Riley Pavey is WKND’s New Am From Hell
Photo: Josh Sabini
At one stage, Riley Pavey had ten mins of raw footage solely filmed by Geoff Campbell: a testament to how good he is at this skate shit.
With his ridiculous pop and knowledge of control, Pavey has unlocked spots in Melbourne that people have only joked about skating. His last year has been huge. From traveling the world and clipping up, to having run-ins with the law, he did it all. Recently Slam crowned him Australian Skateboarder of the Year, an award nothing short of well deserved when you consider last year’s footage in Internet Birthday and Thunder Aust’s Pleather Jacket. I chatted with Pavey about the win, his past year, and the recent trip to New Zealand to film for Geoff’s Thrasher series, Internet Birthday.
Photo: Tamas Keefer
Congrats again on winning SOTY! You deserved it! Did you have any idea it was happening?
Nah, fuck no.
No suspicion that something was happening that night?
Nah not at all, I wasn’t even planning on doing anything. I thought I was just going to watch Clocky [Liam McColloch] try a trick. That day, I was actually going to skate this park ages away with my friend from Queensland who just moved to Melbourne, but we didn’t go because it was raining in the morning. I would’ve fully missed the whole thing if we went.
Damn, imagine if you missed it.
That’s what I was thinking, I wonder what they would’ve done because I wouldn’t have gotten home until 9.
Photo: Tamas Keefer
I saw that the trophy was already broken halfway through the night. What happened to it?
We were sitting near the plaza on the grass, and then a bunch of cops pulled up. Then one person started running, so we all started running, and the cops started chasing us. I don’t even know why we were running. But yeah, it turned into a chase where we were just running around the uni for 20 minutes trying to dodge the cops. While I was running, I tripped over and threw the trophy on the ground as I fell.
Like a big game of hide and seek.
Yeah fully. It was basically a big game of hide and seek. I don’t think anyone got caught, which is pretty crazy.
Worth it, though.
It was actually so much fun. I’m looking at the trophy right now and it looks so funny. It’s all smashed and bent, but I kinda like it because it looks funny and has that story attached to it.
You were pouring drinks into it all night too. Does it smell awful?
Man. It reeks. I had to put it in my suitcase to take it to my parents and all my clothes fucking reek now.
Photo: Josh Sabini
Photo: Josh Sabini
You had a massive year, spent heaps of time overseas, and put out heaps of footage. What’s the plan with all the footage you filmed with the WKND guys?
Grant is going to make a video with all the younger guys that skate for WKND. That’s meant to come out while I’m over in America, which will be pretty cool. I have a part in it, and hopefully, I’ll be able to get some last-minute footage while I go over there.
Sick, keen to see it. I wanted to ask about that WKND ad in the latest Slam. What is going on in the photo?
You’ll have to wait and see, it’s part of a skit that’s coming out soon.
How on earth did you guys come up with that idea?
It came from Grants [Yansura] crazy, little mind [laughs].
On the topic of videos and ideas, where did the Pleather Jacket gimmick come from?
Digby [Luxton] just has this fucked jacket that he wore camping one time, and we all got tricks in it. It was just a joke the whole time we were skating. All the clips that were filmed in it were on, like, 35-degree days, it wasn’t like he was bringing the jacket because it was cold, he just thought it was a funny gimmick. The jacket was, like, a size medium, too, and Mappy [Anthony Mapstone] was putting it on, stretching out and ripping it trying to do a trick in it [laughs].
What is the story behind you having to go to court last year?
I was on the tram, I hadn’t tapped my card on, and I was tying my shoes up on the seat. Then a ticket inspector asked me for my ticket while I had my foot on the seat and asked for my name and I didn’t give it to him, then he called the cops. When the cops came, they stopped the whole tram to take me off it and asked me what happened, after I told them, they were just, like, what the fuck. They thought something gnarly had happened, but because it was three violations, I had to go to court. It was draining.
The court proceeding was online, right?
Yeah. In the courtroom, people were going to jail for Grievous Bodily Harm and shit. People were already in jail doing their sentencing, too, and I was just there thinking, ‘I’m fucked. I’m going to jail.’ Then it just ended up being so sweet. I explained myself, and they were just like, ‘Courts adjourned. You can hang up the phone call.’
I was wearing this suit and tie singlet, and the judge thought it was funny. She was like, ‘I like your shirt.’ I was kind of stressing out that they would think I was taking the piss and try fuck me over. The whole time before, I was like, ‘I’m going to take it off, I’m going to take it off.’ Then they called my name, and I was still wearing it, and I was like, ‘Oh, shit.’
How long were you waiting for?
Like 50 minutes. I was just watching people go to jail and shit. They explain the whole story, like some of the people were like twisted criminals.
I guess you’re one of them now.
Yeah, it felt good being a hard cunt criminal.
Photo: Josh Sabini
You just got back from NZ filming for Geoff’s Thrasher Series. Do you have any highlights from the trip?
We went to this little dairy, and we got talking to the owners, and we convinced them that I was a really famous pro skater. I was signing autographs, and they put a little photo of me on the wall and gave us all this free food [laughs].
And now you’re Australian Skater of the Year, so you’re a big deal now.
Yeah, I guess we manifested it [laughs].
So, in the last week, you’ve won SOTY, got back from NZ, and you’re about to go to the states in a couple of days. What’s next?
I’m going on a Carhartt trip in LA, and then I’m just going to chill and hang out with my friends there. Skate and chill for a few months. I think I’ll also be setting up camp at the Primitive Park. I am so excited. Me and Prod are going to chop it up and have a few cigars.
Photo: Tamas Keefer
Hopefully, now you’ve won SOTY, you can get an energy drink sponsor. What’s your energy drink of choice, just in case they’re reading this?
V. V Energy. I would shotgun ten in a row to get sponsored by them. Tell them to come at me with that bag and I’ll sign. I’ll wear the hat. I’m trying to level up.
Some kid from city park told me his favourite part was your part in Welcome to Melbourne. Do you have any words of advice for your young fans?
Never trust a dog to watch your food.