Skateboarding

First Person: Jake Ilardi Battles Industry Politics with Skateboard Skills

Jake Ilardi has heart for skateboarding. Going pro in November 2020, he released standout video parts and earned a spot on Team USA Skateboarding, making his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games. Despite dominating these feats in stride, he ultimately found himself in the industry gauntlet. Come August 2024, Jake earned his way into the RSEO Street Final through the #RSOpenVQS. Ilardi then went on to finish first in the semifinals held in Portland, earning his place in Sunday’s final, silencing his critics, and demonstrating that his fire remains as strong as ever. Hear Jake's story in First Person in our latest video above.