World Skate Games Italia 2024: Sasaki Toa leads the charge as 32 skaters advance to men's street quarter-finals
Brazilian Olympic medallist Kelvin Hoefler, and Gustavo Ribeiro joined the Japanese teenager in advancing to the quarter-finals as Netsuke Kairi bowed out early at the Colle Oppio skatepark in Rome.
Skateboarding
Not even a rainy Roman day could disrupt the rhythm of Japan's Sasaki Toa, as he took pole position in the men's street open qualifier at World Skate Games Italia 2024 on Wednesday (11 September).
As the hunt for the men's world title got underway, the 17-year-old began with a strong showing, qualifying for tomorrow's quarter-finals in first place with his 80.17 opening run from the evening's last heat.
Coming in just behind the Japanese skater was two-time Olympian Gustavo Ribeiro (79.98). The Portuguese, who had a disappointing outing at Paris 2024, came in ahead of Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and Paris finalist Kelvin Hoefler. Hoefler finished in the third position (73.31).
With Horigome Yuto, Nyjah Huston, Jagger Eaton and reigning world champion Shirai Sora all not competing in Rome, the door has been opened for some new faces to make their mark - and plenty did.
Fifteen-year-old Yabushita Momohei of Japan was sixth through in qualifying after competing in heat three of seven while the unranked Tyson Bowerbank of the United States advanced in eighth place.
While there was opening day delight for some, there were some eyebrow-raising, early exits for others.
World number two Netsuke Kairi, who lost out on a quota spot for Paris back in June, bailed on both of his run attempts to leave him outside of the cut in 34th. Joseph Garbaccio, who was at the Games in France, was another who didn't advance after likewise being unable to find a clean run.
The world championship event, which is taking place against the backdrop of Rome's iconic Colosseum, continues tomorrow with the men's and women's quarter-finals.
World Skate Games Italia 2024: Men's street skateboarding open qualifier results
The top 32 from a field of 88 advanced to the quarter-finals.
Best run score of two attempts.
- Sasaki Toa (JPN) - 80.17
- Gustavo Ribeiro (BRA) - 79.98
- Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) - 73.31
- Matias Dell Olio (ARG) - 71.36
- Richard Tury (SVK) - 70.99
- Yabushita Momohei (JPN) - 68.62
- Vitus Sondrup (DEN) - 65.51
- Tyson Bowerbank (USA) - 63.73
- Tijmen Overbeek (NED) - 61.38
- Max Berguin (FRA) - 61.30
- Jake Ilardi (USA) - 60.19
- Mauro Iglesias (ARG) - 59.60
- Ismael Henrique (BRA) - 57.14
- Filip Szalak (POL) - 56.67
- Angelo Caro (PER) - 52.96
- Agustin Aquila (ITA) - 50.59
- Kristoffer Kroon (SWE) - 50.04
- Gabriel Ribeiro (POR) - 49.66
- Watanabe Sena (JPN) - 47.25
- Aoki Yukito (JPN) - 46.04
- Jair Ubrano (PER) - 45.43
- Joel De Castro (ARG) - 44.04
- Deivid Tuesta (PER) - 42.85
- Jonas Carlsson (NOR) - 41.03
- Juan Polania (COL) - 40.84
- Carlos Puigdollers (PUR) - 40.56
- Madu Teixeira (POR) - 40.18
- JC Gonzalez (COL) - 39.93
- Levi Loffelberger (AUT) - 39.37
- Jiajie Pan (CHN) - 37.06
- Tommy Fynn (AUS) - 36.80
- Matsumoto Kairi (JPN) - 36.73
How to watch Street Skateboarding at World Skate Games Italia 2024
Select action from the World Skate Games Italia 2024 - including street skateboarding - will be available to stream live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices.
- Skateboarding Street semi-finals and finals - 13-14 September
- Skateboard Park semi-finals and finals 21-22 September
The are restrictions in place for the following territories: Japan, People's Republic of China, Brazil, Hong Kong, China, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom.