Mark McMorris’ Michalchuk Nosegrab Leads The Way: 2025 Snowboard RSEO Semifinal
Mark McMorris. Photo:
On his final drop, Mark McMorris dialed in a perfect top-to-bottom run that left him on top the leaderboard by the end of three full pulls, but not by a comfortable margin. Saturday closed out the day of action at the 2025 snowboard Rockstar Energy Open (RSEO) with the Men’s Semifinal, and it’s safe to say that the final could be anybody’s game.
Alex Caccamo and Mark McMorris. Photo: Durso
"Its such a fun setup and I was looking forward to this event, just because it's a little different than what we do normally,” Mark said after the Semifinal. “I love that there's a hip, I love that there's a half pipe wall. I love that there's a whale's tail jump. I mean, it's just something different, and I had a lot of fun out there. To do something not under the FIS governing body is a ton of fun! I'm really excited to make it to the head-to-head Finals. Just to have a berth into Finals is always a good feeling.”
Brooklyn DePriest. Photo: Durso
A standout moment from the first runs was when Judd Henkes launched the hip so hard the cameramen nearly lost him on the live stream. Not only was he sending it but he was spinning a backside 360 holding indy WAY larger than anything else seen. Unfortunately for Judd he hung up on the lip and was bounced to the flats, it was a very heavy slam and his last run for the day. Nevertheless, for the fans, he hopped up rather quickly all things considered and hit a frontside boardslide down the handrail in the rail plaza at the bottom of the course that kept the energy high.
The hip became the feature of the event, as the world’s best alongside the VQS qualifiers took their turns precisely on the course until they unleashed on the hip and often slipped out trying. The fans, though, were not disappointed and the riders definitely figured it out as the event continued.
Dusty Henricksen. Photo: Berghoef
Mark McMorris busted a monster of a Michalchuk off the hip during his first run that wowed everyone. Mark's contest know-how combined with tech abilities allowed him to jump into the second spot right away, before ultimately upping the ante at the end of the day to finish on top. His third and best run started with a hardway Cab 270 boardslide, then a Cab 720 tail grab onto the whale tail to switch backside 900 melon off, another monster Michalchuck with a nose grab off the hip, a frontside 720 grabbing indy on quarterpipe and a switch frontside boardslide 450 out to finish.
Red Gerard. Photo: Durso
Red Gerard was the last of 24 men to drop into the semifinal, and knowing only that the top eight (8) would advance he hit the creative course hard, though wasn’t truly rewarded despite making a full pull. All the same, he seemed to be enjoying himself and he even made time for autograph signings for the fans between runs.
“It’s really fun, the last two days have been really sick, just doing practice and riding with buddies that haven’t ridden in a contest forever is the funnest part,” said Red after being the last to drop in for the first runs. “Yeah, it’s really no stress. I’m just trying to treat it… kind of, not like a competition, which is really refreshing. When asked if he would like to see more of these in the future, he was quick to spit back, “I would love to be doing three of these a year.”
Øyvind Kirkhus. Photo: Berghoef
One of the biggest stories of the day: Øyvind Kirkhus is putting the “Open” in Rockstar Energy Open, making it through the Video Qualifier Series and Saturday morning’s on-site VQS round, and all the way into the Final after his 6th place Semifinal finish put him into the top-8 transfer group.
Eli Bouchard. Photo: Yoshida
“It's been a long road, a lot of snowboarding, and I'm pretty exhausted right now,” Øyvind admitted after the Semifinal. “From coming in through the Video Qualifying Series and through the VQS qualifications round this morning—I made it through on the last run—and then pulling it off in the last run in the Semifinals today again, too… I'm looking forward to relaxing tonight so I can make the most of the Final tomorrow. I wasn't expecting to come into the Final! I had high hopes, but I'm really glad I've made it through.”
During the second runs we saw the brothers Fava having some fun when Joey busted out his iPhone for a follow cam behind his brother Pat’s second run down the course, in addition to a ton of other antics. The snowboarding RSEO was definitely riding loose. And in the third runs even the interviews were getting loose as the semifinal came to a close.
“I’m sorry but I really don’t want to touch any rails. I hate rails, I’m sorry,” laughed off Rockstar rider Raibu Katayama apologetically. He went on to make it clear, though, that he was enjoying the course in full. “It’s a next level contest!” He finished out the day in 4th, advancing to Sunday’s final.
Raibu Katayama. Photo: Yoshida
A difficult moment that proved just how high the level of competition was came as the score dropped for Mons Røisland’s final run, revealing he had not made the cut. Still, his Miller flip to handrag to boardslide fakie that opened up his run on the rainbow rail was a standout event highlight.
Cameron Spalding. Photo: Yoshida
The advancing eight (8) will drop in at 12:30 pm local time in Breckenridge, Colorado on Sunday. Watch it live on theplatfrm.com, and get ready for an all-new head-to-head, 3-round format to keep it interesting.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
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Mark McMorris, 91.66
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Cameron Spalding, 90.00
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Jake Canter, 87.00
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Raibu Katayama, 86.66
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Eli Bouchard, 86.00
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Øyvind Kirkhus, 84.00
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Brooklyn Depriest, 83.66
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Dusty Hendricksen, 83.33
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Tosh Krauskopf, 83.00
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Rene Rinnekangas, 82.33
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Luke Winkelmann, 82.00
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Brandon Davis, 80.00
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Red Gerard, 79.33
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Truth Smith, 77.33
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Mons Røisland, 76.00
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Luke Ferry, 60.00
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Brock Crouch, 59.66
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Nik Baden, 56.66
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Sean Fitzsimmons, 51.33
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Pat Fava, 44.66
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Gabe Ferguson, 35.66
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Frank Jobin, 31.66
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Sam Taxwood, 27.66
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Judd Henkes, 20.66