We had a chat with Deo Katunga about his beginnings of skateboarding, the skater look and what would make the world a better place.
And photographer Laura Kaczmarek presented him in a proper light on camera telling him beforehand: „bring some of your three favorite looks – if we have time after the sesh, maybe we can shoot something“. I know Deo has a special style of his own, which I like and just before sunset, we started the fastest shooting ever. When I took portraits on the scene, they were really full of character, strong and true. That´s the kind of photos I prefer.”
How and why did you begin skateboarding?
I´ll answer both by answering the first one. When I was little I was a very shy kid and my family would move around a bunch so I didn’t have a lot of friends, I would go to this computer café near my place at the time and I would sit there all day watching the movies that they had on their database. One day I watched the teenage mutant ninja turtles movie from 2007 and in the first scene Michaelangelo was skating some sewers and I was like: this is fucking cool. And from that point I started to skate .
What keeps you going?
What keeps me going is 3 things. First, the love of it! It´s just the feeling of being free in control and flying mixed with tha fact that you can eat shit at any moment that makes it really exciting and addictive. Second, I want to get to a point where I can go to any spot and think: damn this would look sick here. And do it! And third I have a higher goal of where I want to go, what I want to do and who I want to meet.
What’s your favorite trick and is it scary to try new tricks for you?
Favorite trick? Damn thats a weird question. I like seeing long effortless bs smiths on quarter pipes or in pools. I almost cant do them myself but watching someone do it is definitely sick. Trying new tricks is not scary at all for me, what scares me is doing a trick I know at a new spot or a place that I´m not comfortable with. But when I do it it´s that much better.
What about fashion? Is there a skater look?
I really like fashion and lately I’ve been getting even more into it reading up on some shit and what not. And yeah what pisses me off a lot is that sadly there is a skater look, it changes with the years but I fucking hate it when everyone starts looking the same and doing the same tricks freakin robots man, it´s whack. With some people its cool cuz you can see that that´s what they like and that´s who they are but most of em are just shallow people following a trend.
“Imagine, Believe, Achieve! And don’t be scared to be strange or weird or different if that´s you go for it and dont listen to what the sheep have to say cuz it doesn’t matter.”
How can we make the world a better place?
Most people would say that the world should be more tolerant and acceptant of difference and sex and whatever, but I think it´s ok cuz otherwise it would be harder for the right people to spot the real gems out of all the the simple rocks on the ground. Right now there is a nice balance between one and the other because the power and reach of an individual largely exceeds that of the herd.
Who is the most important person in your life?
It’s impossible to single out one person but family and real friends are above the rest.
Favorite city?
I haven’t visited the ones that I´m sure I would fall in love with. But from where I´ve been. Sofia, Berlin and Köln are pretty cool. Bucket list: New York, L.A.,Paris, Barcelona, London.
Favorite Food?
For salty: Pizza,Spaghetti and Sushi fo daaaayys. For Sweet: every chocolate without dark and fruits especially watermelon, I can eat a million.
Words to live by
Imagine, Believe, Achieve! And don’t be scared to be strange or weird or different if that´s you go for it and dont listen to what the sheep have to say cuz it doesn’t matter.
Peace ✌🏾️
