Street Practice | RSEO PDX 2026
Kristion Jordan. Photo: Ballard
Kristion Jordan is the newest member of the Rockstar team, the ink still drying on the contract he signed earlier this week as he comes into his second year competing at the Rockstar Energy Open. He finished 7th here in Portland in 2025; that time he had to earn his way in the hard way, via The Platfrm Video Qualifier Series.
Kristion on lounge mode. Photo: Ballard
“I’m definitely hyped to represent Rockstar and to have the proper invitation this year,” Jordan says. “There’s so much less pressure this way, not having to go through the qualifier gauntlet again!”
Thursday’s practice session was humbling, nonetheless.
Braden Hoban. Photo: Durso
“The course was designed well, and all the dimensions are pretty good, but the big rail is a little scary! To be honest, I kind of let fear get the best of me and I was holding out, sticking to the basics, trying to get the feel for it,” Jordan says. “It should make for a wild contest, because that rail is going to create some opportunity.”
He’s looking forward to skating the contest with his new Rockstar teammates, including his Plan B Skateboards teammates Chris Joslin (last year’s RSEO Street Best Trick winner) and 2024 RSEO Street champ Lazer Crawford, as well as Braden Hoban, one of his personal role models in street skating.
Chris Joslin. Photo: Ballard
“Chris Joslin can push me in a different way,” Jordan says. “We push each other on stairs, especially. Obviously, he's the greatest stair skater of all time, so it's easy to take inspiration from him! And then Braden is an amazing rail skater. He hops on rails, it seems like with no fear, and for me I’m kind of the opposite. I like to take my time, so I know he’s going to push me on rails and be good for me.”
Photo: Durso
Several of his friends—Nobacel Villalobos, Koston Eaton, Steven Vasquez, Malachi Gray— are competing in the VQS Qualifier on Friday.
Dominick Walker. Photo: Durso
“I’m looking forward to watching that contest from the sidelines to cheer for the homies because those are some of my closest friends and they’re all amazing at skating,” Jordan says. “The VQS definitely spices up the contest a lot, and I’m grateful I got that opportunity last year, because it can be easy to get stuck in a cycle of just being comfortable with the skaters that compete every year and just re-inviting them, but the VQS opens it up to new talent, people that are good enough to skate at this level but are not recognized yet. I'm excited to see who rises to the top this year because of it.”
Paige Heyn. Photo: Durso
Paige Heyn, a standout in the Women’s Street practice session on Thursday on the Rockstar Energy Open course, is known for the switch skating skills that set her apart and switch tricks were her primary focus in practice. That and just being in Portland, soaking up the sun, and having fun on her one-year anniversary with the Rockstar team.
“The thing I’m looking forward to most this weekend is hanging out with the team because everyone's super sick and I love getting to do all the special little things with all the Rockstar people that we do together,” she said.
Chloe Covell. Photo: Durso
Assessing her peers in practice, Paige said she’s most excited by the new faces in the field, including three who fought their way in through The Platfrm Video Qualifier Series, Korean skater Soobeen Park and Japanese skaters Niko Sugimoto and Yuri Ashizawa.
“I think it's sick that any girl out there has an opportunity to submit a video and have a chance to skate with all of us in the contest,” Heyn says. “It's always cool to have new girls coming into it, and all these new girls who came in through the VQS, everyone's just killing it out there!”
Yuri Ashizawa. Photo: Durso
Coco Yoshizawa, the defending champion from Rockstar Energy Open 2025 (and the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist), was another star of Thursday’s practice session, as was Chloe Covell, whose X Games accolades this summer included breaking Leticia Bufoni’s record for most X Games Women’s Skateboard Street gold. This weekend is Chloe’s first time competing at the Rockstar Energy Open. The field also includes Mei Ozeki (3rd at RSEO 2025 and winner of the VQS qualifier round in 2024), as well as Americans Secret Lynn, Shiloh Catori, and Meagan Guy will join Paige Heyn in the field, as will the Phillipines’ Margielyn Didal, Japan’s Nanami Onishi and Miyu Ito, and Spain’s Daniela Terol.
Friday’s Women’s Street Semi Final starts at 2:30pm PT and will see the field of 13 battle it out in a best of three :45-second runs format. The top eight will advance to Sunday’s Final.
From left to right: Mei Ozeki, Niko Sugimoto, and Miyu Ito. Photo: Durso
On the Men’s side, the Men’s Street Semi Final is scheduled for Saturday at 1:45pm PT and will feature 27 skaters broken into three heats, with each skater given three :45-second runs with only their best score counting. The top ten will advance to Sunday’s Final. The Men’s Street Semi Final will include the “Golden Ticket” winner from the 2026 PHXAM (Deyvid Tuesta Mota) as well as the top 4 skaters advancing out of Friday’s VQS Qualifier which will take place at 12pm (noon) PT.