547: Jeff Jones Varial-Layback Air at Tom Groholski’s+Kona : JT Murphy and Chuck Treece looking on

Jeff Jones Varial Layback Air, JT Murphy and Chuck Treece on Deck

Photo Deitz Brothers

Another gem from Ken and Steve Deitz, who’s skate life and photography have become a cornerstone of The House of Steam, we cant thank them enough for the hind sight of documenting things and their willingness to share.

Jeff Jones! Contest day at Tom’s, Varial layback air. This is a bit of a chained post …linked on to Chuck’s new deck post and PVO’s mention of JT Murphy. Looks like Chuck blew out a right knee cap…I also know that Tom, Jim Murphy  and Steve Herring amongst others are watching from the other deck.

PS

As a bonus if you wanna see what a varial layback air looks fully performed then click on the pic below and watch NJ Am Variflex skater Jeff Jones take an old school run on the Kona ramp (I dig it when a post falls together)

Jason

PSS

More Jeff Jones and :

Kevin Lambert
Mike Sporanza
Eddie Guittierrez
Brian Beauchine
Dan Brown
Henry Gutierrez
John Fudala
Buck Smith
Jeff Jones
Sergie Ventura
Mike Cresini

at YouTubeSkate (your boss wont mind)  The ams in 1986 were really good, not the largest of gaps between them and the pros.

We are having a visitor this week…hoe this tides everyone over for a couple days

 

442: Matt Padulo, Bernie O’dowd, Jeff Jones and Harry Jumonji 1984 Contest at Silver Apple Skate Shop in New jersey

Matt Padulo

Wow! That really is crazy to see. I’m not really sure how old I was in this picture. I do remember entering the contest in the younger division then everyone I was with so maybe I was 13 years old? The ramp was made out of what seemed like fiberglass that sounded really hollow but road solid at the same time. I don’t even think I dropped in on the ramp so when I started a line had to run up the ramp, fakie once or twice, and then start my run. At the time I did all my airs just below or @ the top of the ramp, and I think was doing some Inverts about mid transition. I wound up taking 2nd and won a Lance Mountain deck which I saved for a while, but eventually road and shred up.

Can never get enough pics of the old days!

matt

Bernie O’Dowd

Jeff Jones Tweaked frontside air.

Anyone recognise themselves on the platform?

Harry Jumongi frontside roll in

…again anyone on the deck?

413: Mailbag Friday: Darren Menditto, Tom Groholski “performing” at Great AdventureJeff Jones & The Blue Ramp from Bill Devlin

Darren Menditto Ocean City MD 1988

Photo Bill Devlin

Hey Jason-

I stumbled across your great House of Steam blog yesterday, and probably spent a good hour just looking at a bunch of stuff (I think i initially googled Ken Salerno..an old friend of a friend…turned up some hits for your site). Definitely great to see someone in NJ made an effort to document and publish via the web the skate scene here. Some of the stuff brought back some fond memories. I was part of crew of SJ inbreds who tried to venture out and skate different ramps, etc. on the East Coast, and was always stoked when we’d get to cross paths w/ the likes of Tom G., Murph, Chuck Treece, or get to see and skate w/ some of the truly rippin’ guys from ‘up north’. Funny for example, how i know i skated the barn ramp at least once, but barely can remember being there. I do remember skating Great Adventure w/ Groholski when he invited us to skate w/ him between his ‘performances’ there (remember that? think they called it a ‘skateboard stunt show’ or some sh*t). Anyway, everyone was always cool to us, which we all appreciated.
Anyway, i came across a shot i took of Darren M. (pretty sure it’s him) I took during a few trips we got to take down to OC Maryland, probably like 88′. I just remember that ramp being slick as snot, yet all those guys ripped it without any fear. I thought i scan it and send to you for your archives/sake of posterity, since if i didn’t, it’d would sit in a box probably for another 20 years. Feel free to use or post, no need to credit photo either.

Bill Devlin Blue Ramp, NJ

I also attached a shot of me at what we always called ‘Jeff Jones’ ramp’, aka the Blue Ramp. All i know is we just showed up there one day, and whoever answered the door was kind enough to let us skate w/ no problems. That ramp still there? Back in those days finding a good skateable ramp in Jersey was like a quest for the Holy Grail sometimes.
Great site, and checked out some of your artwork, awesome stuff.

Bill D

Thanks Bill!! Great stuff. I think I will try and get together more of these emails and get them out on Fridays…keep em pouring in! (with pics!)