April 28, 2021

Grosso Forever

To pay tribute to skate legend, historian, gatekeeper, and beloved Vans family member Jeff Grosso, and to mark his birthday, Vans is proud to announce a new Love Letters To Skateboarding episode solely featuring Jeff, complimented by the Grosso Forever collection. Royalties from this collection will go directly to Jeff's son, Oliver. 

 

Vans Surf Presents Sonic Souvenirs: A World Premiere | Surf | VANS

Sonic Souvenirs is a series of portraits that takes us on an exploration of art, music and surfing with Mikey February. Our first episode trails Mikey close to home journeying up and down the East and West coast of South Africa. A spiritual - almost mystical visual experience with his natural environment. ONLINE CREDITS Vans Presents a series of portraits with Mikey February Episode 1 South Africa Directed by Kai Neville Produced by We’re Free Radicals Cinematography Paul Daniel 16mm Cinematography Fabian Vettiger Still Photography Alan Van Gysen Art Direction Callum Abbott Colourist Fergus Rotherham Original Music by Madala Kunene and Friends Sound Design Thom Pringle SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1aIFFTY​ About Vans Surf: Videos from the Vans Surf Team. Surf Team Members: Nathan Fletcher, Joel Tudor, Dane Reynolds, Wade Goodall, Leila Hurst, Pat Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas, Nathan Florence, Dylan Graves, Ivan Florence, Alex Knost. Discover more Vans Surf Content: http://bit.ly/2cnotKY​ Connect with Vans Surf: http://bit.ly/2ceZs7H​ Tumblr: http://bit.ly/1MsG68p​ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2bOHwwn​ Twitter: http://bit.ly/2c2Xp3e​ Connect with VANS: http://bit.ly/1uPubcu​ Facebook: http://bit.ly/29CDdc4​ Twitter: http://bit.ly/29AT0Gz​ Instagram: http://bit.ly/29wXHB5​ Pinterest: http://bit.ly/29tf1Gs​ Tumblr: http://bit.ly/1Rjvlt7​ About Vans: 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. Vans Top Athletes: Anthony Van Engelen, Geoff Rowley, Kyle Walker, Chima Ferguson, Gilbert Crocket, Tony Trujillo, Elijah Berle, Rowan Zorilla, Lizzie Armanto, Joel Tudor, Leila Hurst, Nathan Fletcher, Dane Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas, Patrick Gudauskas, Mikey February, Dakota Roche, Scotty Cranmer, Kevin Peraza, Dennis Enarson, Larry Edgar, Angie Marino, Jake Kuzyk, Hana Beaman, Mary Rand. Vans Surf Presents Sonic Souvenirs: A World Premiere | Surf | VANS https://www.youtube.com/user/VansShoes66​

 

Vans’ special birthday episode of Love Letters to Skateboarding celebrates Jeff’s life, in his own words, and was compiled by long time co-creators, Buddy Nichols and Rick Charnoski of Six Stair Productions. The episode illustrates Jeff’s raw, authentic and often-opinionated take on skateboarding that was captured during a decade of filming the series.

 

 

Jeff’s genuine love for skateboarding shined through in everything he said and did, and his support for the community–especially the up-and-coming generations—came from a true belief that skateboarding belonged to the kids. Gaining notoriety in the 1980’s within the competitive scene, he quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in skateboarding with the onset of skate videos that highlighted his skill along with his sardonic wit and audaciousness. Jeff was known for entertaining the masses with his self-deprecating humor and antagonistic spirit. In the span of his influence on the sport, however, Jeff became the unofficial skate historian, helping to create ten years of Vans’ Love Letters to Skateboarding with his unique and raw commentary on the industry. 

 

“It’s you, your skateboard, and the world. So go out and make it your own.”
– Jeff Grosso

 

Jeff wore Vans for 50 years, and the Grosso Forever collection features iconic designs that he sported during formative moments in his early career. Royalties from this collection will go directly to Jeff's son, Oliver. 

Shop the collection

 

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