Tap in with Secret Lynn the day after she competed in the 2026 PHXAM for another full day of skating Spot to Spot. Secret and the squad go hard “from AMs to PMs” covering ground all over Mesa, Arizona with a bit of ASMR to enjoy along the way.
Video Qualifier Series Returns For 2026 PDX Rockstar Energy Open
Film it, then submit it. On June 8, the online-entry Video Qualifier Series (VQS) officially reopens as part of the 2026 Rockstar Energy Open (RSEO). For the third consecutive year, skateboarders from around the world can submit videos between :30-1 minute in length for a chance to win cash prizes and official contest invitations to compete in Portland, Oregon at the RSEO August 14-16.
Each week one woman and one man will be awarded $1,000 for the best video shared on Instagram with #RSOPENVQS26. Entries will be judged by professional JUDGES, skateboarders, and fans on ThePlatfrm.com. After the VQS submissions end on Sunday, July 19, the Best Trick and Viewer’s Choice prizes of $2,500 will also be awarded to women and men.
Once all of the submissions have been reviewed, 10 women and 10 men will receive invitations to skate at the Rockstar Energy Open on August 14 in the VQS On-Site Qualifier. From there, the best men and women will advance to skate in the main events.
Last year’s VQS received more than 100 video submissions from around the world. And of the 20 skaters invited to compete on-site, 5 went all the way to compete in the RSEO finals. On the men’s side, Ivan Monteiro skated to a 3rd place podium result while Kristion Jordan finished 7th. For the women, Aoi Fukuda finished 4th, Niko Sugimoto 6th, and Yuri Ashizawa in 7th.
Devin Bagnoli Daytona Video Part | The PLATFRM
A product of Daytona Beach, Florida, Devin Bagnoli takes us back to where it all started in a fresh, full part titled “Daytona.” Devin’s hesh, chopper-riding, tattoo-laced style is impeccable when he steps on a board, and in this part — paying homage to his hometown — he puts it all on display. Created with only one week to film, Devin cranked out clip after clip for this one.
Tristan Rennie and Salba Lead Backyard Pool Missions | Spot to Spot – The PLATFRM
A master of notoriously tight transitions, Tristan Rennie was raised skating in backyard pools to become one of the best to ever do it. Inviting the crew to tag along, Tristan Rennie and Steve Alba lead us on a two-pool mission around the San Bernardino area to skate Ridiculous Pool and Bottom of the Hill.
“Because it was ridiculously good for the time,” says Tristan of the naming origins of the first spot. Complete with a brief history of the pool’s access over the years, a few of his own childhood memories and a short list of pros who have clipped up there, from “Tony Hawk to Guy Mariano,” in Tristan’s view, “It is one of the most iconic pools in modern skateboarding.”
After making quick work of the Ridiculous Pool and firing up the squad — Yuro Nagahara, Eric Hutchinson, Jesse Lindloff, Hampus Winberg and Shota Mizote — a few of the crew break off from the session to finish things off at Bottom of the Hill. Don’t worry, we got the naming origins of that one, too.
Behind Foundation’s New Video Today Tomorrow Forever | Timeline – The PLATFRM
After two(ish) years in the making, the team at Foundation Skateboards brings us up to speed on their latest video project titled “Today. Tomorrow. Forever.” for this installment of Timeline.
Hear from the entire squad (Aidan Campbell, Jesse Lindloff, Austin Heilman, Ruby Lilley, Jessie Darnall and Tanner Lawler) and their trusty Team Manager and Filmer, Don Luong, sound off about the sacrifices and memories made to finish this film. From their blue collar realities, to newly minting team riders into professionals—get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a few clips in the making plus a whole lot more of what makes the Foundation team special, and their dedication to skateboarding.
Bubba Jackson and Sonder Crew Skate LA | Spot to Spot – The PLATFRM
Jack Springer kicks off a day at “cool guy park” with a ton of the homies “Michael” Becker Dunn, Evon Martinez, Alec Spinosi, Luke Lutz and Eamon Samojla; before taking us around Eagle Rock in North East Los Angeles for another day in the streets going Spot to Spot.
After a quality warm-up at the park, the crew hits the first of two locations to clip up at. See a special appearance from SOTY Chris Joslin on a BMX before the local police force shows up to share some words. Then hear Bubba talk a bit about his love for filming skating and for skating alike, and how long he’s been posting his videos on YouTube. Find out what’s in the works for with the Sonder squad and when you can expect to cop their next merch and video drops.
Manny Santiago: Reconnecting with Puerto Rico Through Skateboarding | Portraits – The PLATFRM
Born in Puerto Rico, Manny Santiago moved to the United States with his family around age 5. He makes it clear that his upbringing in Lowell, Massachusetts, introduced him to skateboarding—and his life’s passion.
Manny splits his time between the U.S. and Puerto Rico and built a professional career on a skateboard, creating space and cultivating a scene for skateboarding to flourish on the island has become part of his life’s calling. In 2011, he organized the first Prince of Puerto Rico skate contest.
