The amazing life and tragic fall of skateboarder Jeff Grosso.

Jeff Grosso was a character for sure in the world of skateboarding - comedian, power skater, historian, and all-around great guy with literally a big heart. His stoke level on the sport if you could measure it by a gauge would have a broken needle at the 100% mark. After battling problems with cocaine and alcohol in the mid-to-late-80s, when vertical skateboarding had taken a commercial nosedive, Jeff stayed afloat here and there. He also developed a problem with heroin in the late 80s. He got sober in 2005 and went on to a successful KZbin channel called "Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding," sponsored by Vans and produced by Rick Charnoski and Buddy Nichols. Tragically, Jeff died on March 31, 2020, at 51, from cardiomegaly (heart enlargement). The toxicology report from December of 2020 also stated he had fentanyl in his system.
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed healthcare provider. If you feel you are in a crisis, please contact your primary care provider or go to the hospital. I do not condone the use of substances - medications or drugs, legal or illegal.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. No copyright infringement intended. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Special thanks to J. Grant Brittain for the use of his photos; Randy Hollandsworth for video usage, and Terri Craft for letting me get my start with Juice.
jgrantbrittain...
juicemagazine....
#skateboarding #addiction #alcoholism #recovery #fentanyl

[@soulinvader2243]

Awesome video my first board was a Schmitt stick Jeff Grosso such a time to be alive and into skateboarding so much innovation going on

[@ShadesOClarity]

Thanks. I had a few Schmitt boards, but never a Grosso.

[@randyhollandsworth626]

Great video. 👍 I thought it was so cool when he got on Anti Hero that late in the game. One note: That NSA Pro Del Mar contest was in 1985 not 1995. I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue. There were two contests that year at Del Mar. This one was the second and last NSA contest of the year and the the other was the first contest. That first Del Mar contest that year was the one with Hawk and Hosoi going head to head that lasted into the night. So good!! Jeff's Nine Club interview was probably one of the best as well. So much great info. Keep up the great work!

[@ShadesOClarity]

Duly noted. I am not sure why I said "1995." Thanks for watching!

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

You need to crank the "background music" up just a bit louder.

[@ShadesOClarity]

I am still getting the hang of it. Thanks for the advice and watching.

[@comesect]

No one wants to talk about how fentanyl killed him, they just made a bunch a boards and I guess used that to shield his son from the fact

[@ShadesOClarity]

Yes. It sucked. The whole skateboard community was shocked. It was in his system, however, but it is possible it wasn't an overdose considering the cardiomegaly.

[@porkpie8667]

​@@ShadesOClarityHe was a fairly healthy bloke . He's struggled with drugs for years . It was definitely an overdose . The skate community should highlight the fact to try and discourage it's use .

[@porkpie8667]

@@Sreybk that's the problem when you have been addicted to drugs . It messes with the immune system. Where a healthy person may have survived. It happened to a friend of mine who was clean for years . He cut himself at work and it got infected and unfortunately he died . What Grosso did with Love Letters was true brilliance. I don't know why The Nine Club or Hawk and Wolf . Have not had Buddy and Rick on their shows . Imagine the stories they could tell .

[@ShadesOClarity]

@@porkpie8667 I don't know why Rick and Buddy haven't been on there either. Drugs and alcohol do screw with your immune system. Excessive alcohol intake can cause liver problems that may reduce your white cell count - leading to infections.

[@j-mac7401]

100%. If u went diggin _ the narrative always led to overdose. And forgive me if I'm wrong but the same story goes along with how Phelps passed away..... Going back to Grosso, as far as graphics - he has some the best , legendary board graphics. FROM Santa Cruz to Schmitt and Black Label and on to Antihero..... the best..... RIP Grosso.....