The inaugural JACKALOPE Block Party Ventura was one for the books! The energy from this past weekend is still buzzing. For our first California takeover, the riders proved exactly why this state remains the global epicenter of skateboarding. Under a perfect West Coast sun, the crowd was electric, packed deep around the Vert ramp to witness world-class performances from young talents and OG Legends. Ventura, you set the bar high!
Best Trick
We kicked off the event with the Best Tricks Contest on Friday night, and everyone delivered from start to finish. Bob Burnquist made a surprise appearance to land a fakie nosegrind on the ramp extension, and some riders showed creativity in using the ramp, like Clay Kreiner who mainly rides bowl, or Collin Graham with his treflip fakie on top of the roll-in. Special shout-out to Luke Kahler, who once again threw down his classic blunt to fakie on the fridge extension.
As a bonus, Nixon gave the fastest time award to the quickest riders of the jam, and AJ Nelson and Bryce Wettstein were the proud recipients.
Luke Kahler Blunt Slide during the Best tricks contest
GROM U15 CONTEST
The GROM U15 contest on the Vert ramp featured incredible runs from both male and female competitors. It was truly amazing to witness the progression of these young athletes, including both newcomers and experienced participants getting better and better thru the years. They proved to us that what we considered "bangers" from the past are now standard moves for their generation.
GROM U15 PODIUM - GIRL :
GROM U15 PODIUM - BOYS :
OPEN VERT CONTEST - MEN
Turning to the Men’s Open Vert contest, the semi-finals on Saturday set a blistering pace for the finals. The depth of talent was staggering, with the top 8 qualifiers all posting scores in the 90s.
With several JACKALOPE podiums already under his belt, JD Sanchez claimed the top spot once again, this time sporting a broken wrist and fresh stitches on his chin from a heavy bail just a few days before the event. For the first time in JACKALOPE history, the judges awarded an almost perfect score of 99, a moment that will live in the record books forever. The wildest part? He pulled the exact same move at JACKALOPE Montreal 2025, winning with a cast on his other arm. It’s a testament to his grit and a level of dedication that most people can't even fathom. When it’s contest day, JD gives 100%, no matter the damage.
JD Sanchez with his cast
OPEN VERT PODIUM - MEN :
OPEN VERT CONTEST - WOMEN
The OPEN VERT women's competition was absolutely incredible. Juno Matsuoka clinched first place with an exceptionally consistent run, landing three consecutive 540s, each with a different grab. Skateboarding legend Bob Burnquist expressed how inspired he was by the young Japanese rider, while live stream commentator Todd Richards emphatically stated: "If you're not familiar with Japanese skating, they're better than you."
Meanwhile, JACKALOPE veteran Nina Ye shut it down with technical heaters like her kickflip melon grab, while 11-year-old Elizabeth Amador left the crowd speechless, proving that age is just a number when it comes to elite-level skill.
LEGENDS DEMO
It’s not every day you get to witness the true pioneers of skateboarding sharing the same ramp, but this past Saturday was one of those rare, historic moments. The crowd lives for the unpredictable, and Bryce Wettstein delivered just that, launching a massive air right over Mathilde! Elliot Sloan kept the energy going by gapping over the legend Steve Caballero.
Bryce & Steve during the Legends Demo
Bob Burnquist was in top form even after skating in the Best Trick on Friday. But the ultimate highlight came when Steve Caballero shut it down by landing a flawless "Cab", the trick he invented decades ago, while the crowd and Christian Hosoi went wild. Speaking of Hosoi, despite not having skated vert in over a year, he couldn't resist the energy; he grabbed the mic to hype up his old friend after jumping in for a session of his own.
DAVE ENGLAND SURPRISE APPEARANCE
A highlight of the event was the appearance of the legendary Dave England, a member of the Jackass crew, who joined us for the weekend's festivities. We brought him onto the live stream and asked him about a the new JACKASS movie. His answer did not disappoint:
"Hey! Let's do a collab JACKASSALOPE."
Would you watch that movie?
PUP CUP IN THE POWELL STREET COURSE
Over in the Powell-Peralta street section, the Pup Cup stole everyone's hearts. This youth showcase featured the youngest members of our community proving that you're never too small to shred. It was easily the most heartwarming moment of the event, watching the next generation catch their first taste of the JACKALOPE atmosphere.
THANKS TO THE VENDORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
Beyond the skating, the JACKALOPE BLOCK PARTY was kept alive by our incredible pop-up shops, local food vendors, and merch booths. A massive thank you to all the local businesses and vendors who showed up and made this edition so special! If you missed out during the event, we still have a few limited Ventura hoodies and tees left on the website.
Black Rose Sk8boards, Reapers Grip, Icon Boardshop, Gnarguard, Kick Push Org, Happy Faced, Pocari Sweat, California Cut, Merge 4, Damsel in Defense, Consept Collective, Alexander GMC, Toyota Ventura
