Loveletters Season 10: Venice | Jeff Grosso’s Loveletters to Skateboarding | VANS

Back in the 1980's the skaters of Venice Beach, California had to make due with what they had: an old abandoned pavilion on the boardwalk and a few scraps of wood. What they did with those limited resources helped change skateboarding forever.
Music Credits:
Schuykill River Bandits
"Fyodor"
Josh Landau
"No Reason at All"
"Guitar in A"
The Mutaints
"Crush it up"
Won Jams
"Tweak Out"
"Skull Theme"
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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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Loveletters Season 10: Venice | Jeff Grosso’s Loveletters to Skateboarding | VANS
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[@user-uo1qr6vn1q]

As a young skater in the early-mid 80s, I dreamed of living in Venice and skating with those guys. It seemed like new tricks were being created every single day and the way they were pushing the boundaries of skating was so exciting. At that time, absolutely nothing and no one were cooler than those dudes. Great episode Jeff.

[@MauroSkt]

I shouted OHHHHHHHH YEEEEEEEEEEEES so loud I woke my neighbours. love you Grosso, thanks for everything.

[@jackpalmiotti]

Gets Josh Brolin just to tell him he used his board. Grosso Style

[@TheMikeMase]

lmao I know, that cracked me up. easily the "biggest name" and he puts him in it for 2 seconds. so rad, RIP to a legend

[@MycoMatty]

@@TheMikeMase haha man I feel the same way. Fucking only Grosso could get a fucking A list movie star to appear on his skateboarding history lesson and put him in for two seconds to tell him he rode his board. So fucking Legendary I’ve been watching these nonstop for like a week now Grosso was so fucking real the skateboarding community as a whole could use more like him. RIP GROSSO

[@johndoughnut9350]

@@MycoMatty Grosso was like , “Yeah you used to ride MY board , Thanos. You ain’t all that” lol

[@seekah1]

One of my fave Loveletters, miss ya Jeff.

[@rippedtorn2310]

Launch ramp early grabs are the best .

[@wegowhereeaglesdare]

"And now you know who Tim Jackson is" - Thanks!!! What a ripper.

[@FarAboveTheGround]

@George Kafiridis tim made me a custom hand painted skateboard he sells them off his facebook page. He made me an awesome one for me

[@FarAboveTheGround]

George Kafiridis I’m not I do visit twice a year though. Tim ok’d me to share his Instagram page here. instagram.com/instagram.com/timjacksondts?igshid=1of6s099fqje5timjacksondts?igshid=1of6s099fqje5

[@TheArts19]

The main influence for surf-style. Magical place. 90° wallride breakthrough was massive. Adams, Alva, CHRIST, BLOCK,Z-Boys, Dogtown, High Riders, Jesse hyping up shit soooo hard. Rad. Flores, Ngoho, Olson, Hackett... Respect overload since youth. Gonzo's... Mondo Beck one of the best styles I have ever seen. Thank you.

[@davidvanvliet193]

Natas kaupas. The reason I started skating. Best love letter so far! Thanks Grosso!

[@lesterhalfjr]

old school and new school both came from the same place

[@davidvanvliet193]

skateboarding.transworld.net/videos/loveletters-season-10-natas-love-note/ THANKS GROSSO!

[@Machihekamake]

I agree, this is my favorite episode. I started skating around 85 and at 11 I knew Venice was a Mecca for LA kids. I remember I asked my dad to take me and the block skater kids from East LA around 86 and he did drop us off there lol. We were posers, I guess, just watching. But it inspired to try and try... what passion i had for it. So afterwards I kept returning till my high school days with better skills and companions. I remember a typical weekend: skate and meet up in morning, take bus to Downtown LA, skate there, take another bus to either wilshire Blvd / Fairfax or Santa Monica then skater bus all the way to Venice. On the way back the buses wouldn’t stop for us cause we were too many, so we’d split up at different stops ( like the Warriors lol). Sometimes we’d get jumped or jacked for a ur boards in downtown or along the way. Downtown LA was dangerous at night. Finally make it back to East LA ( proud of my hood). We had our local scene but nothing like Venice scene. 44 years old with torn ACL, no insurance, can’t afford getting hurt anymore but I’ve been riding an old 60s wooden board.. very fun. Luv you sk8 culture forever

[@cron205]

Thank goodness season 10 is here 😎 GROSSO RULES

[@MrBangen2012]

Man been rewatching all the older love letters episodes for months and months. Glad it’s back 😁

[@gabaroo150]

long over due! So glad we got a new episode and on venice!!? Hell yea brother

[@BrandenLanfeld14]

I lived down the street from Jesse in Venice. One day Jesse had a sign saying free kittens... who wouldn’t take a kitten from Jesse, that’s my story of meeting Jesse and now I have a 6 year old cat.

