The internet has certainly changed the way we view skateboarding. We have access to clips all over the world with the click of a mouse. There are plenty of sites that have made this possible, like Hella Clips which have just released their first ever Helliez awards. It brings together all the top clips of the year and separates them into categories for you to vote on. Pretty rad I think. Well my good friend Pat has been entered into the Balls to the Wall section which is rad in itself. Before you go and drop a vote for him just because he’s Australian or because you might have met Pat before check out what he’s been doing and read a little insight into this energetic human. BALLS TO THE WALL

THE HELLIEZ

Hellaclips Helliez Intro from Hellaclips on Vimeo.

BALLS TO THE WALL

Balls to the wall from Hellaclips on Vimeo.

When I mention Pat Gemzik to people around the world they immediately respond with ‘oh that tail drop guy’. The infamous tail drop was called out as ‘FAKE’ by people who have never met Pat or know nothing about the guy. It was quite nearly a curse to the man’s skateboarding image. It’s not such a bad thing to be recognised for 1 trick. For one, it gets your name buzzing and when clips go viral there’s no telling what can happen. Pat can kill everything. He’s got more energy than a school boy jacked up on Red Bull and his favourite dub step CD.

VARIAL HEELFLIP IN CLEVELAND, BRISBANE BY MOEY

Pat can go big in the streets or in transition. I wish I was shooting photos when I lived with Bart an Fez at the Ranch. Patty skated the Billabong vert ramp for only a few months and learnt frontside airs, hand plants and could hold some pretty long grinds on that beast. By the time our little skate utopia came to an end Pat was definitely comfortable on that thing.

BACKSIDE FLIP, GOLD COAST BY TIM BLACK

For years Pats flown under the radar of sponsorship and had to buy nearly all of his gear. To the average punter its not so bad, but when your jumping down shit the way Patty does it becomes a expensive hobby. I don’t know how he remained looked over when his presence is felt from a few kilometres away. He’s a comp winning machine and can push out a solid video part quicker than anyone I know. Pat’s now being looked after by Black Box, Skatebiz and DE Collective.

FS SMITH, DOWNTOWN BRISBANE BY PRASHAD

Here’s a clip Mic P put together of a bunch of recent park clips. Pats one of the hardest working skateboarders I’ve ever met. Tricks work for Pat but don’t come easy. He’s certainly not a robot. He’ll be the last man standing at any session covered in dirt and blood and won’t be satisfied until he knows he has nothing left to give.

Check out Mic P’s best of 2011 clip…

So where are you right now while your doing this interview…..?
Hey guys, Im hanging out in the good old Queeno mall listening to good Charlotte with my razor blade haha!!!

You’ve been lurking the streets of Australia for some time now and everyone seems to know your name…Why do you think it is you got so well known…?
Well lets just say everyone knows a clown when they see one. Haha. Basically everyone found out who I was for sculling a bottle of Jager and falling off a cliff. There was this really horrible techno song that was all over the radio like the syphillis bug so Scotty, Shane Cross, Jake Duncome and everyone else at Uncle Gutty’s at that point starting singing Tooza can’t handle the Jager. It spread quicker than than a herpes outbreak haha!!!

Your quite the manual enthusiast when it come to skating, who were some of your influences as a youngster….?
Well my idea is to have a bit of everything when Im making a part but there’s days I have a lot of fun with manuals. Skating a rail is too much of a head fuck, bit like most of the girls I’ve met lately. Haha. Jumping down a set these days hurts a lot more than it use too, I guess Ive become a bit of a manny fag as some people might say these days. I’ve always been heaps influenced by guys like Marc Johnson, Daewon Song, Ronnie Creager ,Colt Cannon, Stuart Hines, Guy Mariano, P.J. Ladd, Eric Koston. I also love watching guys like Rick Mcrank, Mark Appleyard, Caswell Berry, Chris Cole, Nate Jones, Arto Saari, and Geoff Rowley.

Whats been your favorite video part from the last 2 years….?
That would have to be Ronnie Creager in the Blind vid and Joey Brezinski in right foot forward.

So what you doing for a crust these days…..?
I’ve just been doing a bit of factory work lately.

If you could have your dream session who would it be with and where….? Probably in Ballina
with Marc Johnson, Scotty Standley, Al, Steve Mcinnes, Tommy Fynn, Mikey, Shane Cross, Cameron Sparkes, Tim Regard and Barry Mansfield. Fuck there’s so many I could name.

Thanks Tooz, last bit of Tuzza insight?……? Be grateful for every opportunity.
Guess id better thank a few people while im on the topic. Keep it short and sweet. Trevor Ward at Theeve, Scotty, Al, Dave Adair, Matt Hooker, Gutty, John Dickinson, Rome Torti, Troy Archer, Leigh Kelly, Adley Adams R.I.P Resistance, Ben Ventures, Jarrah Rushton, Paul at Truck Stop, Dave Synnot, Jashan Prassard, Steve Mcinnes, Tim Regard and you guys for making this interview possible. Also everyone else who helped me out along the way that I forgot to mention sorry and thank you and Im very grateful for your help. Peace out homies!!!!

Photos by Jashan Prasad(sw flip) Tim Black(seq) Dave Synott(nollie flip)

SBA has done a full wrap up from the Island contest. Check it out here!!!

THE ISLAND TAPES from Skateboarding Australia on Vimeo.

Check out the clip from the Adidas crew in Sydney over the weekend.

Adidas Australia in Sydney from Skateboard.com.au on Vimeo.

The SBA series wrapped up yesterday with a bang. The final leg of the circuit was The Island contest held smack bang in the middle of Sydney harbour. We all caught the ferry out to Cockatoo Island around mid day to watch Australia’s best skateboarders battle it out one more time. The island has alot of history as it was once a prison for convicts around 1839 – 1869. Yesterday it saw the return of a couple hundered skate convicts tear the island apart. I couldn’t wait to get on there and see where old Captain Thunderbolt had escaped from. I wont get into it but look him up. Chima Ferguson came out on top with untouchable runs all day. He destroyed everything in his path and was the man of the day hands down. Tommy Fynn came in at second place which gave him enough points to take out the whole series. He’s killed it at everyone of the contests and was the right winner of the series. Well done homie!!

Fog has put together some of Mitch’s best footage in this tribute clip. There’s some amazing skating in here and as you can see Mitch’s filming was always on point. R.I.P. homie, you’ll be forever missed.

Tommy left the rest of the troops in LA and made his way to Florida for the Tampa Am contest this weekend. Best of luck homie!!!
Im pretty sure the contest will be live streamed. Head to The Skatepark of Tampa website for more info.

Jmacs been added to the Theeve roster..Fuck yeah Mac, ripping at life. Check out his clip by Kane Stewart.