The World Skateboarding Tour concluded its 2025 season in Kitakyushu, in southern Japan, bringing together 184 skateboarders from 45 countries at the Kitakyushu Messe venue. Organised by World Skate, the event awarded crucial points for the World Skateboarding Ranking, which will shape qualification pathways ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Held from 23 to 30 November, it became one of the most well-attended competitions of the year.
The Japanese city made its debut as a Tour host and presented a strategy aimed at positioning itself as a destination for urban sports. Throughout the week, local authorities and World Skate representatives highlighted their intention to establish the region as a regular stop on the international calendar. The opening press conference gathered athletes including Nyjah Huston, Yuto Horigome, Coco Yoshizawa, Chloe Covell and Cordano Russell, alongside World Skate president Sabatino Aracu and the mayor of Kitakyushu.
School audiences in Kitakyushu
The Kitakyushu Messe hosted practice sessions and early qualifiers before opening to the general public for quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Ticket prices ranged from 4,000 to 60,000 yen depending on seating options. Although the organisation has not released official attendance figures, stands were close to full capacity during the decisive weekend.
One of the most notable elements was the presence of hundreds of schoolchildren from the region, transported by bus to attend different phases of the competition. Each group watched at least one full heat, and among them was a girls’ school that followed the women’s event. The initiative formed part of a local programme designed to strengthen the connection between young people and urban sports.
Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028
The Kitakyushu World Cup featured a prize pool of 200,000 dollars per category, distributed equally between men and women. Under the standard World Skateboarding Tour format, the winner received 40,000 dollars, the runner-up 20,000 and the third-placed athlete 15,000, with decreasing amounts down to 2,000 dollars for eighth place. The event awarded ranking points that will shape the early stages of the 2026 cycle towards the Olympic Games.
A broad mix of nationalities defined a final round more open than in previous seasons. While Japan placed seven finalists across both divisions, the field also included athletes from China, Korea, Brazil, Australia, Argentina and Peru. Among the standout performers were newcomers such as Wallace Gabriel from Brazil and Deivid Tuesta from Lima, identified in 2023 through World Skate’s Youth Athlete Development programme, supported by Olympic Solidarity.
In the men’s competition, the host nation dominated with a full Japanese podium led by Sora Shirai, followed by Kairi Netsuke and Yukito Aoki. In the women’s division, victory went to Ibuki Matsumoto, who finished ahead of 2023 World Champion Yumeka Oda. Korean debutant Jiyul Shin, together with Yuanling Zhu and Nanami Onishi, completed a final that highlighted the growing competitive depth of the circuit.
