Empty Pools | Jeff Grosso's Loveletters To Skateboarding | VANS

Skaters have been getting rad in pools for over 40 years- Airs were invented in backyard pools. Grosso sits down with underground pool ripper Tony Farmer to send out some love to this sub culture within a sub culture.
Music: "Intro 2" by Mount Schuylkill Civic Association, "Headless Horse" by Abrahma, "We Can't Be Stopped" by Insurgence, "Look Before You Leap" by Jesse Dee
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About Jeff Grosso’s Loveletters to Skateboarding:
Legendary skateboarder, Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding. Jeff pays homage to some of the most influential people in skateboarding. Sit back and feel the love.
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Vans®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans® authentic collections are sold in 84 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans® has over 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans® brand promotes creative self-expression in youth culture across action sports, art, music and street culture and delivers progressive platforms such as the Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, Vans Pool Party, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.
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Empty Pools | Jeff Grosso's Loveletters To Skateboarding | VANS
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[@sucktion]

As the owner of a pool repair company, I love what these guys are doing 👍🏻

[@brandonchrispell4134]

Grosso needs to do a letter about ditches now. The poor kids transition.

[@5150abbott]

The Fruit Bowl... those were the days. We skated it at night with a stolen 12 volt car battery and a pair of KC off road lights... stolen of course. The place was a zoo during the day. We would get it to ourselfs during the night. Im 61 and still skating. My board back in the late 70's was a Z Flex w/Trackers and Sims Snakes.

[@stephenmiller5023]

The Fruit bowl ruled… then came the “ L” pool … and countless others I’m 62 & still skate on occasion, but the concrete hasn’t gotten any softer when I fall..🤨😄

[@juancastro5775]

F***ing awesome!!!

[@richsoryu]

I remember pre-ordering Fruit of the Vine at the local vans skate shop, on VHS of course. Being a Phoenix native, pools are in abundance here so I had to get this since it was essentially a pool skating documentary. If I remember right, it was filmed entirely on Super 8 which added to the vibe of the cast in the video. The story of pools is legit though because so many houses have pools since people think it would be nice to go swimming in the heat. Then they realize you can only swim in it for like 3 months out of the year and it becomes more of a hassle than anything. It wasn't terribly difficult to bribe people into letting us skate their pool with the promise of cleaning it and/or their yard up.

[@fernandomaron87]

Darrel Delgado's backside turn ripping the tile apart 3:27 was crazy

[@erichanhauser3190]

Yessir.

[@joshuahancock4619]

i emptied and skated a backyard pool in florissant missouri on the 4th of july this year. by myself. it was my first real pool. lit a fire in the deep end to dry her out then got a frontside flip when the sun came up. sounds like a dream but skateboarding is magical

[@williamhanley7031]

Don't light fire in the pool , you will ruin your riding surface.

[@clickbait5714]

RIP. Keep shredding the pools in skate heaven Jeff.

[@williamhanley7031]

Glad to see my footage of matt Kneely there at georges.

[@MrDellasc]

Back when I was 16, Marina Del Rey park was my home park, and my uncle told us he was going to empty his pool to re-plaster it (it was kidney shaped), and he made the mistake of letting my cousin and I talked him into letting us skate in it before he had it re-plastered. Of course we told all all our friends about it, and after a winter of skating in it, we ended up trashing it so bad, he was so pissed off at us, he ended up filling it up with concrete. We use to go pool hunting for empty pools when Marina Del Rey closed down, and I remember getting chased by pissed off owners, and jumping fences, lol! So I have a soft spot for backyard pools, and now as a 59 year old, and even though my pool riding days are over (I just cruise around on my long board now), and when I drain my pool to have it re-plastered this coming winter, I’ll let a select few of the local kids skate it before I have it re-plastered, so they can get a taste of what I was blessed to experience when I was younger.

[@lanceuppercutsr.3740]

A Gleaming the Cube spotting! Hahaha. Love these and they get me stoked to skate, thanks Grosso.

[@royjames2005]

Four things I like about this video: One- the kickflip over the stairs at 3:36. Two- the ride through the love seat at 4:14. Three- Salba's stripy socks, leopard skin knee pads and camo shorts combo. Four- everything else.

[@vans]

covered the "biggies". haha

[@peterpwner]

lincoln nass ollie nosegrind was crazy

[@skahler]

royjames2005 I was literally just about to post the kickflip over the stairs lol that was so freakin awesome

[@peterpwner]

I skate with him alot hes rad *****

[@Rezqewr]

+royjames2005 There was a clean carve over the skimmer, (aka "deathbox") toward the end, as well.

[@Mordorer]

Love this series! Make it weekly! 😁

[@ulibri65]

Love it Pool Riding is fun!!!Thanks for showing these clips!

