Skateboarding at OQS Budapest: Preview, schedule and how to watch the action live

After two long years, the last stop for skateboarders on the road to Paris 2024 is finally here.

From 20-23 June, the top 44 men’s and women’s skaters across the street and park disciplines will make one final bid to secure a quota spot at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the second Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) stop in Budapest, Hungary.

The showdown, to be hosted by the Ludovika Campus, will conclude what has been a long and winding journey for those seeking to secure a quota for the Games

In skateboarding, the ranking points system which determines the allocation of quota spots has been divided into three parts. The first-third of points were awarded between June 2022 and March 2024 based on results from a series of contests.

The second-third of points were dished out at OQS Shanghai last month, where the amount of points available was significantly raised adding a dash of drama to the mix.

OQS Budapest, therefore, will mark the handing out of the final third of points and will be decisive in determining which 88 skateboarders will make up the final field for Paris.

With four quotas of that 88 set aside for hosts France and the same for Universality Places (to be decided by the Tripartite Commission of the International Olympic Committee IOC), just 80 quotas remain. And of that number, a National Olympic Committee (NOC) may only receive three quota places per gender per event.

Joy, pain, drama, luck: OQS Budapest will have it in spades as the final Olympic qualification showdown for skateboarding commences.

• Seven things we learned from the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai
• Charting the Course to Paris 2024: Qualification and points System unveiled for Olympic Qualifier Series
• Skateboarding at the Olympic Qualifier Series: Everything you need to know

OQS Budapest 2024: Street skateboarding preview

Men's street

Breathtaking. Climactic. Tense.

OQS Shanghai street skateboarding had it all, including a significant shake-up in the rankings.

Dual-threat Jagger Eaton had jaws agape as he clinically skated to victory in the men’s street competition ahead of Japanese wunderkind Onodera Ginwoo and compatriot Chris Joslin.

The 23-year-old, who skated in both park and street contests in Shanghai, made clear to all watching the toll it took after erupting into tears as the US national anthem sounded out but the sacrifices his ambitions demand looked to have paid off with Eaton rising a dramatic 10 places up the rankings into second ahead of compatriot Nyjah Huston in third.

Eaton’s impressive climb was matched only by Joslin who similarly soared 10 places into eighth and, crucially, left a sizeable gap to fellow US skater Braden Hoban who rose to 13th.

How the final order of the men from the US will look after Budapest will be a point of intrigue but it won’t be the only one.

Team Japan, stacked with serious talent including reigning Olympic champion Horigome Yuto, is another lot to watch closely.

Onodera, 14, put down one of his most complete performances to date to clinch second in Shanghai and take the top spot in the World Skate rankings but it’s elsewhere really the drama now prevails.

Horigome failed to make it out of the prelims and is now fifth among Japanese skaters. A considerable effort will now be needed from the Olympic gold medallist if he wants to be in the mix to defend his crown in Paris. Not least as world champion Shirai Sora, currently the third-best ranked Japanese street skater, is only 600 points ahead of teammate Sasaki Toa.

Eyes will also be on where French skaters Aurelien Giraud, Vincent Milou and Joseph Garbaccio land.

As host of the Games, France automatically receives one quota place, but who will claim that and who must secure a quota via the same route as everyone will be ultimately decided in Budapest.

As it stands, Giraud, who skipped Shanghai is currently ranked ninth having fallen five spots due to his absence. Milou, who also missed the first OQS due to injury, similarly dropped and now sits in 23rd.

While they were out Garbaccio pulled out all the stops in Shanghai and finished 12th to rise eight places (20th) and move above Milou.

Will all three Frenchmen be in Paris? Only Budapest will tell.

