The world's highest peak action sports tournament "X Games", which was held for the first time in Japan, reached its final day on the 24th, and Yuto Horigome decided a new technique in the men's street final of skateboarding. I showed my ability and won the championship.
On the final day of the "X Games" Chiba Tournament, which was held for the first time in Japan, the men's and women's finals of the event "Street" were held on the course where skateboard stairs and handrails were installed.
In the street finals, eight players who passed the qualifying round repeated a 45-second "run" for a 30-minute time limit, competing for the highest rated run.
In the men's race, Horigome, who was first in qualifying, took the lead by turning 180 degrees and jumping on the rails, deciding on the "Norry Backside 180 Switch Smith Grind" that slides the metal part that connects the wheels. ..
The second time, he showed a dignified run showing the ability of the Olympic gold medalist, such as deciding a new technique called "Switch Trelip Lip Slide" that slides down the rail after rotating the board in the air with a reverse stance.
As the rain intensified at the venue and the competition ended when everyone finished the second run, Horigome won the X Games for the second time.
Daiki Ikeda, a 15-year-old player who participated for the first time, came in second, and Sora Shirai, who also participated in the Tokyo Olympics, came in third, and the Japanese dominated the podium.
On the other hand, in the women's street final, 16-year-old Funa Nakayama, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, decided on the third time to jump on the back rail called "Backside Over K Grind" and slide the metal part that connects the wheels. , I got the best 2nd place in the Japanese team.
Winner Horimai "I'm glad I won the dream contest"
Horigome, who won the X Games for the second time, said, "I was nervous because it was the first contest after the Olympics and it was held in Japan. I felt that skateboarding was gradually recognized with a lot of fans. So I'm glad I was able to skate in response to that support. "
On top of that, he said, "I'm glad I won the dream contest I've seen since I was little," and showed a fulfilling expression on the title he won at the world's highest peak tournament following the Olympics.
"The level of skateboarding in Japan and the world is rising. I'm not satisfied with the current results, and the next Olympics will be two years from now, so I'd like to do my best," he said, looking ahead to the Paris Games, where he will win the Olympic Games in a row.
Nakayama, 2nd place for girls "Practice more and win a gold medal"
Nakayama of Women's Street commented on the result of finishing second in the X Games, which was his second appearance, "I was very nervous, but I thought I'd do my best to meet my expectations. I wanted to show myself. I was very happy to succeed in the technique. "
On top of that, she said, "I thought it was amazing that it was the first time for me to get so excited at a Japanese tournament. This time I succeeded in the technique I could do and it was a silver medal, so I would like to practice more and do my best to win a gold medal." I was talking.
Men's 2nd place Ikeda "The best memorable tournament"
The second place on Men's Street was Daiki Ikeda, a 15-year-old who advanced to the final in 8th place in the qualifying for the first time in the "X Games".
Ikeda is a 15-year-old from Ota-ku, Tokyo, and his older brother is Daisuke Ikeda, who has a track record in domestic and international competitions, including winning the first Japanese championship for skateboarding in 2017.
Under the influence of his father and brother, he started skateboarding at the age of two, and from the first grade of elementary school he started to participate in competitions in earnest.
He specializes in "flip" techniques that spin the board in the air, and although he has won the X Games amateur category in 2019, he has had little track record in international competitions.
Ikeda smiled, "I was happy because I didn't expect to win a medal. I was nervous because of the eyes of many customers, but I was able to slip on my own. It was the most memorable tournament." rice field.
Ikeda, who is aiming for the winner, Horigome, said, "I'm using it as a model, but if I defeat Horigome, I'll be number one in Japan and in the world, so I want to practice more so that I can win a gold medal at the world championships." He talked about his determination to go even higher in order to surpass his seniors.