[@therealwewin]

How's your couch doing?

[@marissac870]

Does he actively use meth?...

[@ScoobyDooby530]

How’s your cat?

[@BrandenLanfeld14]

@@ScoobyDooby530 great.

[@erichanhauser3190]

That's awesome.

[@flipjohnson8940]

No matter how long these love letter videos are it's never long enough big ups Grosso

[@shanreddy]

This was one of the best episodes.

[@Z17xMachine]

I'm 42 and even though I started skating in 85' Thrashin' gave all the young kids from the mid west and the east coast a glimpse of California. Yeah the mags did as well, but to see it in the flesh gave it a whole new meaning. I knew as a kid that skateboarding derived from surfing. It made me understand that I needed to investigate our surfing ancestors. People like Greg Noll, Miki Dora, and Phillip Hoffman just to name a few. When I saw Riding Giants it only reaffirmed that yes, these surfers from the early days are our ancestors. How surfing was to skating, skating is to snowboarding in my eyes. In the 80's and 90's people from the east coast for the most part had to put away the skateboards for the winter. In those days winters were much more harsh here near Pittsburgh. A small group of skaters I knew started snowboarding a few years before the slopes let us in. Places like Hidden Valley in 91' then Seven Springs in 92' Moral of my story. Even if you're not into Surfing or skating vert and you're a street skater. It's important to know the heritage of it all and to know who and what came before you. It makes it so much more interesting.

[@dxzxax8772]

Seeing how a wallride came to fruition. So gnarly.

[@slimeballz]

Yessssss there are more Loveletters to Skateboarding!!! Because skateboarding is a lifestyle and life IS style. Greetings from Skåne sweden.

[@gonzo13ist]

Skateboarding as so much more cooler in the eighties!

[@jeffwilson3527]

Thank god the letters are back.

[@markuseden2105]

Hands down my favorite edition of the Letters!!

[@usslongbeachcg9]

I just gotta say (and I hope Grosso sees this with his own eyes 👀), that this show has just gotten more and more interesting to watch and that Im hooked. great quality and topics for sure! keep killin it on the killin floor yo!

[@fuckyshityfuckshit]

This is pure fucking cool. Never stop you glorious bastard.

[@P1Brand]

Thank you Six Stair, thank you Vans.

[@waltersobchek2465]

Much anticipated and appreciated Mr. Grosso! Love the footage from the Skateboard Superstars and Super Stunts videos! The first videos I had as a little kid from the Sears catalog. 1986 my mind was blown and it hasn't been the same since👍 Thanks for doing em!

[@ichibanomc8037]

Thanks for getting Jesse Martinez his dues. Dude is way overlooked.

[@KarlLind]

This is the best one yet! Love it. Thank you Jeff and Vans for making it.

[@scorber23]

Venice summer TV special in 84' or 85' is the reason I started skating .. being from Kansas City, Mo. I saw the Venice locals skate on TV and you could tell they were pissed and they were going off extra gnarly.. acid drops, boneless ones and streetplants.. something to do with the raw aggressive style and attitude with that thrashed out gangster punk look and the beach behind them.. coming from the landlocked midwest this was the recipe I needed. I was a breakdancer by 12yrs old and then I saw the Venice skaters and that was it to this day. Thank You guys for the gnar gnar and all the STYLE! I will never forget. I effin love SKATEBOARDING!!! 47yrs old now and i am still getting rad af! 🙌💯

[@steveperry7799]

That wall ride to crail slide transfer over the wall is one of the SICKEST things I have ever seen in my 22 years on a board!! WTF was that!!

