From Congreso to Escombro - four days in Madrid with the flatspot crew

Over four days, we touched down in Madrid - a city with deep roots in skate culture and an endless sprawl of spots scattered through its streets. From sun-drenched plazas tucked away in the city’s core to packed-out tourist squares and mellow green parks, Madrid's layout feels like it was made for skating.

Each day played out like a loop of good coffee, better food, and endless pavement. We rolled through the city, stopping at some of its most iconic spots. On the Tuesday, Congreso ledges were a clear standout - famous for their drop-down layout and amazing flatground, it’s one of those places we’ve seen in videos and photos for years, and skating it in real life hits different. Plaza Santa Domingo, Ermita de a Virgen del Puetro, and the steps at Palacio Real were also on the hit list, adding to the mix of classic sessions and spontaneous rolls through the city.

One of the highlights of the trip had to be spending a good chunk of Wednesday at Escombro DIY - a local gem just a quick metro ride from our apartment. The name Escombro translates to “debris,” which makes sense when you hear that the spot was built from the ground up after skaters cleared out piles of trash just to make room. Funded through donations and backed by local skate shops, it’s got that proper DIY energy, but with a layout that rivals any legit park.

There’s something for everyone - ledges, transitions, manual pads, and banks of all shapes and sizes. Bonus points for the huge supermarket just around the corner, which meant we could post up for the day and really settle in. It’s incredible to see what the Madrid skate community achieved with this place and it’s great to see the positive impact it’s had on the local skate community. It’s not every day that these types of community-lead projects are recognised by councils and in turn, allowed to remain in place, attracting skaters from all over. Proof that when a community rallies together, big things can happen.

We crossed paths with some solid locals during the trip, including skateboard legend Diego Bucchieri, which was a proper treat. We also got chatting with Juan Algora (aka Jura) too, the guy behind Madrid-based brand Damage. He put us onto a few low-key food spots and some mellow plazas we weren’t aware of yet - always a win when you get the inside scoop and get to link up with locals who live and breathe the scene out there. Between chats about skate spots and city life, they told us about the crazy weather Madrid had been getting recently - apparently, it had rained almost non-stop for a month. Safe to say, we were quite lucky with the weather we got.

We even got to hang out with Adrian Rios again while we were out there - a legendary Madrid-based skate photographer. Last time we crossed paths was in Copenhagen back in 2023 during the Nike SB photo workshop project, where he was leading the whole thing. Funny how the skate world loops back around like that - crossing paths in different cities, in totally different settings. Always a good reminder of how small (and awesome) the scene really is.

One of the things that keeps me hooked on skateboarding after all these years is how welcoming the scene is wherever you go. Local skaters showing love when you visit their city - it never gets old. And it goes both ways. When someone comes through your hometown, there’s this unspoken pride in showing them around, pointing out your go-to spots, best places to eat, and making sure they leave with a solid experience. It’s like getting to play host for a little while, and there’s something really rewarding about that.

This trip really reminded me why we do these kinds of trips in the first place. There’s something special about jumping on a plane with a crew of like-minded people - some familiar faces, some you’ve never met - and just seeing where it all takes you. No strict plans, no deadlines, barely touching your phone or laptop. Just time spent out in the streets, exploring, skating, soaking it all in.

You end up at a spot for hours, watching someone battle a trick while you’re sat around talking - sharing stories, swapping life stuff, or just debating what to eat later. It’s those moments that stick with you. I’ve made lifelong friendships on trips like this - whether it’s someone from the crew I hadn’t met before or a local we bumped into along the way. That’s the real magic of it.