Chris Joslin Emerges Triumphant In Hectic Street Best Trick Jam; 11-year-old Wyatt Hammond wins Nixon Best Time Award.
Chris Joslin. Photo: Muller
The Rockstar Energy Open 2025 judges officially gave Chris Joslin Best Trick honors in Saturday’s anarchic Street Best Trick Jam for his nollie backside heeflip 360 down the Rockstar logo gap.
Chris Joslin. Photo: Durso
It might just as well have been an overall prize, on a night when Joslin was at his career-best, with make after make over that gap, including a bigflip, a backside kickflip, and an inward heelflip late backside 180.
Chris Joslin. Photo: Durso
Then, one more for the fans, this time sent over the passing lane from the top rope to flat, a frontside kickflip into the bank, clearing an 8-foot gap. His Rockstar teammate Braden Hoban rushed over to pour a can of Rockstar over Joslin’s head after that last one.
Joslin was immediately overcome with emotion in the moment, fighting back tears of joy as he reflected on an emotional couple of years that have included the loss of the grandmother he was raised by, a divorce, and some lost focus on the important things in life that he’s glad to be leaving in the rearview.
Nels Rosen. Photo: Muller
“The emotions I’m feeling right now are just because this win is a reminder that I never want to take all of this for granted ever again,” Joslin says. “I love skateboarding so much, and it’s been a couple of years with a lot of ups and downs, unfortunately, some big hiccups, so the focus I found tonight is proof of how much I’ve cleared my mind, been able to see what I’ve got to do, and get back to skateboarding, my work, my job, and not letting life distract me so much.”
With dozens of men and women all going for it in the free-for-all session, Joslin seemed laser-focused.
“I grew up around chaos! I ain't afraid. I grew up around a lot of commotion, and I spent my whole childhood afraid so I ain't afraid of a little mayhem now, especially when it’s good skateboarding mayhem. The whole session was full of good energy.”
Wyatt Hammond. Photo: Durso
Judges presented 11-year-old Wyatt Hammond, the youngest competitor at RSEO 2025, with the Nixon Best Time Award. Hammond’s many landed tricks in the Best Trick Jam included a hardflip back lip, a trick almost never seen in competition (though Lazer Crawford did one in his winning Street run at RSEO 2024).
Braden Hoban and Manny Santiago. Photo: Muller
“My experience this week has been insane, skating with everyone here,” Hammond says. “It’s my first pro contest I’ve been invited to, and Portland has been so amazing and welcoming this weekend.”
Manny Santiago. Photo: Durso
Judges handed out stacks of cash during the contest for nearly every made trick.
On the women’s side, Mei Ozeki was a standout, building from an Ollie shifty down the Rockstar gap to a kickflip over it, then moving on to the big rail, with backside 5-0 grind. Ibuki Matsumoto made a kickflip 50-50 on the big rail, Coco Yoshizawa made a frontside feeble grind on it, and Yuri Ashizawa landed a backside crooked grind on it. Kylie Frank landed a noseslide nollie heelfrip on the bump-to-ledge.
Chris Joslin. Photo: Dillon
Men’s standouts: Ryan Carrell’s inward heelflip down the Rockstar gap. Nels “Gnarls” Rosen’s long feeble grind on the down-flat-down kink rail and kickflip front board on the big rail. Kristion Jordan’s frontside bluntslide on the big rail. Jhanka Gonzales’ 270 feeble grind and nollie heelflip front board. Braden Hoban’s kickflip gap to crooked grind on the big rail. Kairi Netsuke’s late bigspin down the Rockstar gap. Jake Ilardi’s bigspin front board on the big rail. Malachi Gray’s kickflip front blunt shove-it on the bump-to-ledge. Maurio McCoy’s kickflip nosenblunt. Domo Walker’s nollie kickflip crooked grind. The list goes on.
Maurio McCoy. Photo: Durso
Another highlight: As Braden Hoban poured that Rockstar over Chris Joslin’s head, Joslin turned to sideline reporter Manny Santiago and shouted, “Man I f***in’ love this s**t, bro! I love skateboarding! Any time on my skateboard is a good time!”
Amen.