From Pavement to Pages: Library to Host ‘Grit to Grind’ Book Release Celebration
Posted on October 06, 2025
The Montana Skatepark Association (MSA) will celebrate the release of "Grit to Grind: Shaping Montana Communities One Skatepark at a Time" on Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Missoula Public Library’s Level Four Cooper Room.
Chris Bacon, president of the Montana Skatepark Association, and Andy Kemmis, photographer and author, will share stories from this vibrant new hardcover that chronicles the MSA’s beginnings, growth and ongoing mission to build skateparks across Montana. The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. Fact & Fiction Bookstore will be on site with copies available for purchase and signing.
"Grit to Grind" chronicles the inspiring journey of Montana skateboarders who, long before the sport went mainstream, saw skating as the ultimate expression of freedom and creativity. With no skateparks nearby, young skaters once traveled hundreds of miles for a chance to ride. That changed when a core group of friends came together to form the Montana Skatepark Association, sparking a movement that has since built parks across the state.
As New York Times bestselling author Jon Krakauer notes, “Grit to Grind” is “a vibrant, uplifting account of how local skateboarders in Missoula, Montana (one of whom happened to be Jeff Ament, the Pearl Jam bass guitarist) joined forces to build a world-class skatepark that benefited their city in surprising ways. This achievement was followed by the construction of about 50 similarly magnificent skateparks in small towns and on Indian reservations across Montana. The positive impact on these communities has been remarkable.”
This richly illustrated volume highlights MSA’s origins in the early 2000s, the creation of Missoula’s MOBASH skatepark, and the grassroots efforts that propelled the movement forward. The book shines a spotlight on Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament and his organization, Montana Pool Service, alongside profiles of emerging skaters from communities across Montana. With more than 125 vibrant photographs, "Grit to Grind" is both a tribute to the past and a rallying call for the future of skateboarding in Montana.
About the Presenters
Andy Kemmis is a Missoula-based photographer and writer who has been skating for more than 40 years and has been part of the MSA since its inception. More of his work can be found at andrewkemmis.com or on Instagram @andrewkemmisphoto.
Chris Bacon, a musician and skateboarder, has worked at Board of Missoula for more than 30 years. As a founding member of the MSA, he has dedicated his life to sharing the positive lessons of skateboarding with communities across Montana. Learn more at boardofmissoula.com or on Instagram @boardofmissoula.
For more information about Missoula Public Library, visit https://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org/ or follow us on social media.
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