Pat was an Endless Summer local back in the daze of yore. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan now and handles the publicity for the Outdoor National Motocross Series. Interview conducted via email in December 2001.
How often did you go to Apple?
I skated Apple about half a dozen times.
Which areas of the park were your favorite? Why?
I liked the three-quarter and half pipes and the L-bowl. The pipe flowed fast and allowed for a wide variety of tricks to be practiced before hitting the pools. Different, at the time, than anything I'd skated. The L-bowl was a fun place to just putt around and grind, slide—catch your breath before you hit the kidney or egg pools.
Did you see any pros skate there?
No pros, just some rip-roarin' locals.
What tricks did you do and in which areas of the park?
Lots of airs out of the three-quarter and into the halfpipe. I think I was one of the first guys to put ollie air out of the pools there. Various slides and grinds in the L-bowl.
What is the raddest thing you saw happen at Apple?
I remember some roller skater doing big airs, coming down and breaking his truck and slamming on the drain about as hard as humanly possible. When we got to him, one dude opened his eye lids and when his eyeballs stopped spinning, two "No Sale" signs appeared.
How did Apple rate as a skatepark? What were its strong points and weak points? Did you ever skate a park that was better?
Apple was the best park I'd ever skated. It was the Midwest's state-of-the-art park, followed by Surf 'n' Turf (Wisconsin), Cosmic Waves (Michigan) and Skateboard USA (Michigan).
Did you ever attend any special functions at Apple (am contests, parties, after-hours sessions)? Please describe.
Several contests with Chris Yandall, Todd Cadieux, Jeff Jackson, Rob Mahanes, Mike Manich, Pat Murphy, Steve Sowter and Mark Carpenter—many of the original Roach Boyz.
Please describe any vivid memories you have of Apple.
My most vivid memory is rather unfortunate. I was trying a rock 'n' roll on the three-quarter extension. I had totally candied-out on a few and decided I was going to stick one. I rocked up, popped the deck back into the pipe, free-fell a bit, then tried to stomp the landing. Well, my front foot was about half way off the side of the board and when I hit the transition, the deck pinched into the wheel and I slammed face-first into the bottom of the pipe. Loosened the braces on my front teeth and took skin off my chin, nose and forehead. Needless to say, the remainder of the day I was sucking on ice and rolling around in that L-bowl.
Please describe anything funny or strange (skating or non) that happened there.
After an Apple contest, when we got back to Rochester, Michigan, Chris Yandall started chucking boards out of his van and into my garage. One of them happened to be Kevin Tate's ultra-rare Sims Gregg Ayres model—the thing was like twelve inches wide. To make a long story short, over the years the board disappeared. But Kevin still wants to kick my ass because of it! Beers on me, I guess, if I ever run into that cat again.
Were you bummed when Apple was destroyed?
Sure. I'd kinda gotten out of the sport by then. Bet they wish they had stuck it out and were still open now! That place would have been killer for BMX bikes—no fruit boots, though.
Please add any other memories, info or comments that you wish.
Excellent work chronicling the history of midwest skateboarding, Garry. Apple brings back some fond memories for a bunch of us. At fifteen to sixteen years old, those were some of the first road trips we went on. And I'm pretty sure one of the lodging establishments in Columbus—one that The Roach Boyz and Endless Bummer crew all piled into—is now roped off and stands as some sort of exhibit for "How not to treat a hotel room."
Pat at Endless Summer