Loveletters Season 9: Atlanta Scene Report | Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding | VANS

Building a scene takes time and lots of work. For over 40 years the skaters in Atlanta have worked together to build one of the best scenes anywhere in the world. Grosso and the Love Letters crew took a trip to ATL to check out the scene.
"Walking Whiskey" by Nicholas Burke
"Totem Pole" by Schuykill River Bandits
"Sex in Motion" by Mark 111
"Slim to None" by Paul Klauss
"Ramp Jam” by Atlanta Garage Blues Band
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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 9: Atlanta Scene Report | Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding | VANS
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[@mynameisjfr00]

rest in peace Thomas Taylor, my condolences to the family and to the ATL crew.

[@teenagecaveman881]

The most common injury for skaters in Atlanta is liver damage

[@JahEerie]

As it should be. Slainte from Ireland 🍻

[@rippedtorn2310]

@@JahEerie haha Scottish person here about to comment same .Slainte Mhath

[@donhillsmanii5906]

DAMN THIS IS ACCURATE AS FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU As I sit here waiting for Liver Damage

[@averyprice9422]

🤣

[@taitsmith8521]

😂😂😂

[@fishinwithshredders5112]

no mention of the ramps in the warehouses D-12 and C-11 in the late 90s early 2000s, I lived there and there were some epic sessions happening all the time. Some real awesome locals coming through all the time. Stormy, Jeremiah Babb, Jay Buck RIP, Fred Reeves, and many others whose names have started to fade from my memory now but the years I lived there will always be a special time in my life. Cool to see some familiar faces.

[@donhillsmanii5906]

I AM SO STOKED TO BE A PART OF THIS EPISODE!!! Thank Jeff for coming out and breaking bread with us Southerers... hellzYeah Peace Up,A-Town down ATL is a straight skate town

[@DustinRobertsOfficial]

I was stoked to see you in there man!

[@shmelty]

Love ya Don! So stoked to see you in this!

[@TheXitone]

respect from Scotland man that looked so fekin good .

[@jSonTX]

Heck yeah Don! Jay from Texas here. My buddy Matt did your reissue graphic. Stoked to see you on here!

[@donhillsmanii5906]

@@jSonTX that was a fun collaboration!!

[@tanys9339]

I got see see Don Hillsman tear it up in '88 at the Keystone Ramp in PA. Huge airs and style, and a super nice dude. Glad to see him again.

[@mac9310]

Dave O'Brian had the sickest style in the history of ATL skating.

[@1439of2000]

Rampage skatepark, Bellsouth building, Little 5 points, Stratosphere, Ambush... so many fun places in the 90s and early 2000s for me as a teenager. Thanks for doing this one and giving ATL some attention.

[@SpectrumSkate]

I miss Ambush and the ol' crew - pruett, Butler, Glover, Shuters ect.

[@superwalt2159]

Devil's Ditch

[@sadhvacman7238]

The destruction of that masterpiece under I-85 is just pathetic.

[@goetia13]

sad hvacman jumkie bums - the gift that keeps on giving

[@davehenson8527]

Ya know, Sean Young lived in ATL for a couple years...& ATL Used to have world's largest indoor wooden bowl in the early '90s at the same place NSA finals happened

[@CINCYSTARR]

Skate Zone was epic

[@williamharper9356]

Big love for my ATL brothers!!! This was a great episode.

[@AndrewJ951]

So good ol deep fried southern skateboarding! Caught myself hitting the pause a few times to check those old classic Kona flicks.

[@tyronshoelaces420]

Thanks Grosso, thanks Vans, thanks the Taylor family, and thank you skateboarding. You're some of the best of parts of being alive.

[@johnchang7]

Rip Grosso. Place looks way chill. Stoked on those guys.

[@SkateGirlAndrea]

Beautiful, love it. Reminds me of the skate community in my city. About a week away from the renewal and expansion of my home park grand opening. One of the oldest parks on the Eastern seaboard where I am. Lots of OG's giving guidence here. We have an Old School too. Bless 🙏❤

[@lastomykindwill4598]

I've seen three different episodes that y'all have given Blaze props.I didn't know him personally but, saw him skate his Rasta Ramp3 when I was a young poser.And he thoroughly ripped the pool back in the day, Chas.,SC.Miss those times and he as well.

