Justin talks about Barcelona, his second pro model, his boxer company Silo and Derby Park...

There is a lot of hype around Barcelona and rightly so, but what’s so appealing about it to you?
Well, I’ve been coming out here for a while so I’m just used to it. A lot has changed in the last five or so years, but it’s still a great city. I feel sorry for skaters who come over here now for the first time because they have no idea of how it used to be. Now it’s a lot more expensive and certain freedoms have definitely been restricted. That said, it’s still a great lifestyle and there are still a shit load of spots to skate.

What’s your favorite skate spot in Barcelona?
It just depends on the mood. On lazy days Shier and I would always play heated games of S.K.A.T.E. on the Barcelonetta banks on the way to the beach... those were some good times! This summer I’ve actually been enjoying skating at MACBA which is definitely kind of strange because I would rarely skate there over the past few years. Favorite spot? I really couldn’t say.

So how is your second pro model, the Strubing 2 feeling? Any feedback?
So far I’ve just been squeezing my foot into the sample size, but from what I can tell, I’m psyched.

What was the inspiration behind the Strubing 2?
Well, my previous shoes have been kind of bulky so I just wanted to slim it down a bit and come out with a simpler shoe. It’s funny because last summer out here in Barca I was drawing up ideas for this shoe on napkins and whatnot and this summer I’m wearing almost exactly what I had sketched. It’s a trip.

Who did the artwork on your shoe?
My friend Alex Castañeda did the insole artwork for both of my shoes. He’s done art for a lot of European [skate] companies and for quite a few American brands as well. He can also do anything he wants to on a skateboard.

You’ve been skating for a while now. Who were your biggest influences coming up?
My influences changed with the eras. The first video I ever saw was Future Primitive so my first influences were the Bones Brigade. Next came the Sick Boys video. Most of my early influences were covered in that video. If you haven’t seen either of those videos, you should! A lot of skaters have influenced me over the years... but if I start naming names it wouldn’t fit in the catalog. Let’s just say I’ve always been influenced by raw skating and usage of the urban environment - i.e. S.F. and East Coast style.

Favorite Santa Cruz graphic of all time?
Damn, there were a lot of good ones. I liked the Grosso and Jason Jessee graphics a lot, but I’d probably have to go with an SMA graphic. The Julien Stranger syringe or what ever it was called. That one or the Natas Kitten and Yarn because it was a mini so I rode a bunch of them.

What’s up with Silo?
Silo is me and brother’s boxer short company and hopefully you can find them in a skate shop near you. There is a bit of a buzz out there and orders are going out. It’s been a good experience. We also have a sick team.

Got any good Derby Park stories?
A lot of fun sessions and a lot of great memories. One good story isn’t coming to mind, but over the years a lot did go down on that small awkward slab of concrete. I definitely remember having a broken neck and skating there in my neck brace like an idiot. That’s how fun skateboarding is- fun enough to put your neck on the line!

Hip to hip frontside ollie. Photo: Dominick