Japanese duo Netsuke, Akama steal show at Street Pro Tour Stop finals

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

Local sports fans and international visitors witnessed an action-packed evening of exceptional competition and mesmerising skill as the Street Pro Tour Stop finals unfolded in thrilling fashion at Dubai Harbour on Sunday.

Hosted by World Skate and Arada, the Park Pro Tour Stop was the final destination on the Road to Paris 2024 – with 238 athletes from 63 countries vying for places at this summer’s Olympic Games taking place in the French capital.

After a fabulous seven days of high-quality showdowns and elimination rounds across the men’s and women’s competitions, the remaining skaters went head-to-head one last time at Dubai Harbour’s purpose-built, championship-class venue – showcasing the very best of professional skateboarding.

The prospect of a World Skate Tour (WST) event win alongside qualification to the grandest stage of them all ignited a thrilling spectacle that culminated in a dominant night for Japan with two winners – Kairi Netsuke in the men’s Street Pro Tour Stop and Liz Akama in the women’s.

Gustavo Ribeiro of Portugal and Sora Shirai of Japan finished second and third in the men’s whilst Australia’s Chloe Covell and Japan’s Coco Yoshizawa claimed top three positions in the women’s final.

On hand to congratulate the outstanding finalists at the official awards ceremony were Sabatino Aracu, President of World Skate, and Ali Omar, Director of Sports Development at Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

The Street Pro Tour Stop formed back-to-back WST competitions alongside the Park Pro Tour Stop, which ran for eight days and concluded last week. The two welcomed a combined 430 athletes from a record-breaking 65 countries worldwide — collectively representing one of the UAE’s biggest, most significant sporting events in 2024.

Following on from the 2022 World Championships in Sharjah, this second edition of the Middle East’s debut pro staking event was held in partnership with DSC and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), alongside venue partner Shamal Holding and under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of DSC.

Ray Tinston, Events Director at Arada, said: “These last two weeks have been incredible and we’re proud to have hosted a spectacle that has set a new benchmark for future events to emulate. Whether on social media or here in person, how positively the skaters and audiences have felt about the Park and Street competitions has been clear for all to see. The UAE today is home to a really passionate and engaged skateboarding community and, in many ways, is becoming a centre of excellence for skateboarding regionally and globally. People have really recognised this.”

Commenting on what the future holds for Arada and its World Skate partnership, Tinston added: “We’re fully invested in skateboarding and are committed to the sport – the direction of travel is very positive and the future bright as these competitions have shown. By leading by example and welcoming the global skate community to Dubai, it’s transforming everyone’s outlook on skateboarding. People are now seeing what the sport can become and how far it can go. There is so much potential and many possibilities ahead.”

For the world’s skateboard elite, it’s now full speed ahead to Paris 2024, where they will face off in two of the most popular and spectacular skate disciplines – park and street. The male and female competitions in Paris will feature the world’s best skateboarders with medals, pride, and legacy awaiting a select few.