World Skate rankings ahead of Budapest: Men's street

1. Onodera Ginwoo (JPN)
2. Jagger Eaton (USA)
3. Nyjah Huston (USA)
4. Gustavo Ribeiro (POR)
5. Netsuke Kairi (JPN)
6. Shirai Sora (JPN)
7. Sasaki Toa (JPN)
8. Chris Joslin (USA)
9. Aurelien Giraud (FRA)
10. Giovanni Vianna (BRA)
11. Horigome Yuto (JPN)
12. Richard Tury (SLO)
13. Braden Hoban (USA)
14. Matias Dello Olio (ARG)
15. Aoki Yukito (JPN)
16. Kelvin Hoefler (BRA)
17. Ryan Decenzo (CAN)
18. Cordano Russell (CAN)
19. Matt Berger (CAN)
20. Joseph Garbaccio (FRA)
21. Alex Midler (USA)
22. Filipe Gustavo (BRA)
23. Vincent Milou (FRA)
24. Mauro Iglesias (ARG)
25. Jhancarlos Gonzalez Ortiz (COL)
26. Gabryel Aguilar (BRA)
27. Jake Ilardi (USA)
28. Angelo Caro (PER)
29. Micky Papa (CAN)
30. Deivid Tuesta (PER)
31. Shane O’Neill (AUS)
32. Filipe Mota (BRA)
33. Kristoffer Kroon (SWE)
34. Joe Hinson (GBR)
35. Rome Collyer (AUS)
36. Greg Rodriguez (MEX)
37. Lucas Rabelo (BRA)
38. Justin Sommer (GER)
39. Kilian Zehnder (SUI)
40. Agustin Aquila (ITA)
41. Tommy Fynn (AUS)
42. Gabriel Ribeiro (POR)
43. Brandon Valjalo (RSA)
44. Zhang Jie (CHN)

Women's street

Just as with the men’s street division all attention will be firmly fixed on Japan and its skaters in the women’s street field.

Boasting an enviable depth of talent, it was always set to be a battle until the last for a quota spot among Japanese women.

In Shanghai, Akama Liz, Nakayama Funa and young gun Yoshizawa Coco all took great steps forward in supporting their causes after making it into the final and, in the case of Akama and Yoshizawa, finishing on top of the podium.

They were helped on the way but the surprise early departures of Olympic champ Nishiya Momiji and world champ Oda Yumeka, who slipped down the rankings as a result.

As it stands, Nishiya, behind Akama and Yoshizawa, is currently holding on as third-best among Japanese but is only 14,588 points ahead of Nakayama. And in the world of OQS points, that point differential can go in a heartbeat.

Elsewhere, big climbers caused a stir among the rankings. US skater Poe Pinson rose a remarkable 15 places to sit in ninth heading into Budapest.

The 19-year-old US ace had shown some impressive form when able to make a contest in phase one but truly came alive in Shanghai.

Other noteworthy performers came from the OQS hosts with all five Chinese skaters rising at least five spots. Cui Chenxi climbed to eight to be top among them with Zhu Yuanling storming up 11 spots to get into the top 20.

Will they be able to impress a second time in Budapest? Or will it be the turn of another?

World Skate rankings ahead of Budapest: Women's street

1. Rayssa Leal (BRA)
2. Akama Liz (JPN)
3. Yoshizawa Coco (JPN)
4. Chloe Covell (AUS)
5. Nishiya Momiji (JPN)
6. Nakayama Funa (JPN)
7. Oda Yumeka (JPN)
8. Cui Chenxi (CHN)
9. Poe Pinson (USA)
10. Ito Miyu (JPN)
11. Paige Heyn (USA)
12. Zeng Wenhui (CHN)
13. Pamela Rosa (BRA)
14. Natalia Munoz (ESP)
15. Roos Zwetsloot (NED)
16. Gabi Mazetto (BRA)
17. Mariah Duran (USA)
18. Keet Oldenbeuving (NED)
19. Liv Lovelace (AUS)
20. Zhu Yuanling (CHN)
21. Afrika Criado Oliva (ESP)
22. Lucie Schoonheere (FRA)
23. Haylie Powell (AUS)
24. Daniela Terol (ESP)
25. Zhang Yan (CHN)
26. Felicity Turner (AUS)
27. Charlotte Hym (FRA)
28. Jazmin Alvarez (COL)
29. Lore Bruggeman (BEL)
30. Lan Junyi (CHN)
31. Candy Jacobs (NED)
32. Ha Siye (KOR)
33. Weronika Choromanska (POL)
34. Vareeraya Sukasem (THA)
35. Kemily Suiara (BRA)
36. Isabelly Avila (BRA)
37. Meagan Guy (USA)
38. Jessica Ready (NZL)
39. Aldana Bertran (ARG)
40. Marina Gabriela (BRA)
41. Jeromine Louvet (FRA)
42. Samantha Secours (CAN)
43. Ailin Arzua (ARG)
44. Boipelo Awuah (RSA)

