World Skateboarding Championships in Sharjah set for final countdown today

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The stage is set for an incredible final day at the Street 2022 World Skateboarding Championships at Aljada Skate Park in Sharjah.

On Saturday quality runs and unbelievably big tricks in the men’s Street semi-finals saw the following eight skateboarders qualify for Sunday’s final (semi-final points total listed after name): Ginwoo Onodera, 262.24 (Japan); Jagger Eaton, 260.99 (USA); Gustavo Ribeiro, 255.85 (Portugal); Sora Shirai, 250.66 (Japan); Aurelien Giraud, 250.04 (France); Chris Joslin, 249.07 (USA); Kelvin Hoefler, 237.86 (Brazil); Richard Tury, 237.38 (Slovakia).

In the Sharjah sunshine, the women’s Street semi-final was just as dramatic and intriguing, with the following eight skateboarders qualifying for final Rizu Akama, 253.7 (Japan); Rayssa Leal, 253.0 (Brazil); Momiji Nishiya, 249.1 (Japan); Chloe Covell, 246.1 (Australia); Gabriela Mazetto, 221.6 (Brazil); Pamela Rosa, 219.4 (Brazil); Funa Nakayama, 209.5 (Japan); Paige Heyn, 209.2 (USA).

Leal, who won a silver medal in the women's street skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics, said: “It’s good to be in the final. I fell down two days ago, and I wasn’t feeling 100 percent in the semi-final, but I did everything that I wanted to and I’m also happy that the other two Brazilians got through to the final too.”

Leal, who wore a protective covering on her arm in competition, added: “I’m happy, I’m calm, and I think the final is just going to be another day. I’m happy to be here with my mum in another important championship, and the same with my team and the staff. I think I can get a constant flow in this skate park, which is good. To be here for a World Championship on the way to Paris (and the Olympics) is important – I know how important it is to be here and to participate.”

The women’s Street final on Sunday begins with the practice session at 2pm, followed by the warm up at 4.25pm and competition at 4.40pm. Men’s practice begins at 3.05pm, the warm up at 5.55pm and the competition final at 6.10pm. The Street 2022 World Championships Awards Ceremony at Aljada Skate Park in Sharjah, for both men and women, starts at 7.50pm.

Both the Street 2022 World Championships and the Park 2022 World Championships, which run from February 5 to February 12 at Aljada Skate Park in Sharjah, act as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Park 2022 World Skateboarding Championships quarter-finals are on Friday, February 10, semi-finals on Saturday, February 11, and the final on Sunday, February 12.

A record-breaking total of more than 450 of the world’s best skateboarders are featuring in the Street 2022 and Park 2022 World Championships for an incredible prize pool of $500,000. Gold-medal winners in each discipline, in both the male and female categories, receive a $50,000 prize.

The Street 2022 and Park 2022 World Championships are co-organized by World Skate and UAE-based master developer Arada. The event is sponsored by Red Bull, TikTok, Sharjah Tourism, Saudi German Hospitals, UAE Innovates, Aman Insurance and Reinsurance, Bones, Rage, Mini Logo, Embassy Skateboards, and Etnies.