September 15, 2024
More than fifty thousand people turned up for Jackalope this past weekend
More than fifty thousand people turned up to witness the 2024 of the Jackalope festival – an extreme sport event that features some of the world’s best skateboarders and rock climbers, competing for fat pay checks, trophies and bragging rights.
This year, the festival moved from the grounds around the Olympic stadium and Vans skate park, to the Jacques Cartier pier in Montreal’s Old Port district. The Olympic stadium is undergoing some severe renovations, including the replacing of its troublesome roof – and repairs needed following an arson attempt on the stadium’s tower.
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Moving the site from one iconic Montreal landmark to another proved to be a fantastic idea – as not only were the new grounds picturesque, but it caught the attention of tourists that wouldn’t normally find themselves able to wander into this free event.
With cruise ships stopping by and allowing its passengers to spill out into the streets of the Old Port, the bustling majesty of the vert ramp could seen from a distance and attracted the curious to walk over and investigate.
One inside, Jackalope unveiled its trinkets. Rock climbing competitions, a street skateboard circuit with a rotating center piece and a massive vert ramp that seemed to be the center of everyone’s attention.
On the Vert ramp, were a collection of incredible skateboarders that included the legendary Steve Caballero who is just two months shy of his sixtieth birthday – and well as youngblood Spaniard Leonardo Vinicius, who at just twelve years of age, is being heralded as the next great of the sport.
This international gathering of stars put on a dizzying display of tricks not for the faint of heart. 15 year old JD Sanchez of Pleasanton, Calfornia won first place in the competition, while veteran Brazillian Rony Gomes took second, and 12 year old Leonardo Vinicius of Spain took third.
Read More:
>> Jackalope returns for its 2022 edition
>> Montreal’s Olympic Park to remain closed due to fire; arson suspected
>> Apik turns Montreal streets into an urban snowboarding festival
Once again, Jackalope was a brilliant weekends worth of extreme sports and personally, I hope it stays at the Old Port for future events. While having the Olympic stadium as a background is great; the Old Port offers a much more scenic view into our bustling city.
While we await news on the next edition of Jackalope’s Montreal stop, whether it will take place at the original spot around the iconic Olympic stadium or in new the Old Port location again – two other events have already been confirmed for 2025. Virginia Beach from May 30th to June 1st and Mississauga from July 11th to 13th.