OQS Budapest 2024: Park skateboarding preview

The park contests at OQS saw two new Road to Paris 2024 winners.

US’s Tate Carew, who has long since been knocking on the door, took victory in the men’s contest while vert history-maker Arisa Trew showed that she is hitting her straps just in time for the Games after clinching the win in the women’s contest.

But perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of the park events was the resurgence of Olympic champions Yosozumi Sakura and Keegan Palmer.

The Japanese and Australian skaters have been bothered by injury for the most part in the lead-up to OQS but were able to finally show what they’ve been working on with the duo both making the podium in Shanghai.

Men's park

Zooming in on each division, one of the major storylines emerging from men’s park is: who from the US and Brazil will step up to claim the NOC quotas?

With both countries considered powerhouses in the discipline the fight to secure one of the three available spots was always expected to go down to the wire.

Tom Schaar, currently ranked ninth and fourth among the US skaters, will have his work cut out for him in Budapest if he is to muscle in on the top three currently occupied by Carew, Eaton and world champion Gavin Bottger.

Similarly, Brazil's Pedro Quintas is another who will need to find some form fast if he is to knock off either Augusto Akio, Pedro Barros or Luigi Cini, who are ranked fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.

World Skate rankings ahead of Budapest: Men's park

1. Tate Carew (USA)
2. Jagger Eaton (USA)
3. Gavin Bottger (USA)
4. Keegan Palmer (AUS)
5. Augusto Akio (BRA)
6. Pedro Barros (BRA)
7. Kieran Woolley (AUS)
8. Luigi Cini (BRA)
9. Tom Schaar (USA)
10. Danny Leon (ESP)
11. Keefer Wilson (AUS)
12. Steven Pineiro (PUR)
13. Alex Sorgente (ITA)
14. Nagahara Yuro (JPN)
15. Pedro Quintas (BRA)
16. Hampus Winberg (SWE)
17. Viktor Solmunde (DEN)
18. Liam Pace (USA)
19. Pedro Carvalho (BRA)
20. Alain Kortabitarte (ESP)
21. Alessandro Mazzara (ITA)
22. Tyler Edtmayer (GER)
23. Ash Wilcomes (AUS)
24. Murilo Peres (BRA)
25. Taylor Nye (USA)
26. Vincent Matheron (FRA)
27. Elias Nilsen (NOR)
28. Peio Gonzalez (ESP)
29. Yam Behar (ISR)
30. Thomas Augusto (POR)
31. Rune Glifberg (DEN)
32. Edouard Damestoy (FRA)
33. Tommy Calvert (GBR)
34. Kiko Francisco (PHI)
35. Noe Montagard (FRA)
36. Egoitz Bijueska (ESP)
37. Tom Martin (FRA)
38. Andrew Macdonald (GBR)
39. Ethan Copeland (AUS)
40. Chen Ye (CHN)
41. Omar Cocilova (ARG)
42. George O'neill (GBR)
43. Phoenix Sinnerton (AUS)
44. Dallas Oberholzer (RSA)

Women's park

In the women’s park division, the battle for the top three NOC quota spots is intensifying for both the USA and Japan.

