Youth crave engagement, culture, and belonging. In our events, stories go beyond events.. It needs real stories that connect communities and highlight the people shaping culture every day. With our Golden Ticket program, our mission is simple: We don’t just showcase talent. We help young athletes write their stories and show the world they’re worth the spotlight, even when they never thought it was possible.
In 2024, we launched a global search with The Skate Nomad to uncover overlooked talent.
In 2025, we’re taking it even further: alongside in-person scouting, we’re launching a worldwide online contest asking one easy question: Who’s the most underrated skater in the world?
For our partners, this is a unique opportunity to align with a movement that genuinely transforms lives, while generating powerful, relevant content that captures attention on both local and global levels
The Golden Ticket isn’t merely a free pass, it’s a platform for transformation. In 2024, a select few young skaters discovered by the Skate Nomad were invited to skate at JACKALOPE. In 2025, the initiative scaled up. After evaluating hundreds of submissions, a jury of internationally respected skateboarding figures, including pro street skater Manny Santiago, X Games legend and vert ramp maestro Pierre-Luc Gagnon (PLG), Olympic-qualifying skater and nonprofit founder Amelia Brodka, and Nike SB sponsored rising star Christiana Means, selected eight Golden Ticket winners. These skaters earned all expenses paid trips at JACKALOPE events in Virginia Beach, Mississauga, and Montréal. This expanded format blends digital inclusivity with global scouting, inviting diverse voices and backgrounds into the fold.
At the heart of Tribu’s vision lies the JACKALOPE mission: to fuel the global action sports movement by crafting spaces where fans, athletes, and creators can converge, celebrate their passions, and push each other toward new heights. This is not simply about competitions or podiums, it is about cultivating a culture where every moment, no matter how small, holds transformative potential. Every skater landing their first ollie, every climber topping out their first boulder, every builder braving the rain to secure bolts, every filmmaker chasing the ineffable feeling of motion rather than a metric of views, these are the sparks that ignite a lifelong trajectory, the impulses that define the human side of sport.
We believe that excellence is not measured by flawless execution but by resilience, curiosity, and the audacity to persist in the face of doubt. It is a laboratory for growth, a proving ground where progress outweighs perfection, and connection outweighs competition. Each Golden Ticket recipient is more than a participant, they are a living testament to this ethos. Their journeys, fraught with challenges and punctuated by moments of awe, exemplify the profound impact that opportunity, mentorship, and recognition can have on a young athlete’s path. For many, it is also a launchpad ; a place where the next legends of the sport first take shape, long before the world knows their names.
Tribu’s role is to amplify these sparks, transforming ephemeral moments into enduring cultural narratives. By documenting, sharing, and celebrating each story, JACKALOPE does more than host events; it cultivates a living archive of human ambition, creativity, and resilience. The Golden Ticket is not a prize; it is a platform that validates effort, nurtures potential, and signals to the world that greatness often begins quietly, far from the spotlight. In this way, Tribu builds more than a festival; it fosters a tribe, a network of shared values and experiences, united by the belief that everyone possesses untapped potential. Every story told, every challenge overcome, is proof of one immutable truth: You’ve got more to give, to create, to feel, and ultimately, to become.
2024
Mia Kretzer, only 9 years old from Australia, embarked on her first international skate trip to JACKALOPE Mississauga before claiming her historic X Games gold, with her arrival and award videos reaching tens of thousands of views on Instagram and YouTube. For Kenji Leon, an 11-year-old from Thailand, the Golden Ticket was his first chance to skate outside his country, compete alongside adults, and experience a professional environment. The kid who landed his first kickflip in just 15 minutes now had the opportunity to meet influential skaters and discover the global language of skateboarding.
Climber Sofie King turned her Golden Ticket into a series of podium finishes in Montreal, gaining visibility and stepping stones toward long-term goals, while also experiencing unique cultural moments like skydiving with the Jackalope crew.
2025
Shuka Kawai, at just 13, secured 2nd place in Virginia Beach and 3rd place in Mississauga in the Women’s Vert competitions, impressing with her signature 540 trick, positive spirit, and first experience skating internationally. Valentina Krauel, 16, dominated the Women’s Street competitions with back-to-back 1st place finishes in Virginia Beach and Mississauga, delivering flawless runs and confirming her status as a rising star. Across continents and disciplines, these stories reveal a consistent theme: the Golden Ticket does not merely reward talent; it creates opportunities, validates dedication, and exposes young athletes to a world of inspiration and mentorship.
The social and digital reach of these experiences underscores their resonance. Mia’s arrival alone drew over 36,000 views on JACKALOPE’s Instagram, while Mike Boisvert’s coverage on Youtube amplified engagement across platforms, connecting audiences to the journey of these young athletes in real time. Kenji’s journey generated thousands of views and likes, showing that audiences are captivated not only by performance but by the narrative of growth, courage, and connection. These stories demonstrate that JACKALOPE’s Golden Ticket is not about a single competition; it is about creating moments that ripple across communities, inspire future generations, and transform fleeting performances into lasting cultural milestones.
Tribu’s ambition doesn’t stop at the competition. The Golden Ticket creates a ripple effect that reaches far beyond skate parks, turning individual moments into lasting cultural content. Each winner’s journey naturally attracts media interest, offering deeply human stories that resonate with audiences and spark conversation. VLOGs with Mike capture raw, emotional, and authentic experiences, following winners as they navigate new cities, meet peers, and push their limits. Blog posts and social reels highlight moments, lines, and personal breakthroughs, extending the narrative and amplifying reach. Even before the final 2025 views are tallied, the impact is clear: in 2024, Golden Ticket content generated over 180K views on Instagram and 272K on YouTube. In 2025, the momentum surged with more than 825K impressions on Instagram, including 91K views on Anna and Bob’s reel alone.
Through this approach, Tribu transforms fleeting performances into enduring cultural memories, proving that investing in people and their stories creates content that resonates far beyond the moment.
Tribu is not in the business of one-off moments; it’s about building legacies. The Golden Ticket 2025 is the backbone of future Tribu initiatives, grounded in vision, inclusion, and impact. Storytelling sits at the heart of everything we do. For brands, partners, clients, and skateboarders alike, this is not just about visibility. It’s about creating narratives that resonate, inspire, and echo long after the festival ends.
Curious about what’s next? Let’s talk.
Because we’re just getting started, and the best stories and the most powerful content strategies are still waiting to be told.