When I heard the first-ever Rockstar Energy Open was coming to Portland, I was beyond stoked. A huge, free event on the waterfront, showcasing the world’s best skaters in the wake of the Paris Olympic Games sounded like a solid come up for PDX. And it was awesome; elite skateboarding event of the year. The people’s choice.
I moved to Portland in 2002 to skate Burnside and lived there until 2022. Twenty years in the city established a great love and devotion to the place, despite many ups and downs.
When I was 30, I moved into an apartment in the Lloyd District where I stayed for the next 12 years. I loved being within biking distance to virtually anywhere in the city. Within a a few blocks, I could get like 10 types of international cuisine, and take my pick of grocery stores; bougie to basic.
A few months before I left, I was sitting on a bench outside a vegan fro-yo store a couple blocks away, staring blissfully into my dog’s eyes, when a man came raging down the street. As he approached, he cracked open a tall can of Rockstar Energy and chucked it right at my head, leaving me and the dog shocked and soaked with the drink. Long story short, that is the story of how I became famous on Nextdoor.
But love hurts and everything comes full circle. Three years after my energetic assault, Rockstar came to Portland with the swiftness of that tall can, and now, my devotion to the drink will last forever. Seeing Bryce Wettstein, Georgia Martin and so many of my favorite skaters in the place I consider my home town was awesome. Because the events were more spaced out than other competitions, I got to watch the dudes skate. Greyson Fletcher, Yuro Nagahara, local legend Nick Peterson put on a thrilling display of world-class skateboarding.
The pinnacle was the park best trick jam. Because it was an open event, everyone skated; pro guys and gals, shop team skaters and locals jumped in the mix. Tricks for cash meant it was raining Jacksons; Donna Wettstein was having trouble even counting her daughter’s fat stack.
The immaculate vibe was a vision of the future that reminded me of the past. The evening session at my hometown park, having fun with friends of all genders, ages and backgrounds. Our simple love of skateboarding was the uniting force. Rockstar really nailed it (not at my head lol).
Huge thanks to Rockstar Energy and The Platfrm for putting on such an awesome event and bringing this elite level of skateboarding excitement to Portland! Please, lets repeat this waterfront glory next summer. –Migzy
