In a landmark move set to redefine the landscape of competitive skateboarding, World Skate, the globally recognized governing body for skateboarding sanctioned by the IOC, has announced a groundbreaking alliance with Street League Skateboarding (SLS). This unprecedented agreement officially recognizes the SLS World Tour and Super Crown World Championships as World Skate’s premier professional circuit and world championship event through 2022, marking a pivotal moment for street league skateboarding on the world stage.
This strategic partnership arrives at a crucial juncture, hot on the heels of skateboarding’s celebrated debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It firmly establishes the newly endorsed tour and championships as the primary qualifying pathway for street skateboarding’s highly anticipated return at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. By uniting the expertise of an international sports federation with the dynamism of a leading commercial enterprise in skateboarding, this alliance is poised to propel the sport’s global expansion and solidify street league skateboarding’s position within the Olympic movement.
Skateboarding’s unique appeal lies in its accessibility and profound influence on youth culture, offering a level playing field for participants from all walks of life. Looking ahead to 2019 and beyond, the collaboration promises an enhanced tour format featuring five two-day events with open qualifying rounds, doubling the opportunities for competitors to participate. Furthermore, the World Championships are set to evolve into an expansive, inclusive competition and a multi-day celebration of skateboarding culture, showcasing the depth and breadth of street league skateboarding talent.
A core tenet of this growth-focused initiative is a dedicated emphasis on fostering female participation and establishing a sustainable “path to pro” for aspiring female skateboarders worldwide. Commencing in 2019, women’s competitions will be integrated into all SLS events, underscoring the commitment to gender parity within street league skateboarding. Underpinning this shared vision is a joint financial pledge to nurture skateboarding’s development globally. To this end, the organizations are committed to launching a multi-year program in 2019 designed to harness skateboarding as a catalyst for youth development, empowerment, and education within each host city of the World Tour and Championships.
Sabatino Aracu, President of World Skate, emphasized the transformative nature of this alliance: “This alliance is indeed a huge step towards what World Skate has envisioned for Skateboarding: uniting the professional and grassroots components of this multi-faceted sport while supporting the growth of Skateboarding all around the world. I’m confident that World Skate and SLS will be working closely to make this happen and further spreading the joy of Skateboarding to youth worldwide.”
CJ Olivares, CEO of SLS, echoed this sentiment, stating: “Skateboarding is an enormously positive force in the lives of young people, and our new alliance with World Skate offers us a rare opportunity to expand its influence and participation by sharing with the world what makes skateboarding unique and compelling.”
Gary Ream, Chairman of the World Skateboarding Commission, highlighted the significance of Olympic integration: “World Skate’s partnership with SLS, the premiere professional street skateboarding league, firmly integrates them into the fabric of the Olympic movement. This integration protects the culture and history of Skateboarding while guaranteeing that the most talented skateboarders in the world will have the chance to represent their countries at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It’s a historic moment and we couldn’t be more excited for the future of Skateboarding on sport’s biggest stage.”
Kaitlyn Banchero, General Manager of SLS, added: “SLS was founded with the mission of elevating the best street skateboarders to pursue their passion on a global stage, push the progression of skateboarding in an exciting and accessible live format, and shine light on the creativity and innovation central to the culture’s DNA. We appreciate the IOC and World Skate’s recognition of skateboarding’s immense positive influence and are thrilled to partner with the federation to architect a pathway to the Olympics that authentically showcases and serves the skate community and inspires the next generation of skaters and fans.”
This collaboration between World Skate and Street League Skateboarding signals a new era for competitive skateboarding, promising to amplify the sport’s reach, inclusivity, and global appeal as it journeys towards the Olympic stage and beyond, further cementing street league skateboarding as a cornerstone of the sport.
