It's been almost exactly 6 months since I moved to Orange County from San Jose, CA and I think I'm finally finding my niche in the local scene. I've made friends, local riders know my name and style, and I'm finding my way around different spots. I moved here supposedly for college, knowing that there was an amazing riding scene here. There is no doubt in my mind that my vert riding has improved, which is exactly what I wanted, right. I didn't have a ramp in the Bay, so I moved somewhere where I could improve my vert skills. It IS paying off, for sure, I'm learning new tricks and dialing in tricks that frustrated me so much during the summer.
I just don't know how much longer I want to stay here. You can't beat the weather, the fine looking ladies, the local companies, the new friends, etc., but it definitely does not feel like the place I am going to permanently live. At least that's how I feel about the city of Orange, maybe the Inland Empire, or Santa Ana or Anaheim can offer something different.
If I had everything my way, I would buy my own vert ramp, and buy some land in South San Jose, right off of 101 and 85, and start a little vert scene in the Bay. Hey, if TJ Lavin can start a dirt scene in Las Vegas from scratch, then I can take a group of Bay Area riders and help emm out by providing a vert ramp.
That's really I've got to say. I've been working on vert 540's, so it's only a matter of time until that becomes part of my run.

www.cali-brand.com

Go there and apply for sponsorship because we need some new riders if you live in the OC / Los Angeles area.

So I'm writing from the PLaystation Hideout here at Woodward West on Friday of week 6. So far, I've served food to Joe Rich, Garret Byrnes and plenty of other pros. Unfortunately I've also seen Mark Hugo (from the Petaluma area) eat shit on a MASSIVE no foot can over the box. Get better fellow Nor Cal boy. In other news, Mike Saavedra is a badass and can flair the vert resi. Rooftop just got here so I should go say HI. My goal is to reach 5 foot airs on vert by the end of next week. Peace.

No, I'm not talking about the song from Boys Like Girls. I'm writing about going to college. So I've heard from all my colleges and it really comes down to location: Orange County or Riverside? Both locations have amazing riding scenes (I've visited both). Both have great colleges to offer me, so don't worry about my education. Riverside definitely seemed to be more dirt friendly while i really liked the vert scene in the OC. I don't know, any comments from yall would be helpful. You're not going to make my decision, but maybe you'll say something i'd never thought of before.
-- Patrick

Well, the IcerAir demo is in the books. The amateur portion was me, Tony Campos (check my friends section to get his link), an inliner, and a your skateboarder. At some points I was confused were the amateurs because, while I sucked consistently throughout the demo, Tony was going 4 or 5 feet and throwing 1 hand x-downs, xup to x down, 360 fakie to fakie barspin on the next wall, and a bunch of other stuff. That little skaboarder too got above the coping and did little twisty flippy things. Tight. Tony Hawk and Rooftop did  a demo after we all rode and that was tight also. It definitely makes me want to ride more vert.

I love vert. I've been in contact with the athelete manager for this year's IcerAir (big ass ski and snowboard comp in San Fran) event in November. I signed up to do an Am vert demo there and it should be fun. I've got some fresh stunts I want to try, so I can't wait.

If anyone has advice for me on amateur vert comps going on this year or other big vert events, please leave me a message. Any help would be appreciated