Nathan Penonzek is a world traveller. He was recently in Australia for a few weeks hanging out, travelling & riding a little. While here we managed to take up a little of his time to go through a few things… read on.

Please describe what you’ve doing for the past 5 years (ie. countries you’ve travelled to, places you’ve lived, languages you’ve learnt, adventures you’ve had…)
Well, a few years back I drove my van from Canada to Chile, took over a year, riding with each local scene in every country along the way. Then was back between Europe and North America. Now was just in Australia for three months, and am in New Zealand at the moment.

I have not really lived if not stayed places in the past years, between Spain, Morocco, Panamá, Chile, Canada.

Most memorable moments; Sailing for two weeks all through the south of Tasmania, meeting Richard Branson, Fishing in Mexico, Sailing in the San Blas Islands, Rowing across georgia strait in my wooden dory. Getting lost in the fog on my friends boat in the north sea. Hiking in the grand canyon. Playing guitar with David Sinclair. Buying my house and planting a garden, making it into a real rider house. Camping alone with my bike and backpack in some lost forest of Sweden, Flying as co-pilot from the San Roque islands in Venezuela. Sailing down the splendid California coast, helping Ricky Roich build a roof in Floronapolis Brasil. Driving around Cuba in a caravan with three gran mates, Mario(Chile) Pablo and Riad (Spain). The trip to the south of Chile through the mountains, walking across the border from Argentina with a mexican blanket to keep warm, and the warmth of the wood stove on arrival to Balmaceda, that same trip, salmon and máte while working on Mario´s farm. The nights with Yoyo and Maria de la Paz in Pichilemu Chile, playing music with the Jaramillos, riding horses at sunset along long strands of virgin coastline. Smoking a cigar with my father laying back looking at the stars and talking with him, the trip we did together in Poland to see our family history. Driving along from Spain to Greece all along the coastline, and on entry into Athens, it was as if Zeus was unleashing with massive thunder and lightning storm. Waking up in a mountain the next day to find the car covered in snow. Having wine and telling stories with my grandfather over a bottle of wine down at Soames point. Málaga, Spain and the escapes into the mountains each weekend on my scooter, the parties. Riding a mountain bike across northern Morocco through the weed plantations all the way to the Atlantic coast with Riad. Crashing my car with no insurance. Going to jail in the US and getting beat up by the guards. Riding around Lumbock island in Indonesia with Riad, the colour, and the people. China and the wild traditions witnessed, chicken feet and exercising groups of workers. Breaking down in the middle of the night in the Texan desert. Athens Georgia, the live music and energy, the people. Riding with Phil Dolan in Bath England and the adventures that insued. Living with Phil Dolan haha!! Long Beach sessions til late, Huntington Beach days when Flatland was the only thing on my mind and the scene was amazing. Portugal worlds contest 1998, opened my eyes and ears to so much, what a grand contest that was. Christmas in Melilla with Maria and family, another experience that truly changed me. The excitement of buying my first sailboat. Meeting in the fall coloured mountains of South Korea a Shao lin on a trail, and being invited to his temple, sitting and listening to his point of view on life. OK, that´s enough.

Languages: English, Spanish is excellent, French spoken is alright, Portuguese is so so, Japanese spoken not too bad but not good either, a little German englishized, some Italiano, words of Greek.

How has it been living in South America? Was that always a goal with having learnt fluent Spanish?
Spanish, I have always wanted to learn the language, ever since I was very young, it is a little bit obsessive at times, but it´s a good language and culture to be passionate about, as life is kept interesting. I remember as a little kid I could sing or try and dance, or try, to La Bamba, ahahaha, and last night here in Auckland danced and sang to it 20 years later at a costume party, the guy dressed as a marinero won ! hahaha.

So how did you end up coming to Australia? How have you found travelling in Australia? Would you consider living here for some time?
I ended up coming to Australia because I found a cheap ticket, haha. I always wanted to come, and came close a number of times, it was just hard when I was so into the contest scene to break all the way down under, and sponsors didn´t or wouldn´t pay for ticket, soooo had to wait until now, now that I have more time but less money. While I was in Australia I worked a little bit touring boats down the Murrey river, also did a translating job for a machine company in Argentina that sells its products to a company in NSW. I have found traveling in Australia interesting, much different from all that I am used to, the language did take a bit of adapting to, I remember I had more difficulty at times with the farmers here than the Argentinean engineer. haha. Honestly I wouldn´t consider living in Australia, it is too far away from all the places and people I love, but of course would come back and spend some time, not unless my heart was stolen by one of your sheilas, then I guess I would have to do a switch that brought me down unda.
What is your take on BMX/flatland these days? Will the world ever see you getting back into it again like a few years ago?
These days I enjoy just jamming with the boys, not competitive like I was, my time is focussed on other things, and no, I don´t believe I will ever be as fanatic about flatland as I was. When you are fifteen it´s easy to just see one thing and your world is fully into just that, but once you see and taste so many different things in life, your realize there is so much more, I think Phil Dolan was my maestro as it were in this.

What does the future hold for you?
Well, in 18 minutes I find out on one of those bidding web pages if I end up with the sail boat that I put a bid in for here in New Zealand. On which I would like to sail around the north island, exploring a bit of this wonderful land. I will return to Los Angeles in April, then May will have me as a judge in the south of France at a contest FISE organized by Alain Massabova. From there I will take my mother to Ireland as it is her dream to return as she was there in the 50s as a little girl. Maybe return to Spain and catch up with old mates and take a Spanish exam. Summer in North America should have me back in Canada. From here til now, we´ll just have to see. In 14 minutes life may direct me onto the water, we´ll see.

Any final words or thanks?
Final words, hmmm I think I have talked too much already, but would like to thanks everyone who helped me along the way, Simon, Tommy in Sydney, Greg in Melbourne, Brado, Woodo and Lenny in Tassie, Launceston, Josh in Hobart, thanks for making the Aussie experience a great one.

Ciao amigos.

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