The skateboarding culture always celebrated progression and innovation as creativity and boldness are always rewarded as athletes push the boundaries of the sport. Much like the tradition of the Thrasher Skater of the Year – SOTY —the ultimate honor—we’ve compiled our own top 5 JACKALOPE athletes of 2024. These skateboarders stood out not only at JACKALOPE events but also on the global stage, and we can’t wait to see them back in 2025. Read on to find out who to keep an eye on next year!

Here’s our top 5:

1- JD Sanchez

2- Jada Ward 

3- Orlando Garcia

4- Angelo Caro 

5- Mia Kretzer

1- JD Sanchez

JD Sanchez is what we call a generational talent—an elite athlete who comes along once in a generation. This 15-year-old American skateboarder wowed us at Virginia Beach and Montreal this year, dominating with his flip tricks. He’s expected to return to the podiums next year; the only question is which step. Watching him compete feels like witnessing skateboarding history in the making, as the last time someone his age dominated competitions was Tony Hawk. Here’s a recap of his major competitions in 2024:

• Tampa Pro (April 2024): 2nd place in Vert finals, proving his skill among top professionals.
• JACKALOPE Virginia Beach Open (June 2024) : 2nd place in Vert finals, showcasing his consistency.
• X Games Pro Vert au US Open (August 2024) : 2nd place, landing his first-ever 900—25 years after Tony Hawk’s historic 900 at the X Games.
• World Skate Games Italia (September 2024) : 1st in qualifiers with a score of 90.41, finishing 6th in the finals.
• JACKALOPE Montréal (September 2024) : 1st place in Vert finals, ending the year on a high note.

Check out this rising legend on his Instagram:

 

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2- Jada Ward

In 2024, 16-year-old Australian Jada Ward continued to fly higher and higher, mastering McTwists and making steady progress. Her victories at JACKALOPE Mississauga and Montreal, along with her podium finish at the X Games, firmly establish her as one of the top skateboarders in the world. There’s no doubt she will continue to wow crowds for years to come

• JACKALOPE Mississauga – Women’s Vert Finals (July 2024) : 1st place
• X Games Pro Vert at US Open Women’s (August 2024) : 3rd place
• World Skate Games Italy – Women’s Vert (September 2024) : 6th place
• JACKALOPE Montréal – Vert Open Women Finals (September 2024) : 1st place

3- Orlando Garcia aka Lando Magik

The 21-year-old from Long Beach, California, made a huge impression this year with his undeniable style and flair. His massive frontside flip at JACKALOPE Montreal was a show-stopper, bringing the event to a spectacular close. Keep an eye out for more electrifying performances from Lando in the future.

• Damn Am NYC (September 2024) : 3rd place
• JACKALOPE Virginia Beach Open (June 2024) : 17th place, and a crowd favorite
• JACKALOPE Mississauga (July 2024) :drew particular attention with a huge frontside flip
• JACKALOPE Montréal (September 2024) : lMost spectacular frontside 180 kickflip

Watch the highlights:

4- Angelo Caro

If you follow skateboarding competitions, you know Angelo Caro. The 25-year-old Peruvian has been a force to reckon with since his 5th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. This year, his commanding performance at Virginia Beach was nothing short of perfection, highlighted by a flawless 360 flip to fs blunt shove-it out.

• Tampa Pro (April 2024) : 12th place
• JACKALOPE Virginia Beach Open (June 2024) : 1st place
• Red Bull Pool Drop (August 2024) : 2nd place, showcasing his versatility
• World Skate Games Italy (September 2024) : 14th place

5- Mia Kretzer

At just 9 years old, Mia Kreter stood out in 2024 with her incredible achievements. Self-taught and training relentlessly after school, the young Australian is a rising star in skateboarding. It will be fascinating to follow her journey to the 2028 Olympics.

• Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert (June 2024) : The youngest skateboarder ever to land a 720 in competition, earning Tony Hawk’s praise.
• X Games Ventura (July 2024) : Best Trick winner and the youngest gold medalist in X Games history.

Notable mention : Laura Zackova

Finally, we have to say that many athletes stood out this year, and one that first comes to mind is Laura Zackova, a 14-year-old skateboarder from the Czech Republic.
This fierce competitor is a rare phenomenon, and we bet she will continue to amaze us in the coming year.

• World Rookie Skateboard Finals (September 2024) : Winner of the “Grom Girls” category
• JACKALOPE Mississauga (August 2024) : 1st place – street

Do you agree with our rankings? Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments which athlete caught your attention in 2024!