Micky Papa didn't know he had won the 2026 Men's Street season title until we asked him about it. That pretty much sums up his approach: one trick at a time, head down, and a quick look up every once in a while to make sure he's still headed in the right direction.
At 36, the Tokyo 2020 Olympian closes the season at #1 in Men's Street with 1,860 points. He took 2nd in Virginia Beach behind Matias Dell Olio, then won on home turf in Mississauga. After our interview with JD Sanchez, here's Micky on age, recovery, building a contest run, and watching JACKALOPE grow from a parking lot cash jam.
Q&A WITH MICKY PAPA
You've been on JACKALOPE podiums since 2013. What does another season title mean at this point in your career?
I actually wasn't aware that I won a season title. I guess that's the best approach, just take things one trick at a time, keep the head down and keep working, look up every once in a while and make sure you're still headed in the right direction haha.
Winning Mississauga in front of a Canadian crowd: how did that one feel?
Well, the last few years I've just been battling a lot of overuse injuries, which is a luxury problem to have as a skater who's been in the game for as long as I have. So as long as I get a chance to perform to my abilities, I'm happy. If I did what I had prepared to do, then I just let the outcomes sort themselves out, but when it's a win on home turf, even better!
In Virginia Beach, Matias Dell Olio took the win. What did you take away from that contest?
I need to practice my switch laser flip back lips more often haha. Not that money is the biggest motivator, but I started to realize that that was what I thought the difference of what could have been a $3,500 increase.
You're competing against riders who are sometimes half your age. What keeps you at this level?
I think there's a huge misconception around age in skateboarding. I think that my generation, with guys like Manny Santiago and Ryan Decenzo at the head of it, are redefining what that looks like. At around 40 years old they're always skating, taking high impact and demonstrating what the full potential of a skateboarding career looks like.
From what I gathered, the generation before us were a little more like rockstars, and we now are enjoying the benefits of a little bit more knowledge and a little more intentionality when it comes to supporting the demands of the lifestyle while skating through your 30s. That, and it's also not taboo anymore to do so. At the end of the day though, you're old if you think you are. Chances are you're just tight and need to drink some water and stretch though haha.
How has your training and recovery changed since Tokyo 2020?
Realizing less is more, and that having the right mental approach is far more effective than adding more reps at this stage in the game.
Your style is known for clean, technical flip tricks. Has your approach to building a contest run changed over the years?
Interesting question, and I feel like I'd have a lot of different answers to this, however I'll go with this:
My favorite thing about skateboarding is growth. I love challenges and I love learning. Skating contests, and particularly runs, has always been the hardest part about skateboarding to me, which is precisely the reason I'm drawn to it. It's not easy. So I'm always looking for ways to redefine and change my skating. The last thing I ever want to do is stay the same. You got to move with the times and bring the flavor of your youth into the new generation if you want to stay relevant. Otherwise skating becomes stagnant, and stagnant is boring. So I don't want to kill the passion I have for it by not letting it grow, but not just be a poor man's version of what's new and popping. So I try to balance what I looked up to as a kid skating with what gets me stoked today.
Ivan Monteiro, Lucas Rabelo, Matias Dell Olio... who's the rider you think will take this title from you?
I don't think about it really. I just see them as my friends out there, and I love watching what they bring to the table and hope that it helps me bring more myself.
You've seen JACKALOPE grow from the start. What's changed the most?
It's been amazing to watch it grow from a parking lot cash jam to an international event with its own unique format, and above all else, staying athlete focused. With their almost signature staff becoming its own integral cornerstone of the event, they showcase talent from everywhere and they prioritize having a good time. They keep the party going no matter what!
Is there a trick you still want to land in a contest before you're done?
Always. Switch bigflip front blunt's one I haven't fully mastered yet. Would be dope to get it good enough to land in contest.
What advice would you give a young Canadian skater dreaming of the Olympics?
The same way I answered the first question haha. Focus on the exploration of your skating. Enjoy the process, keep working at it with loving what you do being the driving force. Just remember to look up every once in a while to make sure you're heading in the right direction. Above all else, it's just about enjoying the process, cus in my head I was making sponsor-me tapes yesterday and I'm 36 now. Time flies.
Describe your 2026 season in three words.
I'll do it in two haha: "Enjoying skateboarding." If it has to be three, maybe "Still enjoying skateboarding."
Who do you want to thank?
Thanks to the team at JACKALOPE for putting on the event. Thanks to God for allowing me to skate for so many years, obviously my sponsors and all my friends too. Honestly, thanks to anyone who just takes the time to be interested in me and what I do.
