[3] He and brother Ben were the only children of a Greek-Australian father, who worked for a finance company, and an Australian mother who was a caterer—the parents eventually separated after marrying at a young age.

"[4] Pappas then appeared alongside Moses Itkonen, Edward Devera, Mike Cao, Justin Girard and Scott Johnston in the 1996 Mad Circle video Let The Horns Blow.

[7] Both the Pappas brothers then found that they were unable to gain favour with the American skateboard industry due to their attitudes, which were considered abrasive and wild.

"[8] In 1999, Pappas' brother Ben was intercepted by law enforcement while attempting to smuggle cocaine into Australia and, in addition to a prison term, his passport was confiscated for a three-year period and he was unable to continue his skateboarding career in the US.

However, due to financial difficulties, the relationship was strained and Pappas began using crystal methamphetamine, to numb the pain from injuries during contests that he desperately participated in to earn money.

Additionally, Pappas was prescribed an antidepressant after he consulted a doctor for help with a low emotional state caused by his life situation—Pappas proceeded to use alcohol and cocaine with the medication.

[3][7] Pappas explained in 2014 that his drug use at the time led to paranoia about his wife being involved in an extramarital relationship and during an argument he physically assaulted Colleen.

Pappas' actions resulted in a two-month prison term and he was eventually deported after he was found in a drug-related car crash during his corresponding parole period.

Pappas, who attempted to smuggle the drug in three skateboard decks while intoxicated on benzodiazepines, alcohol and amphetamines, was intercepted at Sydney Airport after the traces of cocaine on his clothing alerted authorities.

[3] In November 2011, Pappas was afforded the privilege of prison day-release on weekends and used this time to skate the vert ramp in Albury, New South Wales.

[13] Morgan Campbell, online content manager for Skateboarding Australia, the country's government-funded[citation needed] peak body, stated:

The achievement occurred on the Anzac Day holiday at a newly built facility on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia called the "Megaranch".

[3][14] As of August 2014, Pappas is sponsored by Theeve Trucks,[15] a company founded and managed by fellow Australian vert skateboarder Trevor Ward.

[16] In 1996, Pappas won both titles at the Hard Rock Cafe Skateboarding World Championships (the finals event, as well as points accumulation for the entire year), beating Tony Hawk.

[2] On 28 October 2006, Pappas won the vert skateboarding event at the LG Action Sports World Championship, beating Brazilian professional Sandro Dias in a tiebreaker (Andy MacDonald finished in third place).

[19] Following Pappas's success with the Hard Rock Cafe competition, both he and his brother were credited with helping to revive the popularity of vert skateboarding, which was beginning to fade.

[20] In August 2011, Tas and Ben Pappas both received the number 10 ranking in Transworld Skateboarding's "10 Infamous Australians" article for "rekindl[ing] vert's flickering candle" during the 1990s.

[21] In May 2012, Pappas attended the Melbourne premiere of Danny Way's documentary Waiting for Lightning, where he was photographed alongside Way and fellow Australian vert professional Dom Kekich.

[3][8] As of May 2014, Pappas resides in the inner north-eastern Melbourne, Australia suburb of Clifton Hill, where he shares a home with Helen and their five-year-old son Billy.