Portraits explores Manny Santiago’s early life in Lowell and chronicles his present-day life in Puerto Rico. Find out who were the biggest influences in his humble beginnings—from his first skate crew to his lifelong friendship with Dave Bachinsky. Then travel to the island with Manny to see where he rediscovered his Puerto Rican roots, made new connections, and started a movement to get local kids rolling into the professional ranks alongside him.
Swim Skateboards Co. Part 2: Sac to Portland | Life in the Van Vol. 6 – The PLATFRM
The Swim Skateboard Co. squad hops back in the van to complete their trek north, leaving California behind en route to Oregon for greener pastures and more terrain. Led by Kevin Terpening, with Dan Plunkett managing the vibes, Ethan Loy, Justin Drysen, Ryan Connors, Keenan Lewis and Marley Humphrey pack in for the journey.
Their first major stop is in Eugene, Oregon, where they slam a meal at pro skateboarder Josh Mathews’ restaurant before being blessed with a session by the man himself. Then they skate a few crusty spots in true Pacific Northwest style, and Ethan explains how he scored a quick come-up on some cash in the gambling-friendly state while en route to drop a different deuce.
They continue on to Portland, where they have a plethora of pins provided by local legend Silas Baxter-Neal. After hitting a ton more spots, linking with plenty of homies, and stacking more Life in the Van moments, the Swim team wraps things up in high spirits after stomping their first road trip together.
Swim Skateboards Co. Part 1: LA to Sac | Life in the Van Vol. 6 – The PLATFRM
Meet Swim Skateboard Co. and jump in for a two-part series of Life in the Van. The crew comes together for their first official team road trip, covering ground from Los Angeles to Sacramento, California, before ultimately reaching Eugene and Portland, Oregon, for a true West Coast classic.
After 15 years of living in L.A., professional skateboarder Kevin Terpening moved back to his home state of Ohio and started Swim Skateboards in 2023. Soon thereafter, Dan Plunkett joined the effort, and everything else has since come naturally for the brand. Today, they have a full team (all of whom—besides Kevin—live in L.A.), featuring pros Justin Drysen, Ryan Connors, Ethan Loy, and Keenan Lewis (no longer on Swim Skateboards) and Marley Humphrey.
They start things off with a dream backyard skatepark session before taking their first pit stop under a bridge to stack manuals. After that, they squad up at a junk jam for the parking lot party vibes, then continue north, ripping their way up the coast and bringing us along for the ride.
Paul Rodriguez’s Evolution: Fatherhood & Skateboarding Longevity | Captain of Industry Ep. 3
In this third and final episode of Captain of Industry, Paul Rodriguez shares a few of the secrets to his success—and how he’s watched his goals shift before his eyes. P-Rod talks about what it’s been like skating since he was 12, pushing through bouts of burnout, and continually finding the hunger to reach new peaks.
He also reflects on growing up watching his dad live out his dream at the highest level, and how that inspired P-Rod to chase his own. Then, at 23—right in the prime of his career—he had a daughter of his own, pushing him to shift gears once again.
Paul has been putting in the hard work for years and, over time, has learned the keys to staying inspired.
“All the cliché, corny stuff that you hear—‘Passion. Love for the game. Focus. Dedication.’—they’ve become clichés for a reason. Because they’re true.” — Paul Rodriguez
P-Rod’s Mindset: Brand Deals, Primitive Growth & Skateboarding First | Captain of Industry Ep. 2
Episode two of Captain of Industry picks up with P-Rod recapping his, at times, lucky findings in life. However, nothing has proved more important than maintaining a keen focus on his craft—and delivering.
Which he has, time and again.
P-Rod takes us through his early days landing major sponsorship deals, starting a beer company with a marketing plan that returned 10x his investment, and the early stages of transforming Primitive. It wasn’t always golden skateboard drops and two-minute sell-throughs, though.
Paul knows all too well that business and culture decisions rarely align. He’ll be the first to welcome you to say what you will about his business choices. But you can never say he wasn’t on his board—skating in the streets, putting out video parts, and consistently contributing to the culture.
“In my mind, if I’m going to take these opportunities, then I better make sure that I always come correct when it comes to the streets.” — Paul Rodriguez
The Rise of Paul Rodriguez: Pro Career, NikeSB Deal & Building Primitive | Captain of Industry Ep. 1
Paul Rodriguez, aka P-Rod, has become one of the most well-recognized figures in skateboarding today. His ability on a board speaks for itself—loudly. But more than just his skating, Paul’s path to the upper echelon has been carefully carved by the mindset it took to get there.
Captain of Industry is a three-part series with P-Rod that explores how he went from learning kickflips in the grass in front of his mom’s house to getting his name on 10 signature Nike shoes, and eventually starting his own brand to stay closely connected to the skateboarding industry for years to come.
In this first episode, Paul recaps a few of his career highlights, like signing with Nike and how Primitive first launched as a sneaker store before transforming into the full-fledged skateboard brand it’s known as today. P-Rod sheds light on how these moves came to be while describing what his headspace was like along the way.
“The greatest in their field, I think they all are—more or less—on the same wavelength mentally.” — Paul Rodriguez