Skateboarding-Huston, Horigome advance to final in skateboarding debut

TOKYO, July 25 (Reuters) – Skateboarding star Nyjah Huston of the United States and hometown favorite Yuto Horigome advanced to the men’s street sports final on Sunday in skateboarding’s historic Olympic debut.

Huston, 26, recovered his form in the final two tricks after a stumbling start in the heat, a star-studded package that included France’s Aurelien Giraud.

The four-day Skateboarding event marks a turning point for skateboarding, which has its roots in youth street culture and has influenced everything from art to fashion.

The men’s street competition on Sunday will be a star-studded match, with whom from international figure skating compete.

Jagger Eaton of the United States was first in the heat of the first day, picking up 35.07 points, advancing alongside compatriot Huston.

Eaton said it was “difficult” to glide without the support of a packed crowd and used his Airpods to get into the zone. Most venues at the Tokyo Olympics will be without spectators as Japan tries to contain the rise in COVID-19 cases.

“I was always completely hypnotized by the audience,” he told Reuters on the sidelines, noting that he was listening to a rap song when he started running to pump himself up.

Even without spectators, Eaton said it felt important to represent his country at the Olympics.

“It just feels different,” he said.

In all, eight skaters will now proceed to the finals.

Many expect Tokyo’s Huston and Horigome to top the list, skating on a concrete court designed with rails and benches decorated with the five Olympic rings.

After landing the big trick with effortless grace in the preliminaries, Horigome, who grew up in the same neighborhood where the venue is, says he has more surprises for the finals.

“I am very happy to be here,” Horigome said after running. “I still can’t believe I’m in the Olympics right now.”

By adding skateboarding to its roster, the International Olympic Committee hopes to tap into legions of enthusiasts around the world, who have built skateboarding into a multi-billion dollar industry.

Yet despite Olympic approval, skateboarding is still seen as a public nuisance in Japan.

Just outside the skate park, a poster has been affixed to a duck on the exterior white fence banning skateboarding for locals.

“Hopefully after this, people will be more accepting of skateboarding,” Huston said after being asked by Reuters about the sign.

“We’re not out there trying to tamper or trespass as many people see it, we’re just out there doing our job and having fun.”

Reporting by Mari Saito; Edited by Stephen Coates

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