Young gun and late runner Hasegawa Mizuho, despite rising eight places in the rankings after Shanghai, will have even more work to do if she is to displace either Kusaki Hinano, Yosozumi or number one-ranked skater Hiraki Kokona.

While in the US skateboarding camp, everything is all to play for with Minna Stess, Ruby Lilley, Grace Marhoefer, and Jordyn Barratt sitting between 12th and 17th. Bryce Wettstein, having made the final in Shanghai, is currently out in fifth but even she will be watching over her shoulder.

One name sure to be on everyone’s lips in women’s park will be Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Sky Brown who was forced to skip Shanghai due to a ligament tear in her knee.

The Brton's return to competition is expected to come just in time for Budapest where she will look to cement herself in the cut for Paris. What form will she bring to the Hungarian capital? Rivals and fans will be watching closely as she has not been at an Olympic skateboarding qualifier in over a year

World Skate rankings ahead of Budapest: Women's park

1. Hiraki Kokona (JPN)
2. Arisa Trew (AUS)
3. Yosozumi Sakura (JPN)
4. Kusaki Hinano (JPN)
5. Bryce Wettstein (USA)
6. Ruby Trew (AUS)
7. Raicca Ventura (BRA)
8. Isadora Pacheco (BRA)
9. Hasegawa Mizuho (JPN)
10. Dora Varella (BRA)
11. Sky Brown (GBR)
12. Minna Stess (USA)
13. Naia Laso (ESP)
14. Ruby Lilley (USA)
15. Grace Marhoefer (USA)
16. Lilly Stoephasius (GER)
17. Jordyn Barratt (USA)
18. Yndiara Asp (BRA)
19. Lola Tambling (GBR)
20. Nana Taboulet (FRA)
21. Fay Ebert (CAN)
22. Sugawara Mei (JPN)
23. Emilie Alexandre (FRA)
24. Lillian Erickson (USA)
25. Nakamura Kisa (JPN)
26. Heili Sirvio (FIN)
27. Zheng Haohao (CHN)
28. Lilly Strachan (GBR)
29. Cho Hyunju (KOR)
30. Julia Benedetti (ESP)
31. Poppy Starr (AUS)
32. Aaliyah Wilson (AUS)
33. Charlotte Heath (AUS)
34. Gadea Moja (ESP)
35. Ceci Rendueles (ESP)
36. Fernanda Tonissi (BRA)
37. Coco Crafter (AUS)
38. Madeleine Larcheron (FRA)
39. Hedda Hjertberg (SWE)
40. Li Yujuan (CHN)
41. Lucrezia Zarattini (ITA)
42. Alisa Fessl (AUT)
43. Brigitte Morales (PER)
44. Aya Asaqas (MAR)

OQS Budapest: Skateboarding schedule in full

All times are CEST (UTC+2). Schedule is subject to change.

Thursday 20 June

• 11:40 - Skateboarding - Women's Park - Prelims
• 16:35 - Skateboarding - Men's Street - Prelims

Friday 21 June

• 11:40 - Skateboarding - Men's Park - Prelims
• 16:35 - Skateboarding - Women's Street - Prelims

Saturday 22 June

• 09:30 - Skateboarding - Women's Park - Semi-final
• 11:15 - Skateboarding - Men's Street - Semi-final
• 15:30 - Skateboarding - Men's Park - Semi-final
• 17:05 - Skateboarding - Women's Street - Semi-final

Sunday 23 June

• 10:30 - Skateboarding - Women's Park - Finals
• 12:00 - Skateboarding - Men's Street - Finals
• 15:00 - Skateboarding - Men's Park - Finals
• 17:00 - Skateboarding - Women's Street - Finals

How to watch skateboarding at OQS live

You can watch all the action from OQS in Budapest including the skateboarding live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices.

Keep up to date with all the latest in Olympic skating from Budapest and beyond on Olympics.com.