Early Education / Jeff Grosso

JEFF GROSSO

“We were kids. Days felt like years, there was plenty of time for everything, and everything was brand new. What do I remember about Pipeline? I was never very excited to go to Upland. It felt like more of a punishment than a reward to my young mind. There was the brutal heat, smog, and harsh transitions… shit, not to mention the sand- paper surface. We’d beg for Skate City Whittier, but receive an all day pass to the Pipeline. However, like I said… we were young and hyped! We’d spend our days battling heat stroke, drinking too much Mountain Dew and following the older locals around the park like lost puppy dogs! Chris Miller, Eric Jueden, Chris Robison, and Don Pollard became fast friends. While not scarfing down pizza grinders, we rolled in an endless train around the 15 foot bowl , jumping the hip, only to start all over again! We played tag in the snake runs, learned lip slides in the 8 foot bowl, and received an education on Combi etiquette. Round shallow! These were times of innocence and the progression flowed from us, as did the blood! I still have the scars. It was great! It sucked. It was an early education in the Badlands and I learned from some of the best.” - GROSSO

Thanks to Jeff Grosso for the memories. Thank you to MRZ and Grant Brittain for the images.