[@88katanas]

Thank you Jeff and all the other legends behind producing these episodes. I've been skating for a long time but I'm learning I know so very little about the history - and there's so much of it. Amazing stuff - love ya'll!

[@vans]

Definitely, Clayton! If you want to catch Grosso drop more knowledge, you can catch the rest of his Loveletters here: bit.ly/2cwg2xh

[@adamfreeman5852]

The pool episode is straight-up sick!

[@bmxking6582]

awesome they showed a few clips of the deal lake motel pool. miss that spot.

[@vans]

+kevin lyons stoked variety, for sure.

[@shredtilyerdead755]

this is great!, i thought the future would suck...cant wait to be the first of my friends to post the new episodes to my facekook. Theres really nothing else to watch consistently on here thats this good.

[@bubbadagger]

so much love grosso

[@johndef5075]

Earliest picture I saw of somebody skating a pool was like 1963. Anybody else seen that one?

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

That's the father of Christian and Nathan Fletcher, grandfather of Greyson,and surf legend himself Herbie Fletcher skating that in 63. That family was born to rip.

[@bealz3130]

Damn this was a good episode!

[@arthurpedersonSD]

Best of the loveletters

[@funknsk8807]

SICK VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!

[@jonstevenson6788]

Hardcore video and great commentary.

[@ohfrickitsphil]

YES! The letters are back!!!

[@bwillabeanz3]

thank god we gave Google maps today. helps a lot to find empty pools.

[@vans]

Brandon Williams hold up. gotta write that down. ;)

[@inkedblessed7904]

+Vans Still living back in the 80's vans? :D

[@joad9756]

real estate websites are the real saviors

[@Me-jm7ux]

I love watching these vids too!

[@vans]

Thanks for watching, Me! Have you seen the newest Loveletters episode? Check it out here: bit.ly/2bmUm5d

[@mylessk8s]

8:08 diving board handplant to fucking flat pretty much hahah holy shit

[@usslongbeachcg9]

8:50 the smack on that F/s Nosegrab Disaster was fucking nasty awesome!

[@Kylerjguitar]

Best episode!

[@seanohara1736]

Nailed it!

[@RetemVictor]

I remember midnight bucket parties! Just for a chance at skating a pool....

[@joshuahancock4619]

so rad

[@sethgarner-frias2321]

sick video

[@axelmennucci2751]

come to Fresno, I'll take you to old spots , these Barny's , don't know about,? including pipes, and a water tower, ha ,bring some flares?😎

[@MufasaWasAPunk]

Cant wait to skate a pool!

[@vans]

Thanks for watching! Catch our Vans Pool Party highlights here, where all the legends and the new generation take to a massive pool and skate it out: bit.ly/2s7q27l

[@RNicolasRuvalcaba]

I used to have this board (9.0 Red Kross, Hosoi) 3:56

[@RecycledSkills]

Always great vids. Grosso always cracks me up! As far as that ska song at 8:02 - is that the Jesse Dee song? I can't find that song anywhere. :/

[@skakater44]

fuck yeah, me neither. makes me boarderline crazy!

[@s.a.l.1974]

Look before you leap by jesse dee

[@nigeldonut]

dude??!!! 7:37 the apocalypse will be great for skaters

[@vans]

lookin' on the up side. nice.

[@nigeldonut]

Vans I don't believe in the apocalypses but , the whole urban decay landscape is super skateable ,, thanks to Jeff Grosso and vans for show ,,,

[@Frosty.Fingers]

song on 8:02? btw this is a great video. You did it again Vans, you never stop making me proud and inspired:)

[@underdogfj80]

R.I.P. Asbury Pool

[@thepupils209]

when you find a pool, drain it, paint it, etc...you and your crew have the right to say who rides...period. I've been to spots where certain Pro's showed up, and were denied. In my area the old school dudes had a rule "If you couldn't carve f/s over the light the first time you skated it, you couldn't come back" other rules included "never fuck w/ the house/property." "never leave beer cans/trash" "leave the ladies at home, don't need extra people that just draw attention" "if it's a "permission pool" bring a 12 pack for the owner outta respect" "a police scanner on site is a MUST" "Always have an escape plan" "NEVER park infront of the vacant house where the pool is at. Park around the block." "No shitting on the property" "no graffiti if it's in a residential neighborhood"

[@yamikaro]

As Grosso said, FFUUCCKK YOOOUUU

[@Dirtbag44Boyd]

perfect

[@TheXitone]

leave the ladies at home? what a lot of shit . You guys sound fun.

[@ER_aka_RAM]

1:45 🖕🏽 ...you’re exactly who they were talking about, kook.

