Chris Robison never stopped going hard ! Soldier! He broke down the wall within the industry with 5 videos- broke & penniless, the holy grail, forward into battle, high noon & nobody’s hero! Obviously Chris ripped on the vert ramp! Chino ramp.
During that influential Badlands vert era, on any given run Chris was as dominant as Salba, Chris Miller, Eric Jueden. He had some burly tricks. And he was a pretty decent hooper on the rim out front of the pro shop.
In elementary school Chris and I were best friends, he was 7 days older than I. We skated together at the Pipeline until I was about 15…he got much better than I ever did. I moved to different part of Cucamonga when I was 11, Chris lived in north Ontario, so we didn’t go to the same school any longer. We lost touch from about 15 – 21, but we re-connected around 1989 and I discovered Chris had really matured and grown up. Over the next few years I as given the pleasure of knowing one of the most sincere, giving human beings I had ever known. As a kid Chris could be a little mean at times…we talked about that later, but it was clearly just a phase….I miss him so much!! Over the next few years my wife and I had him and Berna over for dinner a number of times. It was in 1997 while working at the computer lab at Chaffey College when Joann (one of long time worker’s at the Pipeline till it closed) told me he had passed away due to a freak accident in Austria. What a gut punch!! I wish I could have said a proper goodbye….so I guess this is it…
Chris, the memories I have of being buddies, spending the night at each other’s house, learning to skate together…(u were much better than me!)….the time you and Chris Miller came to my house to go trick or treating together….I will never forget. I love you Chris!!
So I just got a 7 week old baby Boxer and I named him “Robi”. Yup, after Chris Robison without a doubt. It’s been cool explaining to any of my family or non-badlander friends who Chris was and what he was to me. In a nut shell, other than Bill Dorr, he was the coolest “older” skater to us groms at Pipeline where I met him through a mutal friend Eric Johnson. Robi and Eric were tight, and it was through their friendship that I got a chance to know, skate and hang out with Robi from 1986-89. During that time he wasn’t full pro yet, just sponsored by Vision. Since he was getting paid in swag only, he’d give a few of us stickers and stuff to sell at Pioneer Jr. High for him while allowing us to keep half the money. It was a win, win situation for everyone envolved and it put a lil coin in his pocket. I might have skated his ramp one or twice, I’d have to ask Eric, but not during a heavy session or anything. When Pipeline closed we ended up mainly at my bro Matt Fry’s mini ramp in Upland and I didn’t see Robi much after that. It broke my heart to hear of his death when I got back from my Navy tour in Japan. He truley was the coolest older skater to us groms and I am thankful to have known him for the brief time that I did. Rest in Peace Robi, your name lives on now thru my Boxer dog. Badland Legend 100%.
It’s so special to see people still remembering my uncle all these years later. To so many of you he was Chris Robison the skateboarder. To me, he was just the coolest uncle a kid could ask for.
He was an absolute menace to my parents in the funniest possible way. Every visit meant laughter, chaos, and stories that somehow got wilder every time they were told. I absolutely adored him.
My family didn’t have much money growing up, but every so often a package would show up from Chris. It would be full of skate merch, clothes, stickers, or things he’d gotten through sponsors. Those boxes meant the world to me. The only reason I had any clout at school was because of the clothes my uncle sent me.
We still miss him every day. I even named my middle child after him.
One of my favorite things now is when people reach out with stories or photos I’ve never seen before. Last year I even found one of his boards on eBay and bought it. It means more to me than I can put into words.
Thank you to everyone who continues to remember him and share pieces of his life with us. It reminds me that while we lost him far too soon, he left a mark on so many people, and that brings our family a lot of comfort.
Chris Robison never stopped going hard ! Soldier! He broke down the wall within the industry with 5 videos- broke & penniless, the holy grail, forward into battle, high noon & nobody’s hero! Obviously Chris ripped on the vert ramp! Chino ramp.
During that influential Badlands vert era, on any given run Chris was as dominant as Salba, Chris Miller, Eric Jueden. He had some burly tricks. And he was a pretty decent hooper on the rim out front of the pro shop.
Nobodys Hero: badge of personal honor, thanks for sharing, take it easy Dude!
In elementary school Chris and I were best friends, he was 7 days older than I. We skated together at the Pipeline until I was about 15…he got much better than I ever did. I moved to different part of Cucamonga when I was 11, Chris lived in north Ontario, so we didn’t go to the same school any longer. We lost touch from about 15 – 21, but we re-connected around 1989 and I discovered Chris had really matured and grown up. Over the next few years I as given the pleasure of knowing one of the most sincere, giving human beings I had ever known. As a kid Chris could be a little mean at times…we talked about that later, but it was clearly just a phase….I miss him so much!! Over the next few years my wife and I had him and Berna over for dinner a number of times. It was in 1997 while working at the computer lab at Chaffey College when Joann (one of long time worker’s at the Pipeline till it closed) told me he had passed away due to a freak accident in Austria. What a gut punch!! I wish I could have said a proper goodbye….so I guess this is it…
Chris, the memories I have of being buddies, spending the night at each other’s house, learning to skate together…(u were much better than me!)….the time you and Chris Miller came to my house to go trick or treating together….I will never forget. I love you Chris!!
SALBA….I truly appreciate you creating this!!
So I just got a 7 week old baby Boxer and I named him “Robi”. Yup, after Chris Robison without a doubt. It’s been cool explaining to any of my family or non-badlander friends who Chris was and what he was to me. In a nut shell, other than Bill Dorr, he was the coolest “older” skater to us groms at Pipeline where I met him through a mutal friend Eric Johnson. Robi and Eric were tight, and it was through their friendship that I got a chance to know, skate and hang out with Robi from 1986-89. During that time he wasn’t full pro yet, just sponsored by Vision. Since he was getting paid in swag only, he’d give a few of us stickers and stuff to sell at Pioneer Jr. High for him while allowing us to keep half the money. It was a win, win situation for everyone envolved and it put a lil coin in his pocket. I might have skated his ramp one or twice, I’d have to ask Eric, but not during a heavy session or anything. When Pipeline closed we ended up mainly at my bro Matt Fry’s mini ramp in Upland and I didn’t see Robi much after that. It broke my heart to hear of his death when I got back from my Navy tour in Japan. He truley was the coolest older skater to us groms and I am thankful to have known him for the brief time that I did. Rest in Peace Robi, your name lives on now thru my Boxer dog. Badland Legend 100%.
It’s so special to see people still remembering my uncle all these years later. To so many of you he was Chris Robison the skateboarder. To me, he was just the coolest uncle a kid could ask for.
He was an absolute menace to my parents in the funniest possible way. Every visit meant laughter, chaos, and stories that somehow got wilder every time they were told. I absolutely adored him.
My family didn’t have much money growing up, but every so often a package would show up from Chris. It would be full of skate merch, clothes, stickers, or things he’d gotten through sponsors. Those boxes meant the world to me. The only reason I had any clout at school was because of the clothes my uncle sent me.
We still miss him every day. I even named my middle child after him.
One of my favorite things now is when people reach out with stories or photos I’ve never seen before. Last year I even found one of his boards on eBay and bought it. It means more to me than I can put into words.
Thank you to everyone who continues to remember him and share pieces of his life with us. It reminds me that while we lost him far too soon, he left a mark on so many people, and that brings our family a lot of comfort.