Patrick Switzer is the third best downhill skateboarder/longboarder in the world. It's a title that hasn't come without lots of bumps and bruises, but for Switzer the pain is well worth the thrill and glory of this extreme sport.
A tattoo on his right calf of a longboarder inside of a red maple leaf is not the only memento Switzer wears from the sport he loves. Gnarled scars can be found in various places on his body. Each one holds its own story.
"I slid across the pavement like a cheese grater," said Switzer, lifting up his shirt to reveal a large pink scar on his lower back. "I was sliding at about 45 kilometres per hour and I high-sided backwards and flipped on to my back."
Switzer says he tries to be as safe as he can on the road. However, danger, speed and the thrill of the sport are some of the things he loves about longboarding.
"It's the price you pay for fun," said Switzer with a shrug and a smile.
Switzer wears a full bodysuit now and protective gear to save his skin from being eaten by the pavement when he falls. His navy blue suit is equipped with knee and elbow pads in an attempt to minimize the impact of a crushing wipeout on the road.
A helmet is also essential for Switzer, who knows how important it is to have a sharp mind when maneuvering a downhill road. His instincts and reaction times are kept fine tuned.
"I started downhill skateboarding for transportation," said Switzer. "As I progressed in my skill, I found that racing was another step possible for me to take."
Switzer knows every run on his skateboard is different. It's the added thrill of the unpredictable he loves.
"It's very organic. The thrill of the board under your feet. It's what you make it," smiled Switzer, gazing to the side reflecting.
He spends most of his time exploring residential streets and trying to find new hills and new adventures. Switzer travels all around the world to test his ability on mountain roads, little back trails and pathways.
The second year mechanical engineering student from BCIT is now a professional downhill skateboarder, but he remembers the fear he the first time he blazed down a steep road.
"When I first got on a skateboard there was definitely some scared times," grinned Switzer. "That's the thrill of it and I really enjoy every time I'm on a board pushing myself to learn something new.
"I'm constantly progressing, finding a new way to ride. From when I started everything is scary. It's like jumping on a bike for the first time."
The fear and thrill drives Switzer to conquer new challenges. He said it is element of the unknown and his fear that propels him to try new things and move on to new levels.
"The fun of it is getting through that and getting on to the next stage, getting through a corner when you're not sure you're going to make it."
Longboarding is for everyone, said Switzer. People from all sorts of backgrounds and ages from eight-years-old to 60 do it.
It's a sport literally that means the world to Switzer. He has traveled to Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, England, Switzerland and all over the globe.
"The fun factor of being able to travel is coming to a completely new space, being out of your element and as soon as you meet a longboarder or a group of longboarders, it's like the barriers are down. You're automatically friends."
There is no experience like longboarding for Switzer. He craves the feel of cutting through the wind, riding down a hill.
He loves the vibrations reverberating from the wheels of his longboard on pavement, swiveling a bend on the road or just cruising down a road.
"When you get in the mode of hanging out with friends flying down a mountain, it's all the same. It's all fun."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kelcey Brade
