WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships - Preview, full schedule, and how to watch live skateboard action

The road to Paris 2024 for park skateboarders will continue at The Spot Skatepark in Lido di Ostia, Rome, where the Park World Championships 2023 will take place from 1-8 October.

The event in Italy, streaming live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices, will not only crown the next pair of world champions but also dish out valuable Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking (OWSR) points, which are key for those looking to make it to the Games in France next year.

Given the World Skateboarding Tour (WST) competition is doubling up as a World Championships, the points available in Rome will be worth more than a typical tour stop, adding an extra edge to proceedings.

Set to defend his title in the men's contest will be Team USA's Jagger Eaton while reigning women's champion Sky Brown misses the competition with a leg injury.

Among those set to challenge for the top are Olympic champions Keegan Palmer and Yosozumi Sakura as well as rising stars including Arisa Trew and Gavin Bottger.

The competition will begin with a men's and women's open qualifier which will determine the top 27 skaters making it through to the quarter-finals. There, the skaters who are pre-seeded owing to the OWSR will join the hunt. Just 16 skaters will make it through to the semi-finals before a final eight will be determined to battle it out for the podium places.

The format for the open qualifiers and the quarter-finals will be 'best 45-second run' from two runs before switching to 'best hang-on run' of three for the semi-finals and finals.

Here's what else you need to know about the event.

• Title holder Sky Brown out of WST Rome Park 2023 World Championships with leg injury
• How to qualify for skateboarding at Paris 2024 - the Olympic qualification system explained

WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships - Schedule in full

WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships - Pre-seeded skaters

These skaters will advance straight to the quarter-finals owing to the OWSR.

Women's pre-seeded skaters

1. Sky Brown (GBR) - injured
2. Hiraki Kokona (JPN)
3. Kusaki Hinano (JPN)
4. Ruby Trew (AUS)
5. Yosozumi Sakura (JPN)

Men's pre-seeded skaters

1. Jagger Eaton (USA)
2. Augusto Akio (BRA)
3. Tom Schaar (USA)
4. Tate Carew (USA)
5. Pedro Barros (BRA)

WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships: The story so far

Just over seven months have passed since Eaton and Brown were crowned men’s and women’s world park skateboarding champions respectively in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Against the backdrop of a winter desert, the Olympic bronze medallists, Eaton in street and Brown in park, both soared at the Aljada skatepark, putting down decisive final runs to climb to the top of the pile and claim their rightful titles.

But a lot can change in seven months.

And now, on the coastal shores of Rome, once the gateway to an ancient Empire renowned for its duelling gladiators and continental conquests, the battle for the world championship crown will begin again.

WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships - Top men to watch

Jagger Eaton (USA) - The Defending Champion

When choosing a favourite for the men's competition in Rome, at the top of the list is defending champion Eaton.

Winner in Sharjah and at the most recent X Games in California, the American is one of the most consistent skaters in the world right now which is a compliment made even more impressive by the small fact he competes at the top level in both park and street.

With his sights firmly set on qualifying for both disciplines at Paris 2024, expect the 22-year-old to bring his very best as he hunts global skate domination.

Alongside Eaton, a horde of US men's skaters, including Tom Schaar, Tate Carew, and Bottger, will aim to fill the podium with USA flags.

Summer X Games California 2023: All final results - complete list

Keegan Palmer (AUS) - The Olympic Champion

After striking a life-changing gold at Tokyo 2020 in 2021, Palmer’s notoriety outside of skating has soared. But within the park ranks, the energetic Australian is well known.

Having struggled a little for consistent results since the spotlight fell on him, recent form suggests Palmer will be a credible threat in Osita.

With Gold at X Games Chiba backed by a silver at X Games California, the ripping Aussie will be one to watch as the competition enters the business end.

• Keegan Palmer on adjusting to his champion status: “I still get nervous, I’m no superhero”

Augusto Akio (BRA) - The Disruptor

In the universe of skateboarding nothing is more inevitable than a young gun coming out of seemingly nowhere and throwing the established order into mayhem.

In the men’s park field that person this year has been Brazil’s Augusto Akio.

With his infectious smile and charismatic quirks, the 22-year-old snatched second place at Worlds in Sharjah and ever since then, has made it a habit of making finals.

Known for juggling ahead of his runs to get his mind in gear, he is one of several Brazilians including Olympic silver medallist Pedro Barros and WST San Juan park winner Luigi Cini set to cause a stir.

WST: Rome Park 2023 World Championships - Top women to watch

Hiraki Cocona (JPN) - The Consistent One

With Sky Brown out of World Championship action due to a left leg injury, the door is now open for the crowning of a new women's world champion.

There are plenty of contenders but a name certain to be on everyone's radar will be that of the Olympic silver medallist Hiraki Cocona of Japan.

Hiraki comes to Rome as the second seed having finished as runner-up in Sharjah and fourth place in San Juan. Her consistency in the Olympic qualifiers is reflected outside of them too, with the 14-year-old having won gold at X Games Chiba in finished fourth in Ventura.

Many will be ready to capitalise on the absence of Brown. Expect Hiraki to be at the front of the line.

Yosozumi Sakura (JPN) - The Golden One

Best friend to Brown and also, for the longest time, her main rival, the dance between Olympic champion Yosozumi and the Briton has always been a compelling one.

Having struggled for form this year, particularly in San Juan at the second WST stop in Argentina where she failed to make the final, Yosozumi will undoubtedly be looking to improve in Rome.

And with her team-mate and fellow Olympic medallist Hiraki also thriving, the time for the Olympic gold medallist to step up is now.

Arisa Trew (AUS) - The Rising Star

Arriving in Rome following a statement summer, Australia’s Arisa Trew will be one worth keeping an eye out for.

After a quiet showing in Sharjah, the 13-year-old has gone from strength to strength. In late June, she became the first female skateboarder to land a 720 in a competition, earning praise from skaters worldwide.

Just a short month later she made more history at X Games, becoming the first female to win double gold by winning both the vert and park contests in California.

The face of the next generation, Trew packs plenty of promise and with compatriot Ruby Trew (not related) also in the mix having taken second in Argentina, the rise of the Aussies continues to build in park skating.

• 13-year-old Australian Arisa Trew becomes first female skateboarder to land 720 trick invented by Tony Hawk

How to watch Rome Park 2023 World Championships live

Livestream coverage of WST Rome Park 2023 World Championships will be available to watch worldwide on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and will begin with the semi-finals on Saturday 7 October and include the finals on Sunday 8 October.

You can find all the latest on your favourite skateboarders including news, interviews and updates from Rome on Olympics.com and the apps for mobile and connected TV devices.