The Rockstar Energy Open Brought Core Skateboarding Back In An Awesome Way!
Women’s Park Podium - Yurin Fuji 3rd, Mizuho Hasegawa 1st, Ruby Trew 2nd ~ Photo Rockstar Energy Open
Mizuho Hasegawa - Photo Credit: Rockstar Energy Open
We have to say that following the Paris Olympics, the 2024 Rockstar Energy Open was a breath of fresh air. The vibes were relaxed and happy, the skaters looked comfy in their own attire, sponsors' stickers were back on their boards, and the intense pressure of the Olympics was off—making this a comp where people didn't skate each run strategically—they just went for it! It was old-school-style skating at its finest.
Watching Jordan Santana throw down that 540 in a smaller bowl and landing it like it was no problem to Yurin Fiji going for the 540 in her last two runs, not caring if she advanced - but just wanting to put on a great show for the crowd. Seeing Minna Stess come from 12th place after her second run to nailing every trick flawlessly in her last run to seize 4th. What a great comeback run!! Grace Marhoefer throwing caution to the wind and going full send on every run. And can we talk about Grace's cheering squad? WOW! Yep, it's true, "Everyone is Watching Women's Skateboarding."
What an amazing event! Congratulations to all twelve skaters for making the crowd go wild. It was some of the best core skateboarding we have seen in a while, and it just goes to show that we need contests that are not part of the Olympic Qualifying Series. Thank you Rockstar Energy!
Photo Credit: Rockstar Energy Open
Portland, Oregon (August 24, 2024) - Day Two of the Rockstar Energy Open featured the Shop Park Challenge, Shop Street Challenge, Women’s Street Semi-Final, Women’s Park Final and the Men’s Park Final in downtown Portland. Following a day of competition, Don Diablo closed out the day with an electric performance.
In the Women’s Park Final, 13-year-old Mizuho Hasegawa out of Japan earned the first place prize ahead of 15-year-old Ruby Trew and 18-year-old Yurin Fuji. With Australia’s Trew leading into the third runs, Mizuho laced together a kickflip Indy on vert wall, frontside tailslide over hip, proper back Smith and back lip, backside varial Weddle over the hip tricks for a score that put her on top by nearly three points. Ruby and Yurin’s first run scores proved enough for second and third place.
Ruby Trew - Photo Credit: Rockstar Energy Open
Mizuho fed off the energy of the crowd, saying “I really enjoyed the course, but the best part of this experience was the audience cheering for me!” She added, “It would mean so much to me if people were inspired to start skateboarding when they watch me and all the women's park skateboarders.”
Yurin Fuji - Photo Credit: Rockstar Energy Open
Immediately following the Women’s Park Final, Yurin Fuji added the prize for Park Best Trick - competing in a mixed male and female field. Her 540 closed out the standing room only Park Best Trick competition while Jhancarlos Gonzalez crushed the Street Best Trick competition, landing too many tricks to count.