Men’s Street Semifinal Photos + Highlights | RSEO 2024
Jake Ilardi.
A few scattered clouds, a little bit of sun and a ton of people wanting to watch adrenaline-juiced skateboarding made up the scene along the west side of the Willamette riverfront for the Men’s Street Semifinal on Saturday at the Rockstar Energy Open. The crowds were so thick in the bleachers, in the VIP tower and in the surrounding standing zones by the time the competition began that people resorted to climbing a few trees for a bird’s eye view.
FORMAT: 23 skaters, three heats of 7-8. Three, :45-second runs each, best score counts. Top 10 advance to Men’s Street Final.
The crowds were right to pack in early. The lineup of skaters making up the three heats were all worthy of skating in any given final. It was as if we watched three street finals on Saturday in preparation for a super Sunday to come.
Olympians like Chris Joslin (USA), Cordano Russell (CAN), Jhancarlos Gonzalez (COL), Kelvin Hoefler (BRA), Felipe Gustavo (BRA) and Vincent Milou (FRA) were all in the mix throughout the heats. Vincent in particular received a HUGE ovation from the crowd, as did Joslin–the clear fan favorite.
Lazer Crawford.
“The vibes are high!” said Chris Joslin after just barely missing the cut from the semifinal into the final. “It definitely feels different here [compared to other recent events], there is a lot less pressure. Well, I mean it is the Rockstar Energy Open and ride for Rockstar, so there is a little pressure there,” laughed Joslin. “It’s an awesome contest and I can’t wait for next year’s. The crowd energy [here in Portland] has been epic.”
Jhancarlos Gonzalez.
The other 17 skaters were a mixed bunch, though. Contest veterans, up-and-comers qualifying through the VQS, and even a local legend to round things out.
“It’s really cool to see an event this big, I can’t remember the last big event like this in town,” said Sebo Walker, a Salem native, Portland local and Pacific Northwest living legend. “There hasn’t been a coming together of the skate community of this scale. It’s really cool because the skate community is very diverse, all inclusive and really strong here. Something like this brings everyone together, which is really cool to see and be a part of.”
Maurio McCoy.
“I’m not a contest skater per se but it is a fun challenge and being from here, I thought why not,” continued Sebo. “It’s been super relaxed and really positive, though. It’s easy to be nervous with a lot of people watching and :45 seconds, you can feel that pressure. But there is a sense of camaraderie and love with everybody, and I’m a fan of everybody so it’s cool to watch and cheer them on.”
Braden Hoban.
In the end, though, it was not an Olympian or a local that scored the highest of the semifinal—it was Jake Ilardi. Earning his entry by way of the VQS video entry and then the VQS Qualifier on site contest, Jake put everything he had on display to leave the rest of the field in the dust by more than three points.
Vincent Milou.
“It’s a good weekend, I’m having a great time,” said Jake after jumping into the Park Best Trick Jam and earning a quick $300 for his efforts. “This is definitely the most fun contest I’ve been to in a while. It’s good vibes. Good times. Good people. We’re in Portland: what more could you ask for?”
Alec Majerus.
Speaking to the path to entry by way of the VQS, Jake commented, “It’s cool, It gives people a chance that normally aren’t in these events to get in there.” When asked if he had anything left in his bag to surprise the competition in the final, “I definitely have some more stuff for the final, but everyone will just have to wait until tomorrow and see.”
Dashawn Jordan.
It won’t be easy, though. Sneaking into the final in the 10th spot was Braden Hoban, who certainly has what it takes to win it all. As well as rising rockstar Lazer Crawford who finished the semifinal in fourth. Lazer may be new to the “professional” competitions but he is no stranger to putting together a winning run.
Kelvin Hoefler.
TOP 10 ADVANCING (Trick Highlights)
Jake Ilardi: Bigspin front blunt fakie on the double set handrail, varial kickflip indy on quarter, gap to back tail hubba.
Kelvin Hoefler: Back noseblunt on the A-frame, kickflip noseslide box, kickflip back lipslide the double set handrail, switch frontside 5-0 180 out on hubba
Jhancarlos Gonzalez: Switch back lipslide on the A-frame, Gonz grind (front 180 switch back 50-50), switch front blunt handrail, gap to front lip
Lazer Crawford: Kickflip back tailslide box, hardflip back lipslide the double set handrail, 360 flip 50-50
Vincent Milou: kickflip boardslide to fakie, switch back smith hubba, switch front noseblunt double set handrail
Cordano Russell: frontside half cab kickflip front board on the double set handrail, nollie bigspin backlip on the double set handrail, switch front blunt quarter
Dashawn Jordan: Laser flip gator gap, pop shove it down 3-block, boardslide UP the double set handrail, fakie backside noseblunt handrail
Alec Mejerus: Back Smith a-frame, gap to front noseblunt Hubba, back 180 5-0 on ledge, back noseblunt on hubba
Maurio McCoy: Gap over the wedge to noseblunt on the A-frame rail, kickflip frontside 50-50 the ledge, kickflip from bump into big bank, backside noseblunt bump to box
Braden Hoban: Back tailslide on the A-frame, kickflip crooked grind, kickflip front nosegrind, impossible down 3-block
Cordano Russell.
Men’s Street Semifinal Results
- ILARDI Jake USA 84.62
- HOEFLER Kelvin BRA 81.58
- GONZALEZ Jhancarlos COL 80.53
- CRAWFORD Lazer USA 79.75
- MILOU Vincent FRA 79.00
- RUSSELL Cordano CAN 78.38
- JORDAN Dashawn USA 77.45
- MAJERUS Alec USA 76.82
- MCCOY Maurio USA 73.23
- HOBAN Braden USA 72.06
- SARACENO Zach USA 69.84
- JOSLIN Chris USA 69.16
- BOWERBANK Tyson USA 69.00
- GUSTAVO Felipe BRA 68.91
- WALKER Dominick USA 68.40
- CHRISTIANSON Julian USA 67.03
- ROGERS TJ CAN 66.25
- VIGLIOTTI Gabe USA 64.70
- MONTOYA Marcos USA 61.14
- PURCELL Johnny CAN 56.56
- LEWIS Julian KOR 52.75
- DOUGLAS Josh USA 52.14
- WALKER Sebo USA 40.75