Skateboard: over 380 athletes in Rome, Mazzara the best of the Italians

More than 380 athletes involved between Ostia and Colle Oppio, over 20 million views and impressions, with a social audience reached of over 4 million, 12,000 spectators present on the key days of the competitions alone, 51 countries from all over the world interested, for what has confirmed itself in Rome, in the last two weeks, as one of the most important sporting events of the year. The Skateboarding Park and Street World Cup Rome 2025, which took place from 1 to 15 June, in two of the most iconic and well-known skate parks on the international scene, The Spot del Lido di Ostia and the Colle Oppio park, in the extraordinary setting dominated by the Colosseum. The Roman event is the first of the three stages of the 2025 Tour which over the next few months will also touch the United States and Japan. Rome returns to host skateboarding for the fifth time in recent years and confirms itself as an international hub for the youngest and most social sport of all. An incredible success, in the wake of the two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris and the 2024 World Skate Games, the latter hosted right in the Eternal City. A worldwide recognition, also confirmed by the visit to Colle Oppio, during the Street competitions, of the President of the IOC Thomas Bach and the President-elect Kirsty Coventry. An event organized by Skate Italia and World Skate, with the support of Sport and Health and with the support of the Government, through the Minister of Sport and Youth - Department of Sport of the Presidency of the Council, the Lazio Region, Rome Capital, the Metropolitan City of Rome and Coni. A stage of the World Tour held at ''The Spot'' in Lido di Ostia, for the men's and women's Park competitions from 1 to 8 June. Then space for the women's and men's Street, in the suggestive setting of Colle Oppio, from 9 to 15 June. Park specialty competitions that, in Ostia, saw the best Italian Alessandro Mazzara reach the final on Sunday 8 June and close in fourth place in the final ranking, just a few points from the podium. The Italians of Ct Daniele Galli can celebrate the beautiful performances of the other very young Park skaters who in the men's competition take the 16-year-old Guglielmo Marin to the semifinals. Convincing performances by Rafael Rizzo Tomè (19) and Edoardo Poggio (15) who pass the qualifications and stop in the quarterfinals. Among the women, the 17-year-old Greta Samaritani, reigning Italian champion and Gaia Antognoni (12), silver at the 2025 Italians, at her first international experience, do not pass the qualification tests, but give hope for the future, thanks to very solid competitions.

Glass half full instead for the very young Team Azzurro of the National Street in the Colle Oppio races. Italy that brings home an important result, especially with a view to the future, thanks to our girls, 12-year-old Gaia Urbinati and 17-year-old Irene Panzavolta, who overcome the obstacle of the qualifications but stop in the quarterfinals. The men's Street Team Azzurra that fails to bring any athlete to the quarterfinals. The boys of CT Mattia Restante, Diego Nardini, Andres Martin Gramaglia Fusconi and Alessandro Mudu, stop in the qualifications, gaining experience in an international competition that will be useful for the next stages of the World Tour. Spectacular the two finals that gave emotions to all those present in the parks of Ostia and Colle Oppio and to the millions of spectators who were able to follow the live streaming, on World Skate TV and on the Rai Sport channel of the RaiPlay app. Street finals took place last Sunday, June 15. Among the women, the very young Chloe Covel, 15 years old, prevailed. The Australian, in July 2023, became the youngest gold medalist in the history of the X Games, at the age of 13. Second place for the Japanese Funa Nakayama, bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Third place for the other Japanese Ibuki Matsumoto. Among the men, Sora Shirai prevailed in the fiery climate of Colle Oppio. The number 1 in the world ranking further consolidated his position. The podium was all Japanese with the silver going to Toa Sasaki and the bronze to the prodigy Ginwoo Onodera. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, Yuto Horigome, finished the competition in seventh place. A show was also guaranteed in Ostia in the coastal bowl, The Spot, packed with spectators. Over 2000 people attended the final on June 8 alone. Local hero Alessandro Mazzara was among the protagonists. Author of a very tough race, closed in the golden run reserved for the best 5 of the 8 finalists. The Olympic athlete of the Fiamme Gialle conquers a splendid 4th place, just a few points from the podium. The men's race was won by the Basque prodigy, the 14-year-old Egoiz Bijueska. Silver for the Japanese Yuro Nagahara. The bronze goes to the Brazilian Gui Khuri. Among the women, the podium is Japanese with gold for Mizuho Hasegawa, bronze for Cocona Hiraki. Second place for the Olympic champion Arisa Trew. The Brazilian star of Italian origins Gui Khury writes the history of skateboarding, realizing the first 900 (Nine Hundred Degree Aerial Spin) ever in a Park contest, conquering the third place at the opening of the 2025 season of the World Skateboarding Tour, in the Eternal City. After landing one in the semi-final, causing pandemonium in the stands at The Spot, the 2024 Vert World Champion then repeated the feat twice in the final, during one of the most intense Park contests ever. If this is the case, we're in for some great action at the next stop on the World Skateboarding Tour in Washington DC, for these exciting 2025 World Championships.

A competition, that of the 2025 World Cup in Rome, which also embraced themes that go beyond the sporting event, such as social inclusion, volunteering, the redevelopment of urban spaces and legality through sport. More than just a sporting event. Skate shops, such as 7hills, and local communities hosted various activities, creating an immersive experience. There were many initiatives in the fan fest at The Spot in Ostia Lido di Roma: on the evening of June 8, the Roman artist Carl Brave, special guest of the Awards Ceremony in the Bowl in Ostia and then again in the final in Colle Oppio last Sunday, June 15. The program of events in the fan fest was rich, involving local ASDs, including a 3x3 basketball court, surfskate, mini-ramp, mini half pipe for skateboarding, freestyle frisbee and surfboard approach lessons, breakdance battle, and much more. The fan fest saw the active participation of several local schools, with students taking part in the activities every day, meeting the athletes to exchange ideas, inspiration and advice. An initiative dedicated to social inclusion, youth aggregation and the enhancement of the suburbs through skateboarding, with the aim of promoting legality and healthy living. Initiatives that animated Ostia and Colle Oppio. The World Skateboarding Tour program in Rome was not limited to just the two Olympic sport events, but embraced a wide range of activities dedicated to sustainability and local communities.

Skateboarding, Alessandro Mazzara in Rome (Getty)