Yes, the Olympics change everything. Just watch. All those guys (and girls) you thought were in for a medal in Tokyo in 2020? Uh, probably not. For example: Hawaiian Heimana Reynolds just won the 2019 Park Skateboarding World Championships held in Sao Paulo Brazil September 9-15, 2019. The next American was Tom Schaar in 5th. Tate Carew got 7th. And Shaun White, who was hoping to transition his vert skating to the parks, well, he finished in 13th not even close to making the finals.
Reynolds, was of course happy about his win and his top spot on the USA team rankings:
“I am so proud and honored to win this event and represent my country at the highest level of park skateboarding,” Reynolds said about his win. “I am very grateful for my support team, my family and God who gave me the strength to achieve this accomplishment.”
The rest of the top 8 was made up of one Australian and some Brazilians. On the women’s side, Japan swept the podium. Lizzie Armanto got 5th, but she’s skating for Finland. See what’s happening here? The oddest part for those of us who have NOT been following along (and we obviously haven’t) is that the official Olympic organization body for skateboarding is the Switzerland-based World Skate, which is also the official organizing body for rollerskating, inline alpine, inline freestyle, inline hockey, rink hockey, roller derby, roller freestyle, and (no lie) scootering.
Back to the contest at hand, for the official word from USA Skateboarding, please follow the jump.
American Heimana Reynolds is the 2019 Park Skateboarding World Champion and Leads Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings Heading into Final Qualifying Season Before Tokyo
World Skate Park Skateboarding World Championships Conclude First-Ever Olympic Qualifying Season in São Paulo, Brazil
Orange County, Calif. (September 17, 2019) — The 2019 Olympic Skateboard Park qualifying season concluded this weekend at the World Skate Park Skateboarding World Championships in São Paulo, Brazil with USA’s 21-year-old Heimana Reynolds of Honolulu, Hawaii taking the Men’s division win. The win solidified his position atop the world rankings heading into the second and final Skateboarding qualifying season ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
(l to r) Luiz Francisco, Reynolds, Pedro Quintas
Photo Credit: USA Skateboarding
“I am so proud and honored to win this event and represent my country at the highest level of park skateboarding,” Reynolds said about his win. “I am very grateful for my support team, my family and God who gave me the strength to achieve this accomplishment.”
Tom Schaar proved he is still a force to be reckoned with after a 5th place finish during his return to competition in São Paulo, after sitting out the first two qualifying events this season due to injury.
Fourteen-year-old Tate Carew is coming into his own at the international level following a 17th place at the Nanjing International Skateboarding Open in July, a 1st place at the X Games Next X Park event in August and a 7th place at this weekend’s World Championships.
Shaun White, a three-time Olympic halfpipe snowboarding champion, put up a solid first effort as he began his quest to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Park Skateboarding. He finished 13th in São Paulo on Saturday.
For the U.S. women, 15-year-old Bryce Wettstein missed the finals by just one spot, but solidified her place as the highest ranked American Woman Park Skater with a 9th place at the World Championships along with her fifth place finish at the International Skateboarding Open in
Nanjing in July.
With Brighton Zeuner and Jordyn Barratt – two of the top American women Park skaters – unable to compete in the World Championships due to injuries, skateboarding is seeing the rise of young talent including 15-year-old Jordan Santana who placed 12th at the São Paulo World Championships and 13-year-old Minna Stess who placed 16th.
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About USA Skateboarding
As the recognized governing body for skateboarding in the United States, USA Skateboarding (USAS) is responsible for the selection, training, and fielding of national teams that compete in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and other sanctioned team events. USAS is also responsible for the development of youth skateboarding initiatives that support grassroots programs, education, licensing, and safety while respecting and enhancing the existing culture of skateboarding in the United States. USAS is dedicated to promoting and supporting the sport of Skateboarding while striving to guarantee that Skateboarding continues to provide the unique characteristics relevant to the sport’s participants, and maintaining the integrity and authenticity of Skateboarding as a sport, a passion, and a lifestyle. For more information, visit USASkateboarding.net
