The Tokyo Experience

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Yuto: What was different than I had expected, is how high profile it was. I knew that it would be an enormous event, but so many more people watched than I had expected. I was surprised that even my father’s friends at work had watched it.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Yuto: It was when I entered, that it really dawned on me that I was competing. I got to be in the same space as the people I was used to watching on TV and chat with some of them, or some would come and talk to me. It was a precious experience!

SB: How did you spend time between practice and competing?

Sky: In Tokyo there wasn’t much time to practice skateboarding, so we spent a lot of time training in the gym. And playing table tennis and riding bikes around. 

SB: Who were you most hyped to meet?

Sky: I was so hyped to see my friends. I hadn’t seen some of them in months, because of Covid.

SB: What is your biggest takeaway from the whole experience?

Sky: Believe in yourself. If you truly believe in yourself, you can do anything.

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Hayley: I didn’t have any expectations. I just tried to go with the flow and take everything in.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Hayley: It didn’t hit me until the night before; it honestly felt like I was in a dream. I still feel like it is and it’s been over for weeks now.

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Nyjah: Overall, it was more fun than what I expected. I was expecting the worst because Covid, but there were lots of good times. And we got to shred without getting kicked out, which was surprising.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Nyjah: Watching the torch being lit. I remember thinking, “Damn, we’re really here, this is crazy!”

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Rayssa: When I stepped on the stage and saw the Brazilian flag. There I thought, “My God. This is really happening.” I was very happy! Very happy!

SB: Are you intending to compete again in 2024?

Rayssa: Absolutely! I will soon start to prepare myself for 2024 and experience it all over again.

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Keet: It was really intense. Especially with the whole Covid thing. Going there I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was a great and fun experience overall. Even without the audience, we could feel that the whole world was watching.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Keet: It hit me when I was walking into the stadium during the opening ceremony carrying the flag. At this moment it all just felt so surreal, but that was the first moment I realized: we are really here doing this.

SB: Are you intending to compete again in three years?

Shane: I do plan on it, yes. I plan on working towards a much better result and aiming for the podium. I did what I could for this event, but I also took a lot from how things went and will apply them for the coming years.

SB: What is your biggest takeaway from the whole experience?

Shane: Biggest takeaway was how much I really appreciated the Japanese people for putting on the event and all of the volunteers for keeping everyone safe in such a crazy time. A lot of countries around the world are currently locked down, so to have Japan successfully host was incredible.

SB: Was it overwhelming?

Oski: Those first couple of days were filled with so many positive impressions. Regardless of how good or bad of a representation of skateboarding this huge contest is, there’s no denying that on a personal level, being there and getting to experience it first hand is an amazing thing. So many different people from so many countries. All ethnicities, all ages, everyone having something in common. As a skateboarder that was something new to me because I’ve never really felt that I have much in common with athletes from other sports. Most skateboarders live a completely different lifestyle and have a different approach to the activity of riding a skateboard than the approach most athletes have to their sport. Also, we have never been part of the “sports” world before and the dimensions that our own world of skateboarding are built up with are so different to the rules that uphold most of the traditional sports. I don’t think that skateboarding should become more like other sports because what we have going on is, in my eyes, completely unique and different from a lot of other sports. What’s the point of going in that direction now when we have created something so amazing by going in the complete opposite direction for so long? One of the most unique things about skateboarding is that our community doesn't necessarily praise results and points over style, creativity, personality and uniqueness. It’s probably also something that the world is not very used to, but also something necessary. Personally, I think we need to be very careful about how we portray skateboarding to the larger audience and make sure we include those aspects of our sport while showcasing it. Otherwise, the contest will become less relevant to most skateboarders since it’s not a realistic representation to what makes skateboarding so unique and special. I would be saddened to see the highest form of competition skateboarding drift off and become something that most skateboarders don’t really care about because it lost touch with the actual world of skateboarding and no longer represents the message of the sport.

Skateboarding leaves so much room for people to be open minded and choose their own route. You don’t have to be the fastest, strongest or most technically advanced and could still become one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. When I was a 9-year-old kid and went from playing football to riding a skateboard, I could almost from the very first day see and appreciate all of those things that differentiates the world of skateboarding to the world of sports. I had to sit on the bench during football practice and endure getting teased by other kids during school breaks for not being like everyone else. It wasn’t until I tried to ride a skateboard that I felt like “not being like everyone else” was celebrated and where I was encouraged to progress in whatever direction felt natural to me. Not what felt natural to someone else. Some kids can have an amazing time playing football and running track, while other kids who don’t really feel like they fit in with those activities can ride a skateboard and find happiness through that.

I was one of those kids who luckily found skateboarding. I became obsessed with it because all of the musts I so far had encountered with sports was taken away and replaced with a whole bunch of possibilities and options to do things my way, all while meeting a bunch of inspiring people.

SB: What will you most remember?

Oski: The genuinely respectful & friendly Japanese culture.

SB: What was the most surreal moment during your time in Tokyo?

Aori: It was surreal to be able to see and interact in the same environment as the other professional athletes that I usually have no relation to.

SB: What will you most remember?

Aori: The heat in Tokyo was insane.

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Aori: I thought it was going to be more active and lively but it was very quiet and calm. Also the rooms were very simple and minimalistic, which I did not expect.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Aori: It really hit me that this was really happening on the morning of the contest day. But when I got to the course, it was the same skaters that I'm always competing with so that made me feel that it was the same as any other contest and all I was thinking of was doing the best that I could at the moment.

SB: How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Leticia: All the experiences were way better than I could ever imagine.

SB: When did it hit you, “this is really happening” and what went through your mind?

Leticia: When I put on my uniform to go to the airport and travel that’s when I realized it was real and was really happening.