An interview with Daryl Dominguez

Photo Kelly Van Vugt

So you’ve grown up skating in London, do you feel the place and people have molded your skating?
Yeah, naturally its going to I think. The London scene is massive and always has been since I started skating. More so now than ever probably. I'm quite fortunate in that sense because there's never a shortage of people to go skating with and new faces to meet. London has definitely made me appreciate good weather when it comes around and in terms of skating I would say it has as well. Nick Jensen and Tom Knox are the most creative utilisers of London architecture and have definitely opened my eyes to what is possible on these grey London streets.

Couldn't agree more. Conversely, you're quite well traveled could you see yourself living anywhere other than London?
Definitely, I'm sort of in a position where I'm trying to figure that one out. I've been based here basically my whole life. I'm actually going away in 2 weeks for about 5-6 months so maybe somewhere along the way will reach out to me. I like constantly being on the move but I haven't really been able to live that kind of lifestyle until recently. I love it, each day is simply just more vibrant. I don't earn a wedge so I don't see myself living in London, the housing scheme in London is the worst its ever been and you have to literally work your nut off just to get by. I've always liked Bristol though, amazing house parties, good, tight knit scene both musically and skating. People in general give you much more time of day and its also miles cheaper.

You recently graduated from university did you struggle to maintain a balance between travelling ( both for personal and skating reasons) and studying?
Haha yeah I honestly think I did! I really enjoyed the course that I studied which was actually surprising cause at the start I really didn't think I would. But I got really into it. What I've come to realise now is that you can appreciate skating a hell of a lot more when you have other priorities, every time I went skating I was loving it because I wasn't sitting in a library. I could surrender to it much easily. I studied drama and loads of times I would bullshit my tutors so I could go on trips, I remember one time there was a 9 day trip to Gran Canaria with Almost and I told my tutors that I discovered my biological father and I had to go and seek him out. It worked too! I was even reading and writing essays in hotel rooms on trips and stuff.

Aha yeah I can definitely relate to that those library sessions are just as good as watching a skate video because you just get hyped and sidetracked and want to just go skate! Was staying on to go to university a personal choice? It’s pretty common for skaters to drop out of education if there’s a chance of pursuing skateboarding as a career.
Ultimately it was my choice, yes. But kind of did it for the wrong reasons really: All my friends did, it would give me 3 years of financial security, I wanted to keep the parents happy etc so I just applied for drama cause that is what I got the highest grades in college. I deferred for a year and that's when I started travelling and skating all the time and things started picking up. I wasn't in a position where I could live off it though so when the time came I decided to go anyway.

Fs Lipslide. Photo CJ

But now you're graduated that must be a great relief. You’ve been a part of Vans for numerous years it must be pretty rad to see a company willing to back you and involve you in projects, especially in a time where sponsor changes are so popular.
Of course and I'm stoked! Even though I'm not physically using the degree per say, I've learnt and grown so much in those years and that's much more important than material things. Vans have given me a lot of love over the years and Powley has backed everything that I've done 100% and I'm super grateful. I feel as though the past year has been really quiet in terms of team/video projects the past year or so - hopefully that picks back up...

 You’ve had quite a few notable parts, full lengths and solo (Excursions, Albion etc), does your filming method change depending on who you’re filming with or what it’s for?
Yeah depending on the type of project it will work differently, but fundamentally I try and keep it the same. A good balance of just simply going out skating and getting specifics. Each filmer works differently as well. I'm working on two things at the moment and their both very different things

Can you shed any light on these new projects aha? Do you develop any OCD’s or rituals when you’re out filming?
Yeah, I've got a part in Will Miles' 'Tallboy' - that's all the homies in London. We've gone on trips to Lisbon, Athens and Paris for it too. Me and Austin Bristow are working on a little something too but I'm gonna keep that one at that for now. No OCD's as far I'm aware, just got to go with the moment. I'm known for having battles and a lot goes through my mind during that. As the years go on I've come to enjoy that situation.

Fs 5050. Photo CJ

Would you say you have a preference between say going on tour, demos, comps or filming for a part?

Honestly I just try and see them as all the same thing. Its easier to enjoy them that way. Tours are my favourite though, I've been on some amazing tours this year. I went to Vietnam via Redbull and that was the best trip I've ever been on cause it was more than just skating, you know?

Yeah I get that, I'm guessing you were able to actually take the city in on and off your board. That kind of leads onto the next question of whether you're satisfied with where you are with skating at the moment, do you have set goals you would like to achieve? Or like you rightly said to just enjoy it as it comes your way.
I just wanna be mindful of the present so I just wanna enjoy it as it comes my way. With skating I just wanna push my own mental and physical boundaries, working on projects are good for that. Then theres a whole other side of just enjoying it, having a laugh with good company...that should always be at the forefront of everything else otherwise you'll turn something you love into something insufferable. The goals for me will always be the same man - sure I'd love to make more money and reach a point where I can really just do this for a living but I'd rather get there naturally than make it the object of my obsession.

Sounds like a good place to leave it cheers Daryl any last words?
Thank you to everyone for the support - Nic Powley and everyone at Vans, Scott Howes at Dwindle, Daz at Rollersnakes and all my friends and family. Everyone whose crossed my path even if briefly! Shout out to Chrissie Gomez and Sunny Evans for truly blessing ones existence.