Three years ago, Yuto Horigome won the first gold in Olympic men’s street skateboarding in Tokyo, showcasing his unique tricks and innovative style. Horigome is part of a group of elite Japanese male skateboarders who are known for combining various styles to create never-before-seen tricks. One example is Sora Shirai’s “cab sugarcane,” which wowed judges at a recent Olympic qualifier.
Japanese skaters have dominated the professional skateboarding scene in recent years, with Team Japan winning gold in both men’s and women’s street skateboarding in Tokyo. However, changes in scoring rules introduced after the Tokyo Olympics could potentially impact their performance in future competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The new scoring system focuses on a skater’s best run score and two best trick scores, which may pose challenges for Japanese skaters as they tend to shine more in standalone tricks than in consistent runs. American and Brazilian male street skaters have been stronger on runs, executing more tricks across the obstacle course fluidly and continuously.
Despite these challenges, experts believe that Team Japan will continue to excel in Paris due to their versatility and ability to adapt to new rules. Horigome’s recent win at the Olympic qualifier in Budapest, where Japanese skateboarders dominated the podiums, is seen as a testament to their skill and adaptability in the ever-evolving world of professional skateboarding.
Source
Photo credit www.nytimes.com