[@adam-remy8377]

I need that Zorlac banner in that room at the end.

[@Eigenstates.]

Damnit if I haven't been watching The Letters for 3 days straight. This episode right here is one that definitely got to me. Such a great bunch. Nor Cal wants to come rage some blues! Thanks Jeff and crew for taking me some place I might never have been. Thanks Atl for letting us watch and learn. I am sorry you had to let your park go. It looked incredible.

[@simplecircuit]

i love seeing the bellsouth bldg. i went to school in atl in the mid-90s. that and north ave marta were the spots.

[@misticformula1485]

Much respect for showin the Atl skate scene so much love! Grew up in Cali then lived in NC and now in Atl for a long time so this is dope!

[@michaeljohn8905]

I’m from NYC and I moved to Atlanta and these boys rip hard as fuck. And they are fun to party with. Brothers for sure. So glad I moved here.

[@masondixon6269]

Hell yeah Grosso. Thanks for showing us Atlanta. Looks like a super sick scene!

[@faunaflage]

Thought we might get some fresh Grosso footie on that ramp!

[@chicoyoung8854]

Shout out to big bro " andy howell " u was my favorite street sk8ter in the 90 in atlanta

[@rogerdavis9962]

Dirty South!!!! POSITIVE VIBES to the homies in ATL from Bainbridge GA

[@davidsno3501]

I grew up in Redondo Beach, I’ve been wearing Vans my whole life. Skating in them…and got married in Vans. I moved to Georgia and I’m starting to get connected in the skate scene here. I’m 35, just got back into skateboarding and now I’m seriously going to attempt opening a Family Centric Skate Center in Suwanee, GA

[@donhillsmanii5906]

And also BIG thanks to Stratosphere Skateboards for the lookout-you the man,Thomas Taylor...

[@landon6054]

Lol im from Atlanta (atl locals where you at?!)

[@pr0tection4]

we’re all so happy it’s back

[@mattletch6704]

Makes my heart ache with joy!

[@vans]

Hey Matt! Thanks for sharing that. If you thought this was rad, catch more from Jeff Grosso's Loveletters To Skateboarding here: bit.ly/2yDCO51

[@LiamHintz666]

Atlanta loves you Jeff!!!!

[@jackgir9534]

Give ruin skate shop some love outside of downtown Atlanta every body gets their boards there

[@matthewjames206]

Love it. More episodes like this please.

[@jacklouerskates]

Nice nobody ever talks about Atlanta skating I live here in atlanta so it’s so cool to see it everyone always talks about NyC or California never about Atlanta

[@75YBA]

Love and respect from Windsor, ON GROSSO! You and Lucero are my heroes forever.

[@noncon8758]

EVERY one of the love letters offers at least a little something for those of us who have/had our collective skate scenes; regardless of the era. They're incredibly relatable. I find myself jonesing if I don't get a new one before long. Grosso is a great host. Whoever came up with the concept and put JG out in front needs to be made a show-runner over at Vans.

[@ericlind3569]

I love that you’re including the Goob at the end of the episodes!! Cool father/son memories!!!

[@mouija1450]

Around the time of the New Deal videos, like 1990-1995, we had a rad spot in the woods of CT that used to be some old factory. The floor was super smooth concrete and tile, all swept out nicely for flatground and an embedded flatbar, and the older guys hauler in wood to build a super nice 24x5 mini with some auctioned pieces from the Playground park in Wallingford. Of course someone lit it on fire and ruined it for everyone. At the peak of the spot, it was likely the best park in the northeast with incredible graffiti all over the walls, an amazing floor and a huge mini ramp, and it was all done illegally and by hand. During the winter, that was the only spot we could skate. It was freezing cold, but at least there was a roof to keep the snow off.

[@DOboyle73]

Thanks Jeff. Been waiting for the letters.

[@NorthcuttSkateboards]

Blues, Beer and Skateboarding. Fuck yeah.

[@joerodriguez1797]

Very much enjoyed this episode! Solid skate family.

[@jeffersonchocron]

Amazing!! This video sgows the true vibe of skateboarding.

