VQS Practice Time: Welcome To The Inaugural 2025 Snowboard RSEO
Lucas Ferry. Photo: Andrew Durso
The most exciting opportunity in snowboarding for someone rising through the ranks (or already established), the Video Qualifier Series (VQS) at Rockstar Energy Open (RSEO) has created a new pathway for ANY person to earn an invite to compete with the professionals and prove themselves. So, naturally, the VQS practice session on Friday showed off more than just excitement to be included, but intensity and hunger to make their way into the main event.
Tosh Krauskopf. Photo: Mike Yoshida
“The course is so good, like I have ridden nothing like this anywhere else,” said Elias Hamalainen, a 20-year-old rider from Finland who earned his way to Breckenridge through the VQS. “It's so sick that they made the course so special.”
After Friday’s practice session, Elias said he still can’t believe he’s here, with a chance to compete with role models like Red Gerard and Luke Winkelmann. “My mom sent me an Instagram reel about the VQS contest, and said, ‘You should do a video for this, and let's see how it goes out.’ I was a bit skeptical at first, like, ‘Doing a video and getting to go to the U.S.? Like, that's not possible.’ But somehow I got in, and I’m so excited to be here.”
Juliette Pelchat. Photo: Durso
As part of the 2025 snowboard RSEO, the VQS has provided a platform for new and familiar riders to submit a video entry, and 10 riders from the men’s side have been invited to compete onsite in Breckenridge, Colorado (while four women were invited to compete directly through the digital qualifier).
Jesse Parkinson. Photo: Aaron Dodds
Rockstar athlete Iris Pham, who won Torment Magazine 2025 Rider of the Year following her X Games Aspen 2025 gold medal and breakthrough video parts in Bittersweet and the Nitro Snowboards team video Spike, says the thing she’s most looking forward to this weekend is seeing up-and-coming riders from the VQS get their big chance. “It opens it up for people to have an opportunity, and maybe helps them get noticed,” she said. “And now that they’ve made it to the contest, and if they do well, that could give them the whole start to their career, which is really crazy amazing.”
Oyvind Kirkhus. Photo: Yoshida
Bella Warren. Photo: Durso
Brooklyn Depriest. Photo: Durso
Four men will advance from the qualifier into the semifinal to compete along with the rest of the invited field. However, following a windy practice session on a one-of-a-kind course proved to be anything but relaxing for the riders. They were on their toes (and heels) from the session’s start to the finish working out the kinks in their runs and dialing in a few tricks to prepare them for the VQS Qualifier on Saturday.
Yuto Yamada. Photo: Durso
Truth Smith. Photo: Yoshida
If you can’t make it in person (the event is FREE to attend), watch the action live on theplatfrm.com. The Men’s VQS Qualifier is going down at 9:15am local time in Breckenridge, Colorado on Saturday, Dec. 20.