In 1992 everybody had those long socks, not just skaters. In fact socks was just about the only thing that skaters were not wearing different from everyone else.
I didnt grind for two years because it didn't work for me so mostly noseslides, some tails/boardslides, and alot of blunts when i learned they weren't that hard. Slides were always easier for me to get out of even after making myself learn grinds.