Patti McGee (born August 23, 1945) is a former professional skateboarder. She was the 1964 Women's first National Skateboard Champion, Santa Monica.

Her first skateboard was built by her brother in wood shop from her own shoe skate as a surprise. Her second skateboard was a Bun Buster .[1] In a 1965 Skateboarder Magazine, McGee recalled the first time she saw a skateboard and executed her first maneuver:[2]

I saw my first skateboard about two years ago during Easter vacation when I was at the Hollywood Teen Fair. I had been asked by a sporting goods store to give away a skateboard every evening. One evening the kid who did the skateboard demonstrations didn't show up and they asked me to take his place. So in front of 1,500 kids I did my first skateboard demonstration—it was just a kick turn, but skateboarding was new then and nobody else new many tricks then anyway.

While on the Cooley Team, and standing on a Bun Buster, McGee set the world record for the fastest girl on a skateboard at 47 mph during Dick Clark's World Teen Fair 1964 held at the Orange County (CA) Fair Grounds.[3]

McGee was also the first female professional skateboarder.[4] She was paid by Hobie/Vita Pak to travel and demonstrate the Hobie skateboard on a national level.[5] This lasted almost a year until the craze subsided. Patti McGee married Glenn Villa and then gave birth to 2 children, Forest and Hailey Villa. During the tour, McGee appeared on the occupation-guessing TV game show What's My Line? on May 16, 1965, without a skateboard (but did not stump the panel), and with a skateboard on The Johnny Carson Show the following evening.[6] McGee was featured on the cover of Life magazine May 14, 1965, and the cover of the fourth issue of Skateboarder in October 1965.[7][8]

In 2010, McGee was the first woman inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame at IASC's (International Association of Skateboard Companies) Second Annual Skateboarding Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ G.R.O.W. SK8 LIFE * Girls Rippin On Wheels: exclusive interview with Patti McGee, first female professional skateboarder
  2. ^ Severson, John, ed. (October 1965). "Profile — Pat McGee: The Lady is a Champ". Skateboarder Magazine. Dana Point, CA: John Severson Publications. 1 (4): 11 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ “Patti McGee interview with isTia” 2011, http://blog.isTia.tv/2011/10/patti-mcgee-interview-with-isTia.html
  4. ^ Rompella, Natalie (October 31, 2007). Famous firsts: the trendsetters, groundbreakers & risk-takers who got America moving!. Lobster Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-897073-55-1. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  5. ^ "Patti McGee interview with isTia". I Skate Therefore I Am. October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  6. ^ Scholastic News: Skateboarding
  7. ^ Bill Eppridge. "LIFE Goes Skateboarding, 1965". Time magazine. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  8. ^ Siljeg, Sky. "A Talk with Patti McGee". Scholastic News. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Six added to Skateboarding Hall of Fame". ESPN Action Sports. November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  10. ^ Hoffman, Jana K. "First Female Inducted into Skateboarding Hall of Fame". BettyLife.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.


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