USA’s champion skateboarders crowned

Dashawn Jordan and Mariah Duran both won their second straight USA national street skateboarding championships on Tuesday, with Jagger Eaton and Minna Stess picking up the men’s and women’s park title respectively for 2021.

“When USA Skateboarding announced the finals were in person, I was stoked knowing I was going to be able to interact and vibe with other skaters in a contest environment again,” said Jordan, who, along with the three other winners, will take part in the Summer Dew Tour event later this month in hopes of booking a place at this summer’s first-ever Olympic skateboarding competition. “It had been too long, and when you got dope energy around you while competing, it makes it that much better.

“My mindset heading into these next qualifying contests is to skate my hardest and have fun because no matter the result, I can't get mad knowing I gave it my all,” added Jordan, looking ahead to the possibility of reaching the Tokyo Games this summer.

Improvisation in qualification

With an innovative format incorporating a virtual element (video clips sent in by the skaters for judging) and an in-person finals competitions at the Berrics and the CA Training Facility, USA Skateboarding deftly maneuvered around the restrictions and complications caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic that has seen much of the skateboarding world shut down or severely curtailed since March of last year.

These national championships were one of only two opportunities for American park hopefuls to compete this year before the Games this summer.

The inaugural Olympic Skateboard competition this summer will take place on the scenic shores of Tokyo Bay. Qualification is based on global rankings maintained by World Skate, the sport’s international governing body – and points are earned at competitions, like the one in Iowa, toward stamping tickets to the historic event.

Tokyo 2020 (in 2021)’s skateboarding competition will run from 25 July to 5 August at the brand-new Ariake Urban Sports Park.

USA Skateboarding National Championships results:

Men’s Park

1. Jagger Eaton
2. Tristan Rennie
3. Tate Carew
4. Liam Pace
5. Raphael Ueda
6. Kevin Kowalski
7. Josh Dirksen

Men’s Street

1. Dashawn Jordan
2. Jake Ilardi
3. Chris Joslin
4. Mike Piwowar
5. Chris Pierre
6. Becker Dunn
7. Tyler Peterson

Women’s Park

1. Minna Stess
2. Jordan Santana
3. Bryce Wettstein
4. Jordyn Barratt
5. Grace Marhoefer
6. Nicole Hause
7. Kody Tamanaha
8. Ruby Lilley

Women’s Street

1. Mariah Duran
2. Poe Pinson
3. Samarria Brevard
4. Meagan Guy
5. Paige Heyn
6. Celina Meehan
7. Jordan Pascale
8. Jamie Kutcher