Jacksonville — Street League Skateboarding will host its Super Crown World Championship Saturday and Sunday at Jacksonville’s Riverfront Plaza. Touted as the world’s preeminent professional skateboarding series for over a decade, the event will showcase the who’s who of the world’s elite male and female Street Skateboarders.
The 2021 SLS Championship Tour roster features more than 50 international street skaters – including 22 Olympians. This, the final stop, will take place on stage on a uniquely designed skate plaza on the banks of the St. John River. The top 25 competitors who rise through through the first two rounds will vie for the coveted title of World Champion. The top four men and women have since qualified for the Super Crown Finals, while the remaining athletes will be vying for the last four final spots in each final during last-chance qualifiers on Saturday.
“It’s exciting to have fans from around the world coming to Jacksonville this week to watch the best athletes in their sport perform for the world championship,” said Alan Verlander, CEO of Airstream Ventures, the event promoter. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Jacksonville on the world stage and we look forward to delivering a first class experience in a gorgeous venue on the banks of the St. Johns River.”
Verlander explained that the skate plaza - the course on which the skateboarders use - is unique to every event. Skaters practice to get a “feel” of how to run their tricks.
“The skaters know which tricks will garner them more points so they’ll come in on Friday and practice the course and determine the kind of runs they want to make,” said Verlander.
According to Airstream, Nyjah Huston (Huntington Beach, Calif.) will be seeking his fourth-straight SLS title, qualifying in the top position ahead of Felipe Gustavo (Brasilia, Brazil) Alex Midler (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Gustavo Ribeiro (Lisbon, Portugal). Among the men’s skaters seeking a final spot is local star Jamie Foy (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), as well as 2020 Olympic silver medalist Kelvin Hoefler (São Paulo, Brazil) and bronze medalist Jagger Eaton (Mesa, Ariz.).
The four top female finishers from the Tokyo Olympics qualified for the final: Rayssa Leal (Imperatriz, Brazil; silver), Funa Nakayama (Toyama City, Japan; bronze), Roos Zwetsloot (Zeist, Netherlands; fourth) and Momiji Nishiya (Osaka, Japan; gold). Reigning SLS champion Pamela Rosa (São José dos Campos, Brazil) sits fifth and will be “on the hunt for a spot in the final.”
Season standing points will impact the start order for both the last-chance qualifier and final, but will not factor into scoring for either round, therefore any skater has the ability to make the finals and win the championship.
“These are the best skaters from all over the world competing for the coveted crown,” continued Verlander. “Being crowned world champion for a man and a woman is the highest pinnacle you can reach in your sport.”
Season standing points will impact the start order for both the last-chance qualifier and final, but will not factor into scoring for either round, therefore any skater has the ability to make the finals and win the championship.
Verlander encourages everyone to see the incredible array of talent.
“Some of what these skaters do to manipulate the board and how they flip up their feet is unbelievable to watch,” he concluded.
Fans can watch the athletes practice on Friday with gates opening at 9 a.m. The women’s practice starts at 10 a.m. and the men follow at 1 p.m.
Gates will be open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The women’s competition runs from 10 a.m. – Noon followed by the men from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. The women’s Sunday Super Crown final starts at Noon followed by the men’s at 2:30 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can also enjoy the the VyStar Family Skate Park along with food trucks and various skating vendors.
The Street League Skateboarding Super Crown Championship will be broadcast on YouTube, DAZN, MCS and Fox Sports, as well as Globo in Brazil and ProSieben in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Tickets for the SLS Super Crown Championship can be purchased at StreetLeague.com .
Riverfront Plaza, 2011 Independent Dr, Jacksonville, FL
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