“The concept is completely crazy,” exclaims Sophie Grant when asked if she’s looking forward to competing at Jackalope. She’s back with several other well-known athletes, as well as a number of new names.

Every year, for every edition, for every discipline and for every event, we aim for the right balance between local athletes and international talent. We want to showcase local talent while giving them the chance to compete against the best in the world. At the end of the day, we also want to put on a good show. We hope to discover new talent as much as we hope to witness the virtuosity of some of our special guests live and in person.

In this article, we’d like to introduce you to those who are returning to Jackalope with a track record of podium success, or who have made a name for themselves at an affiliated event. So here (in no particular order) are the names you won’t want to forget over the coming weekend, because there’s a good chance this person will be in the top 5! If you forget, our MC will surely refresh your memory by shouting his name several times over the microphone!

Ben Paterson

The 30-year-old from Toronto is a well-established name in Canada, and some may recall that he won the tenth edition of Jackalope in 2022. He’s also held podium positions at numerous national competitions, but is best known for having inscribed his name on one of the most famous spots on the skateboarding planet; the famous rail nicknamed Hollywood sixteen in switch front blunt. The Thrasher website has posted a video of Ben, which ends with his session on the famous 16 steps. He’ll be one to watch!

Jon Cosentino

Another 30-year-old Torontonian, a good friend of Ben Paterson’s, just as stunning, just as prolific on the podiums. Jon Cos took third place at the last edition of Jackalope Montréal. He’s taken first place in prestigious competitions such as the Am Getting Paid or the Los Angeles boarder am open, but he hasn’t yet won first place at Jackalope, so let’s see if he can do it this time. Note that Jon is a hard-core street skater who has multiplied his video appearances. Here’s a video posted on the Thasher site where his talent is well showcased:

Sophie Grant

This electrifying athlete is no stranger to the podium, and if you’ve been following Sophie Grant’s rise over the past few years, you’ll certainly be expecting to see her perform well in Montreal. Her style is elegant and her flips are powerful. That’s how she came second at the recent Jackalope event in Mississauga. Will she repeat the feat in Montreal? The suspense is at its height. Despite this, Sophie confided to us that she wasn’t too much in a state of anticipation. “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrows, it only takes away today’s joy. “Worry never robs tomorrow of it’s sorrows, it only takes the joy out of today.” Here’s a video that’s a little dated but gives you an idea of her talent:

Ricci Tres 

This Californian from Los Angeles has what it takes to grab a podium spot, with her amazing street cred and total mastery of the backside lipslide. Ricci nipped at Sophie Grant’s heels to take third place in Mississauga, and it’s a safe bet that these two will be fiercely competitive in the skate event!  Here’s a recent video of her:

Ivan Monteiro

Jackalope fans will probably recognize the impeccably styled Brazilian after the incredible performances he’s given in his various appearances. His Instagram profile shows him as a 15-time World Cup circuit champion, so that’s how competitive he is. Many saw one of the most difficult tricks ever performed in Virginia Beach this summer, so don’t hold your breath and click on this link to watch the switch backside tailslide big spin heelflip out to regular. Can’t wait to see what he’ll do to lift the crowd, because he sure will!

Samantha Secours 

At just 22 years of age, the Montreal native has found a way to make her mark on the Canadian women’s scene. A member of the Canadian Olympic team, she already has plenty of competition experience and several podium finishes to her credit. She has a huge bag of tricks and is known for making the best bs bigspins! She’s been on Jackalope’s radar for some time now, and it’s an honour to count her among the guests with a Golden Ticket! Watch the « up next » video we produced on this not-to-be-missed athlete.

Léonie Marcotte

Here’s another one who’s getting used to the podium. Since her arrival on the competitive scene, 14-year-old “Léo” has dominated with a consistency that raises the bar for Quebec’s up-and-coming women. She’s taken the top step in several local, provincial and national competitions in the past year, so her presence at Jackalope will certainly be remarkable, even if she’ll be among the youngest. Not only does she excel on her board, but she’s an ambassador as articulate as she is passionate. Here’s a report on her from last March:

Raph Detienne 

Here’s one who never disappoints, attacking modules with more spirit than a beast escaped from captivity. The Belgian, who now lives in Quebec City, is a monster in his own right and is known from Brussels to Montreal. An interesting detail about this man who excels as much in transition as he does on street modules is that he is also a great fan of electronic music and is himself a DJ. If you’re wondering where he gets all that skateboarding energy from, maybe it’s the music! Last but not least, at his last appearance at Jackalope, he was jumping around and using the course like no one else, so this year promises to be no different. Here’s his Street Devil share on The Berrics website for a preview of the damage to come:

For the vert competition, a first for Jackalope Montreal, we’ve invited some of the best aerial skaters in the world. Unlike other years, this won’t be a demonstration but a competition, so the atmosphere will be very different. Here are the notorious guests to watch out for:

Rony Gomez 

The 32-year-old Brazilian is quite simply one of the best in the world. He recently placed 9th at the Skatepark of Tampa’s vert competition, but could be on the podium in the very near future. He’s a complete athlete who excels on both big air and ramp, but if you found Tony Hawk spectacular to watch in years gone by, you won’t be disappointed to see Rony Gomez compete, as the amplitude with which he does his tricks is staggering! Click here to see a sequence he did on Mississauga’s Jackalope ramp: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dUIlc1Md4j0?app=desk

JD Sanchez 

Remember this name: Justin Daniel Kamanakai Sanchez, because at just 15 years of age, he’s already dominating the competition circuit. He took second place on the podium at the most recent X-Games and also at Jackalope Virginia Beach. He skates with confidence and ease and stands out for the numerous flip tricks he performs with great fluidity, and is one of the only riders to flip his board without grabbing it with his hand. Visit his youtube channel to watch his vlog about his second place finish in Tampa.

Jeromy Green

The 28-year-old American finished 4th at the Virginia Beach event and 5th at the Mississauga one. There’s every reason to believe that he’ll do his utmost to reach the podium this time and not watch the champagne pop out of the bottle handed to someone else. This year, he’s learned to shoot 720s, so maybe that’ll help him get a medal. Click here to go to his youtube page and watch him land his first 720!

Carlin Makibbin 

This 16-year-old from Ocean City, USA, is one to watch from now on, as her progress is meteoric. She has the most laid-back style and is leading the charge for the next generation of green skaters. Whether in a bowl or a green ramp, she’s making progress with every session and no one knows what she’ll do, but let’s bet she’ll be on the podium, just as she was at the Mississauga competition.

Jada Ward 

She’s 16, won the Mississauga competition and came 3rd at the X-Games. Can we say she’s proven herself? We know she’s still got a lot of tricks up her sleeve, but one thing’s for sure: she’ll be doing some Mctwist and defending her Vert Champion title at Jackalope. The new generation is spectacular in women’s green and what’s in store for the future is completely new. Jada, Carlin and several other young women are revolutionizing women’s green, so don’t miss out on history.

And many more…

You know that open registration formats invite local talent, and sometimes that’s who you’d rather be watching and cheering on, despite the visiting superstars. Many of Canada’s best skaters will be on their boards to show off their skills in an innovative format and the magnificent ambience of Montreal’s Old Port. It’s an event not to be missed!