[@vans]

Hey Jefferson! Thanks for sharing that. If you thought this was rad, catch more from Jeff Grosso's Loveletters To Skateboarding here: bit.ly/2yDCO51

[@DAWIII]

STRATOSPHERE forever! Incredible to see Don Hillsman! Great fuckin' video again!

[@DustinRobertsOfficial]

Please add Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky to your list. James Kelch (REAL), Gary Collins (Consolidated), Newport Bridge DIY, local parks, old man ramps & so much!

[@mraidenbeamish]

Wish grosso did Joe rogan esque pod casts would love to listen to him and some old skate ramble about skate history

[@Psymon1471]

Go check out his episode with The Nine Club

[@chicoyoung8854]

Rest in peace "piedmont park ditch"

[@XavierSteel]

THIS IS FUCKING DOPE. MAKE MORE OF THIS. PLEASE. THANK YOU JEFF GROSSO!

[@RajonTV]

Thank you for the episode!

[@abec6.6.6.]

Love that city

[@MrNINTENDOJOE]

great episode skateboarding is great and pure and beautiful

[@legalman2891]

Superb job Doctor Grosso !

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

Lots of good music shows in ATL too. Seen Firehose there. Fugazi.. the ole F&F..

[@donhillsmanii5906]

8:07 Atl Skateboarding LEGEND and winner of the NSA Street contest final & 9th Black Pro 1990 FRED REEVES !!!!!!!

[@sk8bones43]

Atlanta looks fun. Have to say still kinda bummed. Atlanta has a lot going on. The whole industry seems to ignore the big middle part of the country. Please exclude Texas from that. You know. Fly over states. It is so much harder, different, and hardcore out here. We do it for ourselves in our own way. You could do a whole deal on Kanis Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. I'm not even sure they know the exact history of that 80's bowl. I have people tell me it was built in 1987, but I'm pretty sure I was there then and it had been around at least a couple of years. I'm thinking 1984, but again not sure the real history is known. Seriously, Kanis Park Little Rock. Dig deep. See how it is out here. Ya'll got it so good you don't even know. Sorry Atlanta, I guess I'm jealous. We love our little scenes, and it's unbelievably difficult, but wouldn't trade it for Burnside, so yeah. Check out the fly over scenes if you would please. Thank you kindly.

[@Monkstar1]

I agree. Look at these guys, they kill it and their parks/backyard look fun: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKPGfWCeaNGggc0&index=35&list=LLYdnMoXaY7HLNCjnLn_6gmQ

[@bubbadagger]

Do the canadian East coast!

[@XSProgression]

So sick. So glad I decided to start watching these loveletters. Great videos! Bullshit that they tore down that diy bridge spot. I remember seeing on the news they were going to tear it down because of a fire. Rebuild ATL!!

[@vonslagle]

Excellelent show! How about an Eastern Pennsylvania Scene Retrospective? Sean Miller, Cheapskates, Barker Barrett, Rob Mertz, FDR, the Charnoski Brothers etc

[@justinlansdale]

vonslagle yes.

[@pr0tection4]

i know the seattle scene may not be personal to you but if you could give it some attention it would literally mean the world

[@arildrossebo]

Nice one, that explains GTs abilities pretty good. Come to Oslo, Grosso!

[@lucwill93]

thanks Jeff

[@Brian_Davies]

Grant Taylor deserves his own episode

[@tunelowplayslow5623]

LOAD speaks the truth!

[@PooShow604]

Anyone know his name? Tryin to find footy

[@cammezzatesta425]

love these videos

[@willismoore156]

Love letters is becoming a short installment 411 video mag... I dig it

[@otjunior]

This made me so pumped!!!!

[@kruddles]

Bourdain-esque!! def need to do more SCENE REPORTS dude!! killer ep

[@majesticuncasual186]

Digging the new direction. Much stoke!

[@tntsk868]

wish they had skate spots like that in West Palm Beach Florida. Great Video, Skate or die!

[@dadoe]

Nice work, very inspiring.

[@pattypimpin6201]

Love the episode, You should do Seattle next!

[@waxkevorkian7884]

Give Load a show!

[@donhillsmanii5906]

Dude, THAT would be AMAZING

[@ThePuppyPrince]

New series? Yes fucking please.

