshelf.
Last question. If you could interview one person, who would it be and why?
It’s the hardest. Gonz? Jason Lee? Probably Spike Jonze. Will be great to chat about the Girl/Chocolate/Lakai golden era to publish it in Spanish. I don’t know… maybe would be fun to talk with Larry David about skateboarding and immaturity.
