My
Name’s Pat Smith (That’s me ollieing that handrail) How are you doing?
Interrogation Force:
Jacob Rupp = JR (9)
Jack Sabback = JS (3)
Jen Cast = JC (4)
Lucas Rupp = LR (2)
Photography by Jeff Landi
“Muni station closes at 12:30, wanna go down there?”
said Pat at midnight. After skating for 45 minutes, the cops
showed up. Pat gave them a fake name, Patrick Wang. After two
full hours of interrogation, Pat was arrested for Tresspassing,
False ID, Vandalism, and Mischievous Behavior, but not before
this f/s bluntslide was executed.
LR: Words make the ever changing reality and the thoughts of
the mind constant, so what do you say to all those who will
read this and take these words too seriously as if they were
this way?
Words are just meager representations of the crazy thoughts
that fly through my head. It is hard to articulate my ideas
correctly so that others will interpret them the way I meant.
So just take my words lightly.
JR: You broke your knee and collar bone, and you are still skating
more than you ever have. I know why, but could you tell our
readers?
When you skate, you get hurt. So what? What do you expect? I
just kept on skating because I love it. Skateboarding is my
way to have fun. I get to hang out with my friends and play.
I can’t quit.
JR: Remember when you made pants? What was that about?
That was about my girlfriend Jen making crazy clown pants. We
were entrapanuers, we were JNCO before JNCO was JNCO. We could
have been huge. I was just the cheap labor. It was Jen’s
deal. It was fun, we learned about business a little.
JR: I have been told that you have skated with Jake Rupp a lot,
tell us how he taught you everything you know.
Honestly he did end up teaching me a lot. After I got hurt for
a year with my knee, Jake was this young punk ass kid who could
basically do any trick he wanted. So I had to take him out.
Show the little guy what time it was. It pushed me. Really he
taught me a lot, we had fun playing on our skateboards in the
streets and stuff. He kept me young.
JR: I was being sarcastic about the question with me teaching
you everything you know.
I just got to give credit were credit is due. So thanks to Jake
for the street skills, Jen for making me laugh, and Jeff Brown
for my tranny skills. They all had a big influence on me when
I started skating again.
JR: Tell me about the time that you got beat up at Landsdown.
I got beat up trying to fight four poor ass white kids. I hate
whitey. Fuck ‘em, I was just trying to get my skate on
between my classes and they jumped me. I tried, but I was outnumbered.
It did not work out.
JR: What have you learned in life that makes you who you are?
I am still trying to learn about myself and how to treat others
well. I am real bad about it. Follow your dreams and do shit
for yourself. Consider the big picture and how you can make
the world better. Everything is related, how you treat your
job to how you treat your kids. Your attitudes about life are
reflected in everything you do. Take pride and do your best
at everything. But sometimes it’s hard. JS:
From the looks of your physique, I would say that you are as
strong as an ox. How much can you bench?
I have been doing a lot of chin-ups lately. Maybe 7? I work
out, light cross training in the pool and some b-ball.
JS: On a daily basis, what aerobic routine do you perform before
you take the first push on your skateboard?
I try to jump up and down a lot. Climb things like trees, laugh
a lot. That can get pretty aerobic.
JS: Why do you eat so many vitamins everyday?
I did when I was trying to get my collar bone healed. That stupid
thing was broke for three months.
JR: What is your family history?
My Mom is from China. My dad grew up in Florida under rough
circumstances. My Dad worked real hard to get where he is, and
he gave up some big opportunities to be able to be near his
family. My Mom has always been around too, whenever my brother
or I needed anything, they were there. They gave us a good foundation
on which to build our lives.
JR: Where were you born and where have you lived?
I was born in Germany, after a year I moved to Taiwan for 3,
then to Panama for 3, then I moved to Maryland. Up in the Northwest
part for another 3. Then to my parents house in Woodbine, MD.
That is my home. Right now I live in SF, but I am moving back
to MD. I just like it better there.
JR: Do you eat chicken feet?
I have, but I did not like it too much. I have eaten some odd
things.
JC: What are the “mount airy” days?
That is where I grew up skating mostly. George, Tim, Scott,
and Eric were the main guys I skated with back then. They all
skate still to some capacity or another. I owe them a lot for
all the fun I had back then.
JC: Some of your relatives nicknamed you, “monster half-breed.”
How did you aquire such a nickname? Are you a monster of sorts???
That name comes from me being a half whitey and half china-man.
That and being a monster. I am still hard to get along with
sometimes.
JC: Do you harbor resentment for your parents because they emptied
their cement swimming pool while you were living across the
country?
Yeah ‘cause pools are like a side hobby of mine. My parents
pool would be sick! Good trannies and a super workable love
seat. I have dreamed of skating that thing for years.
JC: You are an athletic type of guy, what type of activites
would you get into if you didn’t skate?
Point guard in the NBA. I would be able to dunk. I will get
there yet,
just got to work on my ups. LR:
what is your synopsis on the skateboarding industry? Particularly,
skills should obviously count as a major factor in who’s
who. If this were true you should be a bigger who than many
whos among the who’s who.
My synopsis on the skateboard industry is as follows: It is
a business. Skills play a big part in being a sponsored skater
and being involved in the industry, but it is not everything.
Stupid things that should not matter like who you know play
a big role in it. That is related to personality. Someone has
to believe in your marketability. The right people have to like
you and want to promote you. You need someone who really believes
in you to push you through the business, to promote you and
get you out there. You have to have someone who wants to promote
you. The mags, the videos, good sponsors that care. Then you
got to go out and do it. You have to treat it like a business.
As for how I fit into skateboard business, I don’t. I don’t
feel like I have ever really had anyone believe in my skateboarding,
or if they did, they didn’t have the means to show it in
the sense of really keeping me interested in the sponsored side
of skateboarding. I shoot photos and film for myself because
it is fun. I like seeing my photos in the mags and shit. makes
me proud. Plus free stuff is fun and coverage keeps it coming.
I don’t expect anything to come of it. I am not trying
to blow up and I don’t think anyone else cares if I do
or not, so I will just keep doing my thing. And the free stuff,
I only get enough to get by. My friends help me out more than
my sponsors. If saying that upsets them, well, they can hook
me up more if they believe in me, if not, oh well. I got what
I need in life.
Pat’s Sponsors are Five Boro, Sessions, Pit Crew and Little
Vinnies Tattoos
“Muni station closes at 12:30, wanna go down there?”
said Pat at midnight. After skating for 45 minutes, the cops
showed up. Pat gave them a fake name, Patrick Wang. After two
full hours of interrogation, Pat was arrested for Tresspassing,
False ID, Vandalism, and Mischievous Behavior, but not before
this f/s bluntslide was executed.
JS:
From the looks of your physique, I would say that you are as
strong as an ox. How much can you bench? 
LR:
what is your synopsis on the skateboarding industry? Particularly,
skills should obviously count as a major factor in who’s
who. If this were true you should be a bigger who than many
whos among the who’s who.