[@jhagestad]

Man you ain’t kiddin’ - just bc you’re pro don’t mean shit to me. If this pool is everything to me, I’m keeping it a secret with my crew for as long as possible. Pros have the luxury of being able to skate anywhere... so go there and take your stupid posse with you. I’m building backyard food stamp mini ramps while you’re at bucky’s bowl. Sorry not sorry.

[@AsThickAsTheiVs]

gleaming the fucking cube , best movie ever

[@cuntstorm]

Grosso Rules!

[@marissac870]

Jerry gurney at 9:20

[@ahabv4256]

O Jeff amava de verdade o skate 😢💔🛹

[@travisguide4516]

Pools are great i remember when mine got emtyed i was so pumped then i found out the deep end was too deep and narrow too get speed back to the shallow end so disapointed that my pool was kinda square too the walls were steep so it sucked pool skating was out by the 90s mostly. it takes too much skill to ride one and to maintain speed in one requires careful balance and rasor quick thinking

[@saymstuff]

🤘🏻

[@johnhenderson3646]

7:37...where's this?

[@Theruserofusernames]

The letters!

[@cron205]

Where is the new episode ?

[@Capitan_Chaos]

What's the song at 6:40?

[@lwkiesel1085]

Pools por vida

[@skakater44]

sure that the last song is by james dee?

[@91750fast]

sickk

[@alexbeardsley751]

how the hell is that shallow stair kickflip possible. So RAD

[@rasquatch]

is it May yet???? shit, can Grosso just do an episode every other month or something..its the best show...but warped in how its delivered

[@marksplender2000]

Alva needs a letter show. Grosso is funny but Alva is like this is serious and here is why.

[@bradgotch]

3:37. Beast

[@slimjim1756]

6:40 song. please. 😲🙀

[@airjuri]

And that original artist behind pools was Alvar Aalto?

[@harleyrobles560]

Did I see some Fresno pools? Just maybe!

[@menospeakyenglish]

haha oh yeah, a bunch

[@davidlowcher]

link to the last song? anyone? please?

[@vans]

siiiick. everything we used for this vid: "Intro 2" by Mount Schuylkill Civic Association, "Headless Horse" by Abrahma, "We Can't Be Stopped" by Insurgence, "Look Before You Leap" by Jesse Dee

[@skakater44]

are you sure, the last song is correct?

[@cryptomnesiac]

What's a friends? How do you get a friends? How do you keep a friends? How come I don't have any friends?

[@thepupils209]

put an ad on craigslist. "male looking for a friend. I am a wood pusher that enjoys fast rides on tight tranny. I prefer to ride padless. I hope that is not a problem. I bruise easily but can take slams like a man! If you enjoy these activities as much as I do...call me!"

[@cryptomnesiac]

thepupils209 you wrote that a little too well.

[@axelmennucci2751]

54yrs

[@manmanvan77]

Fukya!

[@jeremymtc]

When did Tony Alva complete his transformation into Garth Algar?

[@emolnar20012]

Tony is starting to look like Steve Carell with those specs

[@justinsanagustin9889]

whats the song at 2:30

[@vans]

It's "Headless Horse" by Abrahma

[@justinsanagustin9889]

no i found its vodun pt 2: zombie i shazamed that shit hey i got the tnt 5 they're perfect keep it up waiting for that new dan lu shoe

[@JimiBerkeley]

Justin San Agustin what

[@stereoreservoir]

7:36

[@bigdbigooo7829]

Its funny to see the design of pools in California its like they were meant to be skated. As opposed to the pools here in NJ for the most part. Here most pools are rectangle and 90 degree angles.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Most of them in my part of Canada are built like Jerseys, some kidneys and coffins also but the majority have liners and are unskateable. Some concrete pools but they're rarely empty.

[@jonweir5306]

I wonder if alva gets bummed when he starts talking about how he pioneered skateboarding in pools and saying that he and his crew were the "only ones who skated how they surfed" and then somebody says "what about Gregg Weaver?"

[@SchnellVITALVINYLVLOG]

Fok yeah

[@kaferman63]

What? no more ' letters?

[@axelmennucci2751]

and if they don't like it, sk8 them!

[@SomeJustice19k]

'It's still kinda punk'..... Fucking says it all.

[@williamhanley7031]

I think the oldest photo or vidio was the new jersey square or the cortez pool. Theres a lot of dudes who are dead now that were in there. We live we die so go skate now

[@AZPing]

AWESOME !!! Pool porn, thanks, much respect... :-)

[@johnchang7]

3:37 What?!

[@NeuroplasticityReprogram]

Never pool skated, realistically I likely never will, so forgive my ignorance. SO when you get to the drain you gotta like micro-jump to alliviate your weight from the board so your wheels don't get caught?

