Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611

  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Grit to Grind: Shaping Montana Communities One Skatepark at a Time

Grit to Grind: Shaping Montana Communities One Skatepark at a Time

Bacon, Chris
Kemmis, Andy

Hardcover

SkateboardingGeneral Photography

Publisher Price: $39.95

ISBN10: 1797233327
ISBN13: 9781797233321
Publisher: Chronicle Prism
Published: Oct 14 2025
Pages: 192
Weight: 1.80
Height: 0.70 Width: 8.20 Depth: 10.10
Language: English
The inspirational story of the inception, growth, and continued work of the Montana Skatepark Association and their ongoing efforts to build skateparks for communities across Montana. Packed with 100+ vibrant color photographs.

Long before skateboard culture entered mainstream consciousness, for a group of teens growing up in Montana, skateboarding represented the ultimate expression of freedom and creativity. With no dedicated skatepark nearby, skaters sought opportunities several hours or hundreds of miles away--until a core group of childhood friends decided to band together and change the status quo.

This is the remarkable true story of how long-time Missoula residents Chris Bacon, Andy Kemmis, Ross Peterson, and a small army of other volunteers overcame, with perseverance and determination, obstacles like lack of funding, bureaucratic red tape, geographic limitations, and more to create a non-profit organization that has assisted in the funding and creation of nearly fifty skateparks in the state to date.

The book features:

  • Interviews and testimonials from the people who built the MSA from the ground up
  • Profiles of real skaters who have been have been impacted by the skateparks
  • A foreword by Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament
  • Over 100 full-color insider photographs

A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES: The Montana Skatepark Association, a non-profit that started in 2000, has helped fund multiple skateparks throughout the state, including many in remote and/or Native American communities. These parks provide local youth with healthy environments for after-school and weekend activities.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SKATEPARKS IN AMERICA: Skateparks are not only a place where kids (and adults) can practice their latest board tricks, they've become thriving community centers where kids of all ages and backgrounds can feel safe and supported, a non-threatening space where they can connect with others and be themselves.

Perfect for:

  • Skateboarders and skateboarding fans
  • Anyone with an interest in grassroots organizing and civic engagement
  • Fans of sports and street photography
  • Viewers who enjoyed the documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and the feature film Lords of Dogtown
  • Montana residents and visitors

Also in

General Photography

View All