Brazilian skater Luiz Francisco is currently #2 in the World Skate Men’s Skateboard Park rankings, behind American Heimana Reynolds, after finishing second at both the International Skateboarding Open in Nanjing, China and the Park Skateboarding World Championships in his hometown of São Paulo, Brazil.
Known for his fast skating and fluid style, and for bringing big surprises to his contest runs, he’s been devoting some of 2020 to filming video parts, showing off his street skating, and proving he’s much more than just a contest skater.
We caught up with him by phone in São Paulo, where he’s been spending time with his father Wanslei, mother Enilda, and brother Andre, and taking advantage of the downtime. The worldwide contest pause has given him time to take care of an overdue surgery, prep for his 20th birthday celebration later this month, and plot new tricks and new lines now that he’s fought his way to podium-contender status on the road to the Tokyo Olympics.
What does that #2 World Skate ranking mean to you, especially now that all of the 2020 contests have been canceled or postponed?
I have no words to explain it. I’m super excited and I can’t wait for the next contests. I hope we get to have some contests this year! But last year was amazing: it was my best year in contests and I’m glad to be in 2nd place in the world and 1st place in Brazil, knowing that even just qualifying for the Brazilian team was always going to be a challenge. There are so many great skaters.
That ranking is based on your two best results last year, one in China and one in Brazil. Let’s start by talking about those two contests.
China is crazy and the contest in Nanjing for the International Skateboarding Open was super crazy. The day of the contest it was super hot, but all the Brazilians and all the skaters were on a good vibe and the crowd was super hyped, not just cheering for their country or their friends: they were super hyped for everyone.
And then São Paulo, that’s my local park. Contests in Brazil are… different. The crowd is crazy! Heimana Reynolds won, I got 2nd, and my friend Pedro Quintas got 3rd, so we had two Brazilians on the podium and Pedro Barros and Mateus Hiroshi were also in that final, so half the guys in the final were from Brazil. It was wild. For me, I think it was the best contest of the year.
You did really well at Dew Tour, too.
When I was a kid I was watching the Dew Tour every year. Last year was my second time competing there and my second time making the final, and this time I got 4th. I was so happy! The park was super fun and I’ve got a lot of friends in California: Brazilians and Americans. I can’t wait until the next one.
How’s it going down there in Brazil?
Pretty good. A lot of shops and things are still closed. I’m getting ready for shoulder surgery this week. It’s dislocated, like always. I’m in physical therapy because I keep injuring my knee and my shoulder. I’ve been skating a little bit but I’ve mostly been chilling here in São Paulo with my dad and my mom, my family. I have nothing to do like trips or skate contests. The break’s been good but bad at the same time, you know?
Tell me about this new Volcom video part, Truly Rat, that just came out last week. People who know you mostly as a park skater might be surprised by it.
We filmed that over a few months beginning in January and it was super fun, just in the street. I want people to know who the real Luiz is. They just know Luiz from the contests and not Luiz the skater. For the next one, we want to do a big one with transition, street, everything. I can’t wait to put it together.
What’s on your mind as you look to the Olympics in 2021?
For real, I really don’t know if they can have it and nobody really knows if it will be confirmed, but I hope they do. I can’t wait! I’m in 2nd, I know I have transition skills, and I want to compete there. It’s different: it’s the Olympics, and the whole world will be watching. I want to make history, make the Olympics, maybe win it. That would be crazy.
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You, Pedro Barros, Pedro Quintas… that’s a heavy Brazilian squad for the Olympic team if the top three went by the current standings. Maybe a Brazilian podium sweep?
I don’t think the U.S. guys are going to let that happen but every Brazilian skater is so good. Everybody’s doing physical training, practicing new tricks, getting everyone together to keep skating and pushing each other. Pedro Barros is a legend in Park, and the younger guys like me and Pedro Quintas and my friend Mateus Hiroshi are really hungry for it. Murilo Peres, too.
So what’s ahead for you for the rest of 2020?
For the next two months it’s going to be chill, not so much skating, lots of physical therapy. And then my plan is skate, skate, skate, all the days.
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