Angelina DIY with Daniel Galli

First of all, why Angelina? Where did that name come from?

DG: Well, Angelina was the name of my dear grandmother who passed away a few months before we started editing the video. When I suggested this name, without even saying what it meant, the people liked it and that’s how it became. And naturally, after the premiere and the first event, everyone started calling the DIY Angelina, so I was very happy that the honour became something even bigger. R.I.P ANGELINA GALLI.

How and why did you start building the spot?

DG: We had the idea of doing the premiere at the Estação bar, our friend Alano who worked there always supported us even though the owners of the bar weren’t really into skateboarding. I had the idea of doing something more than just playing the video and I thought I’d do a skate session, I just didn’t know where. Speaking of which, DEF showed us the spot that is currently Angelina and we went there to check it out the same week and started building a few days before the premiere. The head of this first build was Dalmo, who already had a lot of experience, and with the help of Pia, Black, Ricardinho, Lui, Telmo, Adilson, Dutinha, Ricardo cara de X, Jellype, Marina and a few other people who turned up, we started DIY. After that, with a lot of help from the community and Cyber, more important people arrived to make it what it is today, such as Romulo, Ninja, Mafra, Wesley and Iqui, who also added to the obstacles of the old Galpão.

How does the city benefit from it? And what was the impact on the Portuguese skate scene?

DG: I think a spot like Angelina and where it’s located can only be good for everyone. It’s in the centre and easy to access with the train right in front, some obstacles are perfect and some are very different, I think everyone can ride and have fun regardless of their skateboarding level.

What are the pros and cons of DIY? Why is it so important? 

DG: I think the pros are countless things, from the pleasure of building and then skateboarding on the peak you built yourself to seeing other people skate the spot in different ways, choosing the type of obstacle to build and even choosing where the DIY will take place, in our case on a peak facing the river, sunset and all that hahaha. And of course, that ‘fear’ of not knowing how long it will last, of the people who frequent it not looking after it as you do, of obstacles being stolen, as has already happened at Angelina, and the difficulty both financially and in terms of labour - everyone works or studies, so to get together and build it is sometimes a little difficult. The important thing is to keep the flame burning, the spirit of togetherness, the laughs, the sessions, the barbecues and the moments that skateboarding provides.

The spot received some obstacles for another spot that was destroyed: Galpão. How did the idea come and how did you manage to do it?

DG: The Galpão began with Matheus, Madruguinha, Rivaldo, Lucio and other skateboarders who discovered the place. They cleaned up the space, built simple obstacles and started using the place regularly. When Carlos Iqui moved in nearby, he led a major clean-up effort. With the help of Romulo and the community, they transformed the Galpão into one of the best spaces for skateboarding, with a roof, ample space and a perfect floor.

Unfortunately, less than a year later, the site was sold for the construction of a supermarket. The owners gave us a week to remove the obstacles. It was then that Iqui suggested moving the obstacles to Angelina. With the support of Cybercafé, who helped financially, and the use of a crane, they managed to transport the two ledges, weighing almost a tonne each, for 25 kilometres. A task that seemed impossible became a reality in just a few days.

I’m very happy that the space is really being used and to see the events always full, all that energy, is really cool! The best thing in my opinion is the concern to always try to give something back to the community.

What would be the next plan for the spot? 

DG: I think the first thing we should get together and do is paint the ground, the soil there is very thick so a coat of paint, preferably the rubbery kind, would really save the shapes and the skin hahaha. And then continue the tetris of building new and different peaks.

Are there any plans for a new DIY in Lisbon?

DG: I think that wherever you put a rub brick on the pavement, it’s already another DIY that’s taking shape and so on!