[@youwillthankme]

I like the clips from ‘skateboarding superstars’! I watched that over and over when I was a kid before I found other skate vids.

[@highonangeldust]

One of my first. I had that and a few other weird, generic videos I bought at the music store for a couple of bucks. I loved the shit outta them. Then I got the Powell and psycho skate vids. Good times.

[@Sketchyskate]

Thank you for these history lessons, and please please never stop them

[@snakefinger]

That pic of Christian and the jump ramp footage is the reason He’ll forever be my favorite local ripper. Jesse’s the muthafuckin man.

[@61936]

Those photos just look sick makes we wish I was around back then skating venice

[@fattzo_films]

Tim Jackson’s part in Risk It blew my mind when it came out.

[@handywithshovels]

Team Fatt every trick demanded a quadruple take: “holy shit! What the hell was that?!?

[@KarlLind]

Yeah, we were like "who the fuck is this gangster ass looking white boy and how is that even humanly possible?"

[@nephimcknight5832]

It's literally still blowing my fucking mind. I need to study that part extensively and see what's possible for me to do on the walls eh

[@KarlLind]

Cool, thanks!@George Kafiridis

[@ArkhamDrifter]

Tim Jackson's style fully represents what Venice skateboarding was and is about...Originality.

[@seabass1964]

Grateful for the Letters. Pure and Real. Thank you.

[@samrobertson9051]

When i first saw the dogtown doco in the movie theatre, and the end credits began to roll. I sat there saying...'what about Tim Jackson and Aaron Murrey!!!' That's fully what i was looking forward to seeing, being an 80s grom and watching my vhs copy of 'RISK IT' religiously. I was so let down at the time, as it was only about the 60s-70s era. This makes up for it.

[@Loner2012AT]

Great episode! I love the nugget about the Thrashin' board actually being a Grosso Toy Box model. Fun stuff. Venice looked awesome.

[@williamgage597]

Seriously, I remember that Tim Jackson footage burning an imprint in my eyeballs 25 years ago -- I still haven't seen anyone wall ride with the style he had, though there is obviously some sick progression.

[@stinkycheeseman1723]

We appreciate Jesse. One of the realest of the real. So much love for skating.

[@luchalew2884]

No way! I didn't know Corey Webster's board was Grosso's! Awesome!

[@codeblack3026]

That episode just wasn't long enough.Realy good!

[@joerodriguez1797]

My first visit to Venice beach was in 1986 when I was 12 years old. I met Jeff Harstel on the broard walk. That place was rad,..., just skate and get the fuck out the way!!! Fun times!

[@ggarlicbread5736]

The letters ❤ A San Francisco episode would be sick!

[@WolfWould]

I learn everything i ever missed out on or ever wanted to know from this series. This whole thing should be mando for new skaters. Or a skateboarding college class.

[@MycoMatty]

Jesse Martinez is so fucking rad that Natas story is amazing. That’s some serious commitment cleaning that park for 10 fucking years. Wish Grosso was still around to keep this going. RIP JEFF

[@armandoaguilar740]

I wish skateboarding was always like this

[@bubbadagger]

Yooooo cant believe the snippets from Skateboard Superstars lol, still got my vhs copy from 89

[@tommoon2700]

So thankful grosso did this series no one couldnt have been the gate keeper to skateboarding better than him well maybe jay adams 😂 shred in paradise brothers LEGANDS

[@snakefinger]

Thank you Tim Jackson !

[@Odog-ew2qh]

OMG it’s back! I’ve been rewatching reruns for so long

[@nitrojunkie9027]

Clicked on so frigging fast, good to see you back Grosso. This is going to be a tough season. RIP Phelper

[@StankPlanks]

Awesome ep! Love the skate history of Venice

[@jeffersonchocron]

Thanks for one of the best and ispiration vídeos I've serem lately.

[@armstrongphotography21]

Lets get it Grosso new season oh yeah. Keeping them coming Vans.

[@mitchfree7447]

Damn, this needs a part 2.

[@gonzo13ist]

ThAt was great! We want more from you Grosso!

