Street Practice Photos + Highlights | RSEO 2024

Braden Hoban. Photo: Durso

The purpose-built street course alongside the West Bank of the Willamette River in weird but welcoming Portland, Oregon hosted the first series of practice sessions on Thursday, Aug. 22 as part of the first-ever Rockstar Energy Open. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the FREE event will be packed with fans and athletes alike taking in the sights and sounds of skateboarding. (Check out the full Event Schedule HERE.)

Jhancarlos González. Photo: Durso

The street course features an A-frame section with rails, bump with gator gap, and flat ledge. Then the course progresses to a big block stair section with a handrail and bump to hubba going down the two-block sections with the three-block as the biggest gap on the course. The third section features a six-flat-three double set with a hand rail separating it from a big bank with a hubba across from it and a box up top that became a hot spot for many during practice.

Alec Majerus. Photo: Durso

“Fun,” said Vincent Milou, when asked to describe the event atmosphere. Vincent flew in only the day before from Paris, France his home and the recent host city of the 2024 Olympics. Following a hectic schedule of qualifying events in the lead up to the Games last month, Vincent couldn’t be happier to get onsite at the Rockstar Energy Open.

“It’s a good crew of homies, it feels pressure-less—it’s really fun. We are just out here getting back-to-backs and having a good session. The park is fun, it has a good flow. It feels so different from everything else we’ve all been doing lately. It feels really good.”

Maurio McCoy. Photo: Durso

A little earlier in the day we saw Maurio McCoy and Dominick Walker sneaking in some early practice with some doubles on the bump to box. Maurio (frontside) and Domo (backside) landed back-to-back kickflip 5-0s.

Dominick Walker. Photo: Ballard

“Practice was fucking tight,” said Lazer Crawford, “all the homies killed it, per usual. Good vibes, high energy. Watching everyone else RIP harder than ever, it’s crazy.” Lazer was thoroughly enjoying his first professional contest and his first trip to Portland.“I’ve always wanted to come here, one of my dream cities to visit. It’s sick that Rockstar is doing this first one here.” 

Lazer Crawford. Photo: Ballard

There was high energy all around, in Women’s Street practice it was especially visible from two skaters — Shiloh Catori and Georgia Martin — who appeared to be coaching each other throughout the practice. They’re both on the Toy Machine team, and have grown close across team road trips and filming missions. They’ll be two of the most anticipated skaters to watch this week in Portland.

Catori is just 15 but is better known on the contest circuit after impressive recent showings at X Games and other events, and says she has come to love the combination of nervous energy and pure stoke she feels at big events. 

Aoi Uemura. Photo: Durso

“I get that adrenaline pumping, and everyone's having fun, but I can tell everyone else is also nervous, and it’s just kind of a cool feeling,” Catori said. “I love it! I’m excited for this weekend because all the girls are shredding and the course is pretty cool. It's definitely a little big, but that just makes it more fun to push myself and get out of the comfort zone.”

Valentina Petric. Photo: Durso

Martin, 21, is having a big moment after turning pro with a breakthrough pro video part for Toy Machine earlier this year, but has tended to shy away from most contests. 

Miyu Ito. Photo: Durso

“I used to compete a little bit more, a couple years ago, but contests have always been something that I’ve struggled with: anxiety, getting stressed out,” Martin said of her preference for the filming side of pro skateboarding. “I’m hyped to be here, but I’m definitely more comfortable staying in my lane as a street skater.”

Martin says she’s hoping that street-skating first mentality translates in a contest setting.

Felipe Gustavo. Photo: Durso

“Early on, I thought I had to send everything and skate the biggest stuff, but I quickly learned that there's a whole ‘nother way of skating that’s more about creativity. The next challenge is to see if I can do it in front of a crowd.”