[@mynameismud4069]

Mad love from the 912

[@fourthumbsdwn]

No mention of Andy Howell?

[@tomtorrance9194]

Yeah, i was surprised by that too.

[@zondiable]

crazy huh

[@franklinrichmond2013]

No joke. How do you make a show about Atlanta skateboarding and not mention Andy Howell?

[@masondixon6269]

What about the ATL Twins?!

[@romanizaboss6641]

or Fred Reeves

[@SkullLikeASecret]

@9:03 is the Farm Ramp in NC.

[@SixStair]

yup--- talking about the whole south in that section---

[@Dav2112]

I wish there was still vert ramps around here like there was back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, I’d probably die trying to skate them now as I’ve not skated vert since those days. I’m just happy I can still do some basic lip tricks on mini ramps, though I’d still love to pad up and hit a decent vert ramp.

[@jeremypaul138]

Dav cool story

[@donhillsmanii5906]

COMING SOON BROTHER

[@adtattedup]

I was looking for that bridge spot for a year then I seen it on the news I knew it was a wrap for that dream Beauty of Georgia it's a lot of space to do it again

[@logo2department706]

SO sick!!!

[@seanohara1736]

Awesome!

[@grumpyjay215]

Kinda badass that Atlanta made The Letters. But what a one sided view. As an outsider from Philadelphia in 1995 I was just a hang around high school kid trying to make friends. But shut out by all the “cool kids” at Stratosphere. They had their scene for decades by then. And if you didn’t know someone it was a very “locals only” vibe.... And I’m not hating on it, but as a kid just looking for a scene to be part of it was tough days just trying to find the new spots....

[@jmarvosa6x3]

Nice upload!

[@MrOuest]

Hell yeah Grosso!!

[@RockyFromRunescape]

I wanna go to Atlanta now

[@nickmccack]

Hell yeah!!! any chance of a scene report in Baltimore, Philly, or Chicago?

[@travisguide4516]

Great episode fo shooo

[@vans]

Hey Travs! If you were hyped on that, you can watch more from Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding here: bit.ly/2yDCO51

[@rickballou1271]

Great stuff! Thomas is the real deal...R Ballou

[@ryanrentfrow4367]

Great Papa Grosso

[@birkirrafn4816]

cool episode :)):))):)

[@CaliBreeeze]

This was fucking sick! What city’s next?

[@JuanManuel-qz8qi]

No mention of Jeff Walker!!!!?????😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@zapperpoops]

Detroit scene report. GO!

[@zapperpoops]

find danforth

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

@@zapperpoops he's on Instagram. All I follow is old skaters and he's one of them.

[@skaterdavedownsouth]

Marshall Lundberg He's just up the coast from me here in FL.

[@porch2942]

do you ATL guys still skate downtown much? mostly all i saw here was the bell building. we made some great skate road trips to atlanta from asheville, nc back in the early 90's. downtown was so sick for us bumpkins, marble everywhere!

[@jesuschil3491]

After dark and on holidays man. Dont wana give up the secrets, but the whole city is skatable just don't be goofy and keep moving.

[@boracho714]

Atlanta's cool, the airports nice.

[@BrandonAilion]

pretty sweet seeing all the spots I know and trying to figure out the rest, wish I had some more street skills and could hang with everyone else. Always been a hill guy tho, so if ya want to bomb some stuff bang my line. Anyone know who landed that trick off the roof of the overpass on the freedom park trail?

[@bsargeant88]

That was Travis Glover. @travis.rome.glover

[@davidspevacek2937]

Sick and all but why no mention of Ruin? Its always about stratosphere...

[@Waynimations]

Pennsylvania next!!!

[@J0Nstallings]

Those the bros fasho!

[@johnfodo4129]

Love letters is way too short make em longer

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Vans needs to drop some cash and pay these guys enough to 26 hour long episodes a year.......or whatever they can handle.

[@donhillsmanii5906]

THIS

[@youdontknowwme2293]

Yeeeeeeeeeboooiiiiii. Born and raised on the playground is where i seen twins get pushed off a swing

[@Jonty1155]

Shit I love this channel! RIch in sk8 history!

[@apolloofficial6357]

Where is the bowl from the intro at