[@Dirtyshoes22]

Great episode, thanks Grosso, greetings from Colombia 🇨🇴

[@AndrewHamlin]

So stoked to see Tim Jackson’s part here!! Among all the other great clips... I

[@cron205]

Man im so stoked about this episode 😎

[@Slovy_]

The jump ramp clip from Skateboard Madness takes me back to 87-88. I wore that tape out

[@georgefrank5711]

So much good info about the skateboard history

[@percyzeppelin]

Beautiful

[@ManewBlewww]

Need to call "Doc" Emmett Brown (-; to send me back there in the early 80's!!! Thanks much guys!!!

[@leonbaaren9822]

Great item. Proud to been there in the mid eighties

[@jimbodaveymac1746]

Respect to Jesse Martinez... O.G. Venice shredder!!!

[@traddad9172]

Us East Coast 90s kids were envious of Venice - Cali in general

[@mr.rogers2121]

"Ran to the phone because you didn't have cell phones back then. Put a quarter in... Sorry a dime." 🤣🤣🤣 Touché

[@SlinkSkateboards]

Sick video. The history is always rad!

[@samuelstoner1838]

The best times.i did wall rides in those days

[@OKMegatron]

Awesome episode!

[@anjinsanx44]

respect,,notice the big wheels they we used on pools in the 1970s i was 10in san pedro in 77, i only use larger wheels till this day ,have an aversion to small wheels

[@lenk1975]

That full hand f/s stalefish by Jessie martinez on that beat ass ramp is burnt into my brain.

[@Deliciousjuicysandwich]

Rest in peace big dog we love you

[@matthewhiner4318]

👍🏼 motivated , wall rides and jump ramp judo airs . Thanks

[@thebassbuilder]

I never heard of Tim Jackson and that was my time but that footage was sick!

[@adam-remy8377]

Why did I not know about Tim Jackson!?

[@nephimcknight5832]

Exactly.

[@coldshoulder3753]

I wore out his section on that speed wheels tape

[@tonchido]

This is serious documentary,love it

[@mahoney1360]

So goddamn good.

[@scottieskatan4219]

This just made my day and that new Max Headroom intro is rad, fuck yeah Grosso....

[@supakidgalaxy]

Love the letters

[@ethanwelles]

Great history lesson! And thanks, now I know who invented my all-time favorite trick, the wallride! Never could do it but it was always my fav.

[@jessebaseballny3700]

Ethan Atwell just for that go do a wall ride !!🤙

[@ArthurFellig]

Grosso rules.

[@Callofgamers1]

fuckin stoked for the new season... Shout out to jesse for always cleaning Venice 4 da bois

[@Erawk2084]

My favorite “LETTERS” .

[@jayfunk5988]

Had that first martinez sma board,what a legend

[@cron205]

Totally STOKED that you got Josh Brolin for this totally rad episode looking Stylin Thrashin' @joshbrolin im hoping for a thrashin' 2.0 web series like corbra kai did or a Thrashin' 2 movie Josh Brolin for this totally rad episode Josh Brolin is totally stoked and in amazing shape to reprize the role of Corey Webster like totally to the max

[@escapedvivesectionist7011]

That was awesome. Been waiting for this one.

[@FIRSTGOENTERTAINMENT]

Your finaly back. 😍👍👌🙏

[@beesareonthewhatnow3305]

Fuck yeah, that was sick! Probably my favourite episode.

[@ciancio_lautaro.4401]

Living skate history. Love this. Grosso es Groso (Argentinian meaning to awesome- great,cool)

[@ThePuppyPrince]

Welcome back Jeff!

[@luisaugustobastos]

Great episode!!!

[@jhomer38]

the world will never be the same

[@veryveryveryreal]

Sick one!!! Venice 💯 respect....Jesse killing it always 💯....Venice Beach 🏝 🛹

[@friscostreetstories5403]

Those V13 sweats were sick

[@dylanrogers5948]

great job folks!

[@sniffmatip3865]

I find it crazy that the launch ramps from back in the day are the same hieght as half the transition in these new parks that the councils keep putting in places.

[@cron205]

Thrashin' 2.0 staring Josh Brolin @joshbrolin

[@erichanhauser3190]

God I Love Skateboarding. Venice God Bless You. You Rule.

[@danielstrawhun224]

Super interesting! Just skated Venice for the first time this year.

[@faunaflage]

Love the new theme song, too.