In our previous article, we introduced the skaters who earned their way to JACKALOPE Virginia Beach through the Golden Ticket ; some via online qualifiers, others handpicked by Mike Boisvert himself.

 

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We talked about their style, their drive, and where they came from. But now that the dust has settled, it’s time to tell the second half of the story: what happened once they landed and how they performed.

Touchdown in Virginia Beach

From Tokyo to Lima, from Medellín to Austria, eight skaters landed in Virginia Beach with a mix of nerves, jetlag, and adrenaline. Some had already spent time on contest circuits. For others, this was a first. What they all had in common? That feeling that something big was about to happen.

The first to arrive were welcomed by Christian, camera already rolling, and Mike himself, who revealed their selection live on YouTube. From the first handshake, the vibe was electric ; smiles, stoke, and pure excitement.  That first full day was packed. The crew headed to the local Woodward skatepark, where they linked up with Margielyn Didal, there for the Women’s OPEN Street comp. Sessions were fast-paced but easygoing, with everyone feeding off each other.

Later that day, they headed to Mount Trashmore for a low-key vert session. It was more mellow, especially for the street-focused crew, but Secret Lynn stepped up to try the transition even though it wasn’t her usual terrain. Then came sunset, pizza slices, and watching skaters like local legend Collin Graham and Derek Scott warm up.

That night, back at the hotel, a spontaneous game of rock-paper-scissors turned into something none of them expected. Jair Urbano, Deyvid Anderson, and Daniel Zapata were told the two winners would get a surprise. The prize? A tandem skydive with the crew at Skydive Suffolk. Deyvid’s words on Instagram after landing summed it up best: “The craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life so far.”

From Meetups to Matchups

The contest day came quick. Most of the crew had never competed on this kind of stage. But that didn’t seem to matter.

 

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Mike and the panel of judges nailed their Golden Ticket picks : most of these riders ended up on the podium or making finals, proving their choices were spot on.

• Shuka Kawai, from Japan, landed herself on the podium with a 2nd place finish in the Vert Open. She kept things clean, technical, and graceful—classic Shuka.
• Secret Lynn and Anna Shea didn’t skate in the finals, but their energy off the course got noticed. Both walked away with MVP awards from Jarritos. Anna especially stood out all weekend, mixing charisma with genuine love for skating and community. She made the vert session on Day 1 her playground and also ran memorable interviews with Bob Burnquist (who seemed genuinely impressed by her skills and infectious energy), Angelo Caro, Reef Orlando and Tyson Bowebank.
• Jair Urbano (Peru) and Deyvid Anderson (Peru) both made it to the finals in the Open Street category. Jair stood out with his consistency, while Deyvid brought that raw Peruvian energy, throwing down tricks that had even the MC pausing mid-sentence. They’ve been through the pressure cooker of big comps on the world stage ; nothing shakes them.. Even as their names dropped on the leaderboard, they stayed motivated and genuinely stoked for their friend Angelo Caro
• Mazel Paris had style for days, connecting solid 540. She had the kind of energy that didn’t go unnoticed ; always bubbly, making sure the crowd got along, a sparkling light on the beach that pulled everyone in.
• Daniel Zapata and Alissa Fessl brought their own energy, both clearly soaking in the experience more than chasing results. Daniel’s tech game was sharp, and Alissa got some good flow.
• At just 16, Valentina Krauel flew in from Barcelona and stole the show. She dropped a flawless run: front feeble, front nosegrind down the rail, and a kickflip 50-50 on the center ledge. Calm, sharp, and flowing, she owned it, and the judges didn’t miss a beat.

A Weekend Worth Holding On To

Here’s the thing: not every moment at JACKALOPE happens on the podium.

Between all the official programming, there was skating on the boardwalk, ocean dips, late-night diner runs, and spontaneous sidewalk sessions. Shuka, who speaks almost no English, found herself laughing nonstop with Mazel. Jair and Deyvid, bonded by language and their mutual love  for street, skated until they were drenched in sweat. Even the parents who came along connected like they’d known each other for years.

Alissa and Anna arrived later and missed the early bonding, which was a bit of a bummer. But by the end of the comp, it didn’t matter. The whole group had clicked. Something about sharing hotel breakfasts and group chats breaks down those borders quickly.

A Start, Not a Finish

If the first Golden Ticket article was the pitch, this was the payoff. These eight skaters earned a seat at the table. Some of them left with podiums, others with bruises and stories. But every single one of them made the most of it. The road ahead for these skaters leads straight to Mississauga and Montreal. What counts is the real connection they found in Virginia Beach ; a moment that won’t fade. If the pulse of that weekend was any indication, this crew’s story is far from over.

Stay tuned for video highlights, clips from the jump, and some post-JACKALOPE catch-ups on IG.

If you missed the original Golden Ticket profile article, check it out.