[@dinguscollective1872]

It really depends. If there’s a drain cover, then you would be fine. For the most part, the drain is close to the deep end which makes it pretty safe

[@jakeprice-mckenna7845]

One day I will skate a proper pool

[@BRAINROTTDAVE]

you need to.make that day come. it won't happen by accident. keep them peepers open for construction dumpsters in rich hoods. look thru fences when riding in a car. learn how 70s built neighborhoods look. most importantly, find shity ones & use them to get good ones.

[@axelmennucci2751]

axel says, pull a Duane😎

[@morty_falch8049]

aaaah aaah

[@Pog_Mo_Thoin]

Got dirty gunk filled pool problem - need fast, efficient solution? Just add skaters.

[@erichanhauser3190]

They will drain & clean your pool for free just for a sesh. Just one sesh.

[@ColinADay]

Dear Jeff Grosso, how about a Love Letter to nicknames. For example "MOTHRA." Why do people call you that? Just a suggestion. Thanks and hope your back is mending.

[@jeremiahwilson1781]

here in the midwest they dont really build curved wall pools like the west coast. you all are lucky. its all banked walls and shit here. theres not alot of in ground pools in general to begin with

[@chetrok1]

yeah it blows only nice about parks but they still suck i just stick to wall rides

[@jacobhirst7581]

Give England a try.

[@mathewharmer478]

I have no skate able pools oh maybe I can tell you about the pipe

[@bigbruh4203]

Jonny Ferrer would kill a pool as well!

[@bigbruh4203]

Royce Nelson tbe

[@kevincannon2847]

A pool is just as relevant as a ledge or a handrail?? Now thats fucking funny!!! UM ,you mean way more relevant!! Pools are a much greater thrill than sidewalk extensions ...

[@Satans_Financial_Advisor]

*Im a disciple of Grosso* Grosso was my North Star in Skateboarding, the living embodiment of how skateboarding made me feel. *Are you a disciple?*

[@dip_krizzle]

dad?

[@axelmennucci2751]

Duane has more teeth then me, fuck I'm fuckd! oh well, I'm still alive I think? and I still sk8, it's all I got , and all I want!

[@axelmennucci2751]

axel_grind says a

[@maxgtas]

No pools in germany

[@LSDOvideos]

+Interlude jpg Not real swimming pools maybe, but I'm sure there's parks that have bowls to skate.

[@maxgtas]

+LS DO ye some parks have bowls of course, but those gnarly backyard pools are almost non existent here.

[@joad9756]

+Interlude jpg go skate some old Nazi war buildings

[@0shitferbrains0]

Oh you guys got it all to skate over there pshh

[@Seklart]

Jeff Grosso obviously doesn't appreciate Tony Alva's aesthetic dreamy view on pools. He just wants to have all his skateboard-circus-acrobat buddies come in and thrash and wreck every private pool they can find; nothing is sacred in a communist's materialistic "fuck you" worldview. I prefer Alva's mellow philosophy. Style and aesthetics, that is more appealing than punk-rock thrashing and blind obsession with ever more difficult madcap tricks. It's the fine line between the two opposing camps of 'spirituality' and 'drug addiction'. And why shouldn't one look upon real pools seriously, as something sacred, when they are so incredibly rare? Just the pool's beautiful shape, alone makes it sacred! The spiritual path takes things seriously, see things as essential, meaningful, and ecstatic - while the materialistic drug-perspective doesn't really care about anything, respects nothing, for them it's just another ditch to abuse, and then leave for the next. It is of course possible that privileged Jeff Grosso and Tony Farmer have been introduced to hundreds of pools, and therefore have become spoiled; like someone who lives by the beach in Hawaii, after a while takes it for granted, and no longer truly sees its wonder. But I still think Jeff Grosso is great, and enjoy listening to him. A little lost and intellectually anarchistic in some ways, but his genuine passion compensates and leads to humor and many insights.

[@dinguscollective1872]

Bro, it’s funny how you talking about communism when the act of pool skating alone is destroying private property

[@elinoreberkley1643]

Skating is dead. 1.6K views out of 8 billion people. 8 years on youtube.

[@SixStair]

thats 1.6 thousand "likes" -- looks to be 219,000 views---

[@dinguscollective1872]

illiterate

[@timothy9969]

No respect for the old 120lb man after I meat him. Over rated in my mind. More popular for party’s and being a pos. Not skateboarding besides doing everything 2nd. Took him until about 60 to be sober. Wasn’t anything in your heads until Lords of DogTown and short documentary’s of what was already done. He could just afford a camera. Like R. Mullen invented the Ollie. No not true. Look up brewce martin. Ollie is literally named after the man who did it first.

[@thecottage4493]

Jesus Christ I can't stand listening to Tony Alva.

[@FrankSpotnich-dq8uk]

RIP GROSSO….