AM division best trick: Lizzie with a back handspring

Write-up contributors: Clara , Ace , Sam

Media brought to you by: Modes Media

Another year, another Rust Cup!

This year, Buffalo Quad Crew hosted Rust Cup IV, a roller skate competition that threw down at Jamestown Skate Products, aka JSP, in waaaaay western Jamestown, New York. This year the competition hosted roller skaters for two divisions, AM and Open as well as a weekend of shenanigans.

Rust Cup weekend, May 23-24, 2026 was chock full of roller skating, musical jams, hot dogs and of course Ohioans, whose enthusiasm cannot be matched!

The weekend also included workshops led by JSP roller skater in residence Ace and a Bounty Hunter challenge facilitated by upstate New York’s one and only Clara aka Bounty Hunter Czar.

Announcements were brought to you by Buffalo Quad Crew’s own Visual Director and Town Crier, Sam and live music from Seraphine’s Cleaver who came all the way from New York City to show us some love.

Our competition focus this year was to showcase the elevated skill level of the roller skaters who are coming out to compete right now, both stateside and internationally. The AM division was geared toward seasoned skaters looking for a lower pressure competition session and first time competitors. The Open division was geared toward seasoned skate competitors and skaters looking to take home the $1000 prize purse!

AM and Open divisions both competed in JSP’s legendary bowl that includes handcrafted features including a coffin door, the worm, a brick extension, a pool tiled pocket and hella fun hips. Open Rookie of the Year and winner of Best Slam, Christian writes in their 6.13.26 IG post, “Looking back at this bowl, I’m shook how the videos don’t really put it to scale, it was huge!” Definitely a destination skate spot, roller skaters from far and wide made the most of every run.

In addition to AM and Open divisions and trademark JSP, Rust Cup had our Elder roller skaters, 35 years and over (show up, or shut up) dive in for a just-for-funsies heat with our local skateboard pals!

Structurally, the AM and Open division competition consisted of heats of 5-6 skaters who followed a set rotation – the set rotation made it easier on our judges who observed from the rafters using a scorecard that includes both subjective and objective scoring. This year two judging crews worked to ensure that every trick was scored, style was considered and most importantly that there were NO TIES.