After a long video submission lead up (open division, quarter-finals, and semi-finals) - due to COVID - the final 8 women in both street and park met up in person (with all proper protocols in place) to battle it out for podium positions at the USA Skateboarding Nationals. This contest awarded points to each USA athlete as we head into Olympic Qualifiers.

Street took place at The Berrics and Park was at California Training facility this past weekend.

Congrats to all the ladies who skated hard and showed the world that they were training like crazy this past year, despite the Pandemic! 

Vista, Calif. (May 11, 2021) — Together with Toyota, The Berrics, and CA Training Facility, USA Skateboarding - the governing body for skateboarding in the United States - created a new contest format combining both video submissions and an in-person finals round. USA Skateboarding developed a virtual national championships event format to allow skateboarders to earn Olympic Qualifying points at the national championships while minimizing the risks of hosting an event and gathering in large groups during the pandemic. The National Championships were open to all athletes who met the eligibility requirements of USA Skateboarding competing in Men’s and Women’s Park and Men’s and Women’s Street.

“Our Covid-19 Mitigation Plan gave us a level of comfort that we could deliver on our number one priority with the national championships – keeping our athletes and staff safe while hosting four Olympic Qualifying points-earning events in two separate venues,” said Josh Friedberg, USA Skateboarding, CEO. “The outcome went well beyond our expectations – it was heartwarming to see everyone together again for the first time since November of 2019 and the skateboarding was incredible. Huge congrats to our repeat Street National Champions Mariah Duran and Dashawn Jordan, and our new Park National Champions Minna Stess and Jagger Eaton.”

USA Skateboarding national team member and National Street Champion, Dashawn Jordan: "When USA Skateboarding announced the finals were in person, I was stoked knowing I was going to be able to interact and vibe with other skaters in a contest environment again. It had been too long, and when you got dope energy around you while competing, it makes it that much better. My mindset heading into these next three qualifying contests is to skate my hardest and have fun because no matter the result, I can't get mad knowing I gave it my all."

Women's Park Podium

 

Women's Street Podium

Skateboarders currently have the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics based on their two best results in World Skate sanctioned events during the first qualifying season (ended September 30, 2019) combined with their three best results during the second qualifying season ending June 30, 2021. There- fore, the National Championships were one of only two opportunities for American Olympic Park Skateboarding hopefuls to compete this year before the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

USA Skateboarding will host the Junior and Adaptive National Championships this coming fall.