Kairi Netsuke dominates stacked field at Rockstar Energy Open 2025 in Portland
August 18th 2025
The Japanese phenom leaves no doubt in victory, while young gun Hammond steals hearts.
The Rockstar Energy Open delivered absolute carnage this weekend, with Kairi Netsuke putting on a clinic that left even the most seasoned street rats speechless. Despite a roster absolutely stacked with heavy hitters all firing on all cylinders in the finals, the Japanese wizard made it look effortless, landing bangers that had the crowd losing their minds from start to finish.
The course itself deserves serious props – the design team cooked up something genuinely fresh and original. Gone were the tired ledge-to-rail combos we've seen ad nauseam. Instead, skaters navigated a beautifully crafted landscape that felt more like street spots you'd actually want to session than the usual contest sterility. The flow was sick, with creative transitions that rewarded technical prowess while still allowing room for pure send-it moments.
Notably absent was defending champ Lazer Crawford, sidelined with a fractured wrist that's been keeping him off his board for weeks. His absence definitely opened the door, but let's be real – Netsuke was coming for that crown regardless.
The day's biggest surprise? Eleven-year-old Wyatt Hammond absolutely sending it in the prelims. The kid's got serious pop and zero fear, throwing himself at gaps that would make grown men think twice. While he didn't make the cut for finals, he earned respect from every pro in attendance and probably gained 10,000 new Instagram followers in the process.
Unfortunately, Chris Roberts returned to commentary duties, delivering his usual combination of clueless observations and painfully forced enthusiasm. Dude managed to mispronounce half the tricks while talking down to viewers like they're five years old. No wonder Sean Malto's nowhere to be found on the broadcast team this time...
Despite the commentary catastrophe, Netsuke's dominance and the course's sick design made this one for the books.
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