Who Da Fark is Blake Gibbards?
Words and Interview by Shannon Farrugia
Photos by Luke Brown and Zainem Slavin
Blake Gibbards the reluctant standout.
Pic: Zainem Slavin
Standing out in a crowd is a strange concept. Some love it, some hate it, some are thrust into it organically, and others chase it. Regardless of whether it’s good or bad, if you choose to skate in an event, film clips, get photos, or all of the above, the intention is obvious, but there’s often a reluctance. Or if there isn’t a reluctance, you have to at least pretend you don’t like standing out from the crowd, you’d be un-Australian otherwise.
I’ve attended a bunch of events this year, and the difference in who the crowd gets stoked on is vast. Two skaters can be doing the exact same trick, yet the crowd will go wild for one and not the other. There are so many factors that extend beyond the skater’s actual ability. It could be what they’re wearing, the style in which they do the trick, their “flare” (think Christian Hosoi in the late ’80s), or maybe it’s their general aura and vibe. Who knows? It’s those immeasurable factors that have the greatest impact I reckon.
It’s kind of the same with stand-up comedy. Sometimes the funniest comedians don’t even need to say anything and everyone laughs. The devil is in the details; the nuances matter. Overall, I’ve decided that authenticity always reigns supreme in those situations (and life in general if you want to get philosophical), and a crowd can feel that authenticity a metric kilometre away.
Let me introduce you to Blake Gibbards. He skated at Weekend at Timmy’s a few months ago, and as the MC for the event, I caught myself repeatedly saying to those around me, “Who the fuck was that?” Some of the responses I got were, “Not sure, I think he’s a local guy,” and “Yeah, he’s from Melbourne, I think his name is Robbie.” Finally, someone said, “Nah, that’s Blake from the Goldie… I think.”
I proceeded to be blown away by his skating for the rest of the event. I continued to get his name wrong on the mic, and I was stoked to give him some well-deserved cash for tricks every chance I got. He ripped, skated harder and longer than everyone else (aside from maybe Freddie Hazelton), and he reminded me why I was originally attracted to skateboarding in the first place; raw, shred-fest, thrashing.
Finally, I recently saw Blake skating at Fred’s Bowl Bash at Truckstop in Ballina, and his skating was a rinse-and-repeat of Timmy’s (rip, shred, thrash) and I thought to myself, “Fuck this, I’m gonna interview this guy for the website.”
Shan
Blake 5-0 backside 180s out on the Bobcat at Weekend at Timmy’s, Airlie Beach. Feel’s weird using the word “Bobcat” in a skateboarding caption….Only at Timmy’s! Regardless, it was rad, and harder to skate than it looks.
Pic: Luke Brown
Where are you from, and how old are you?
I’m from Palm Beach, Queensland and I’m 24 years old.
How long have you been skating for?
I’ve been skating for 9 years.
Blake stands-out in front of the Nomads Backpackers launch party crowd with a frontside noseblunt on the sketchy 8 foot quarter. Weekend at Timmy’s, Airlie Beach.
Pic: Luke Brown
You were a total standout at recent events Weekend at Timmy’s and Fred’s Bowl Bash at Truckstop. Are you usually an event guy? Or do you like staying low-key?
I love skating events. The energy and atmosphere are the best. It’s a big session with a bunch of homies, and the vibes are always high. I haven’t skated heaps of events, there’s not a lot of them in and around the Gold Coast but I’m putting more effort into being at events and making time to travel to events around Australia.
Blake frontside sugar canes the tightest, sketchiest, raddest extension you’ll ever try to skate. Fred’s Bowl, Truckstop, Ballina.
Pic: Luke Brown
Describe the skate scene where you’re from?
Well the Gold Coast is a big “small town”. Everyone knows everyone, there’s a bunch of incredible skaters here and they’re all super supportive and friendly. It’s a sick scene to be apart of.
For those that haven’t skated it, how would you describe Fred’s Bowl at Truckstop in Ballina?
Fucked hahaha! It’s steep, tight, fast and unique. There’s like 6 different types of coping. It’s hard as fuck to skate, but that’s what gives it it’s charm! I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Frontside kickflip to disaster at Truckstop Fred’s Bowl. Blake battled this for a minute, this trick, in that bowl is so gnarly. You’ll skate it one day, then say to your self “I can’t believe that Blake guy did a frontside kickflip disaster on that”. I promise.
Pic: Luke Brown
Artificial intelligence?
“No Ai, FUCK Ai”
Tell me about your first experience at Weekend at Timmy’s up in Airlie Beach. Highlights? Vibe?
I drove up in a van with my homies that played a gig at the event (jib). We left at 8am and got to Airlie at 3am the next morning. We were fucking stoked, the vibes were high from when we left untill we got back home. I didn’t get much sleep that weekend. Skating the event was so fun, the launch party was sick. The ramp was kinda jank and everyone was going for it. The next day was the event day and it was so good. I skated the rail and the bobcat ledge, ate shit a few times but made some cash and had heaps of fun. Watching the level of skating going down there was mental. One of the funnest trips of my life.
Park guy? Transition guy?
Both honestly, I love skating everything.
How often do you get in the streets?
Not enough hahah. It’s definitely something I want to do more.
Blake feels out the Bobcat with a backside 50-50 to get things rolling. To put this photo in context, Blake probably hadn’t slept in two days, skated his ass of the night before at the Nomads Backpackers launch party and then was one of the first to step to this never before skated feature. Rip, shred, thrash baby.
Pic: Luke Brown
Favourite skaters (local or elsewhere)?
Ben Conway, Zainem Slavin, Kyle Aubrey, Cody Chapman and Oskar Rozenberg to name a few.
Favourite video part of all time?
Oski’s ‘Orange Label’ part or Cody Chapmans ‘Ace Trucks’ part.
Do you have any sponsors?
I just got put on flow by Santa Cruz, and Tony just put me on Truckstop Skateshop. Yew!
The Boys! Blake and Dan Pitcher post "final jam” celebration at Fred’s Bowl Bash at Truckstop, Ballina.
Pic: Luke Brown
Ai or no Ai?
No Ai, FUCK Ai
Shoutouts?
Santa Cruz, Truckstop Skate shop. Beyond grateful for those guys.
Ben Conway (he taught me how to skate), Troy Archer and my homie Zay!
Facebook is still a thing. Talk shit there and follow Shan.
@terrible.happy scroll ya life away on Instagram and follow Shan’s mediocre skate clips and podcast notifications.
@vagabondedit is Luke Brown and his rad photos. Follow.
