Grems vs. Groms

[mugsy01]

Whicha yous Own Mind LEgends out there can set this straight: We always called younger skate/surf rats who were hanging out trying to be cool <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> "gremmies" 'cuz we thought that was Cali, an "very cool" like anything surf related coming out of CA. It sounds like a very 50's term, ya know, bitchin' cherry. Am I right on this? Also, "Groms" is short for "grommets" is it not? That has to be Outback, oi mate? Somebody set me straight....

Also, my next question is about "stoke." Totally Cali surf/skate term popularized in the 70's, yes? But where did it derrive from. My Quaker Dad would "stoke" his wood burning stove, so kinda like fired up? I guess it could be defined as meaning a person of the surf/skate persuasion who is, how shall we say, "enthused?" How many of you old fart skaters like me remember Cadillac Stoker wheels?

OK, I feel I have sufficiently stirred up the pot. It seems like the rest of the discussions are about delaing with injuries and discomforts acquired while surfing... you cats gotta quit bellyaching. Having a good jellyfish rash on your nads is what life is all about, right?

Laters,

Mugz

 

[hoku]

I'm too young for this post, so let me have the next set wave please.

Wash off jelly fish tentacles with fresh water or sea water, depending on species, ask the local life guards.

 

[AquaGirl]

Gremmies are little surf kids that have endless energy and like to pull pranks and stir things up...A Gremmie is a little surf GRAEMLIN, you know like a Goblin! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

A grommet is a surfer kid below the driving age, or whatever. Grommet comes from the grommets on a skateboard, you know those little rubber things in the trucks on your deck! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

GROM/GROMMET are almost certainly CALIFORNIA terms originaly! My Bro syas he first heard the word used in Cal near Half Moon Bay in 1980 or so!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[mugsy01]

thanks Aqua, sounds right to me. I know some terms started in Hawaii (naturally), but CA is where the culture really exploded.

Hang Loose,

Mugs-Z

 

[Soupgrom]

yea yea nah yea.
I reckon Oz invented "groms"
everbody knows that Australia was the home of
modern surf culture!
Oz = the twinzer, bonzer and thruster!
California = localism and the word "dude"

<img src="http://www.allfreechat.com/ubb/graemlins/worship.gif" alt=" - " /> Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!

 

[Jarrald]

Funny post Soupy, but 'grommet' is indeed derived from a grommet on a skate and as any fool knows a huge amount of surf culture and slang comes from CALIFORNIA skate culture...

Crossover
Hybridizations and whatnot...

People were skating in Cal way before they were hittin' it in AUS...

Skating was invented in California

'Ello Soupy! funny little gremmie you posted!

 

[dusty bottoms]

i just read in surf/surfer, not sure, that grommet came from a machine term to describe the most miniscule pieces that weren't worthy of a name.

i'll get back to you on that.

 

[James W]

I'm fairly sure that sk8ing took "grom" from its roots in surfing.
Back in the 80's, when we were little skaters we would ask the older guys,
"what the hell does grommet mean"?
to which they would answer:
"its an old surfing term for little dudes"

coincidentaly, that is how i got into surfing.
=o)

 

[dusty bottoms]

also, those litle parts in the trucks on a skateboard are called bushings, not grommets.

 

[Jarrrald]

BUSHINGS WERE CALLED GROMMETS IN THE LATE 1970'S AND EARLY 1980'S.....LITTLE WORTHLESS MACHINE PARTS=GROMMETS!!!