What happens when you mix a cool street course, an incredibly welcoming skate community, and legendary post-comp karaoke? You get the Montreal Cup—an event that shows what a skate competition can be. We got firsthand testimonials from skaters who know what they’re talking about. That should definitely make you want to be there!
“We stayed out until 2 a.m. with half the skaters from the comp singing our hearts out.” Alexis @alexi_shreds
Wow, if I could get down on one knee and propose to the Montreal Cup I would. Something about this quad event has me smiling ear to ear the whole time. I remember the first time we went, I was a little nervous and intimidated by the idea of attending such a “big” comp, but that immediately went away. Not only is Montreal a beautiful city filled with beautiful people but the atmosphere of the competition is something I’ve never experienced before. The way the quad and blading communities support and uplift each other is amazing. You can feel in the air the love everyone has for each other, and it’s hard not to find yourself feeling like the city has embraced you in a warm hug. Not only is the event itself super fun but so is every activity surrounding it — my personal favorite being the karaoke at the afterparty. I remember the first time Bones and I went, we stayed out until 2 a.m. with half the skaters from the comp singing our hearts out. Waking up at 8 a.m. the next day was brutal, but we surprised ourselves and shredded harder than we could’ve imagined. Luckily for us now, they’ve changed it to have karaoke the day after the comp so we can all make sure to get a good night’s rest.
Lastly, and maybe the most significant thing I’ve loved from the Montreal Cup, are the friendships that I’ve made. Big love to all the Montreal skaters that put their whole heart and soul into making this happen, but also to everyone who comes internationally for this. We all share that deep love of skating and community, and that’s something that keeps me coming back each year. I look forward to seeing the friends I’ve made and making new ones. Irina is so welcoming and offers skate workshops for those visiting, which is a great way to check out Montreal’s skate scene with a certified shredder. I think that was probably one of my favorite memories last year. There was a skate meetup/workshop at one of the local skateparks that she had organized and it was so fun to be able to take over a park and all play with each other. It was a great way to make friends and get to know everyone prior to competing. I look forward to this event every year, and I can’t wait to keep coming back.
“My friends were really encouraging me to participate.” Bones @bean.daddy
How do I even begin to talk about one of my most core skate memories ever?I first heard about MTL Cup 2024 from Irina and was excited to just tag along as a groupie since I love the city, but my friends were really encouraging me to participate. I’d never considered competing before since I used to do karate tournaments and piano recitals as a kid, and knew I had a lot of performance anxiety. Plus, at that time I was barely beginning to branch outside of transition skating and the MTL Cup is mostly a street course. So as much as everyone was reassuring me that comps are not as intimidating as they seem, for months I overthought the decision until what finally convinced me to register was actually as simple as being reminded that in life we truly need to f*** around to find out—that there’s only so much we can know without actually just doing.
Making the trip with some of my closest skate besties who were on the same page of having no expectations and focusing on fun absolutely helped as well. We honestly even embraced this a bit too much because by the time it was our division Sunday, I was violently hungover and sleep-deprived from b2b nights out, on top of having a fresh new “skate or die” ankle tattoo. Unfortunately, our warm-ups were rained on, so as I was preparing for my first time skating the course to be in front of a public audience I could feel all the fears flooding back–of feeling embarrassed and of the competitiveness bringing out an ugly inner critic that would rob me of any possible joy.
I never could’ve predicted how opposite the experience would actually be. Because as soon as we counted down to start my run, I instantly felt all anxiety clear away and the only thing I was thinking was “Let’s. F***ing. Go.” I then went on to have the time of my life eating shit for four minutes straight while everyone cheered their goddamn minds out. I was throwing tricks I had no business attempting and locking in on the first try to tricks that usually needed warm-up. I barely landed anything but I literally couldn’t have been more proud of myself for just following through. This lesson in self-trust and being open to surprising myself has been such a motivating force even to this day.
It was genuinely overwhelming how supported I felt in that environment by my heatmates, the organizers, and the crowd. I continue to learn that that’s just a natural extension of the beautiful love shared between the skate communities there. During my visit, I witnessed local quad and inline skaters in locked arms drunk singing together like it’s their regular routine. I saw local skaters one second be competing in a heat, and the next be picking up a camera to film others. The hosts, the judges, the course builders—all largely local skaters. This shit is to its core: for the community, by the community! That specialness (plus the karaoke pre-game) is exactly why I was for certain coming back for 2025, and now 2026, and forever and ever I hope until the poutine runs out mwahaha.
“There is a joyous feeling in the air that overshadows any fear or doubts.” Sora @sorasupernova
Montreal is never a place I thought I’d travel to. It simply never crossed my mind. And after the last skate competition I entered, I never considered skating in another. And yet I somehow ended up skating in the Montreal Cup.
I’m not that big on street skating and crowds make me super anxious, but something about the Montreal Cup is different. Something about the atmosphere and the comradery of the crew hosting and the shredders that were participating made it feel like we weren’t competing against each other. It felt like a team effort. A big jam sesh where everyone was cheering for everyone.
My friends and I arrived in Montreal a couple of days before the comp and I was overwhelmed by how open and encouraging everyone was. Like I said I am a little shy guy and I thought competing would be scary and intimidating. I feel that I wasn’t a good enough street skater to be in this comp. And with my last experience competing, I figured that comps just simply weren’t for me. But the MTL Cup completely changed that perspective for me.
Montreal is a beautiful place, and the skate community is alive and well there. There is a joyous feeling in the air that overshadows any fear or doubts. The announcers, crew that assembled the course, and skaters have a palpable love for the sport. I felt right at home immediately and can’t wait to go back. Not only the competition itself, but the meetups before, the cheerful, potentially drunken poutine-filled karaoke hangs after, and the power of friendship make the Montreal Cup a must attend event.
As someone who loves travel, skating, good people, and good vibes, the MTL Cup provided a check in all of my boxes, and I can’t wait to go back and experience it all again.
Top photo by Yanick Bélanger (@yan.blgr)