Well, yesterday’s brief holiday from the old solar radiation is over.
Quarterfinals day here on the Italian coast and it is mucho scorchio once again. Still- mustn’t grumble.
On a day like today there’s probably an advantage to skating in the comparatively cool morning, and Women’s division kicked off proceedings with a super solid debut from newcomer Vera Navalikhina who was absolutely charging throughout her runs right up until a last run last trick bail that almost turned into a deep-end somersault. She took the slam like a champ and dusted herself off. This is hardcore.
Speaking of hardcore, Great Britain’s Boudica of the Boneless Lola Tambling came out swinging in Heat 3 and led the field temporarily courtesy of her 78.6 opening run. A much-improved Lillian Erickson took the lead from her, looking as poised and assured as she told us she is feeling now.
Not making the cut- and by some considerable distance- was 2022 Vert World Champion Yurin Fujii, however five of her teammates managed to score above 75 to secure their berths.
Also putting five skaters through were Brazil, whose pint-sized Helena Laurino just pipped Germany’s Lilly Stoephasius by less than a point for 16th- which is already Helena's best WST result to date, come what may tomorrow.
Although Cocona Hiraki bossed it into first place with her choice of two runs higher than an 83 (does she ever fall?), woman-to-beat Arisa Trew wasn’t a million miles behind and didn’t seem to even need to hit 5th gear- yet.
Let’s sign off from this part of the report by wishing Great Britain’s Lilly Strachan a quick recovery from a knee tweak which forced her to withdraw from competing overnight.
Given how high the standard is in Men’s Park on the WST at this stage, let’s start by giving flowers to some of those who may not make it to the podium or even the finals but have been absolutely charging here today.
Foremost among those should be Argentina’s Valentino Damico, who is out here on his own dime and holding his own despite coming from Buenos Aires which has no skatepark approaching the size of The Spot here in Italy; Spain’s latest WST debutante Izei Villacorta who has a surprising and creative trick repertoire, and most importantly three Italian stallions emerging from Ale Mazzara’s shadow: Rafael Tome, Edo Poggio and Guglielmo Marin.
Edo made two full runs worth 78 and 79 respectively, Rafael missed the cut by .26 of a point, and Guglielmo was leading after Heat 1 with an 84 under his belt. Italy’s all-time great Giorgio Zattoni will approve of what he is seeing, there.
In the ‘could it finally be their moment finally?’ department, local hero Alessandro Mazzara posted the first two 90+ scores of the contest as home-court advantage and endless hours of hard work seem to be galvanising into his best podium shot yet.
The sublimely talented but mercurial Brazilian Pedro Carvalho- who has somehow never managed to make it to a WST- stuck two full runs here today, which is by no means a given for one as on-edge as he.
Also drawing attention through his sudden progress is Japanese 13-year-old Gunjo Shiji, who has never placed better than 31st on the WST up to now, and is also sporting some outrageous matchy-matchy outfits which are probably worth an extra 5 points just for the drip.
Disappointingly, crowd hyper Pedro Barros failed to complete a run and is out already.
So: we started today with 40 worthy challengers in each division and now we have 16 in each.
Semifinals are tomorrow and we are beaming live and direct to the world via World Skate TV.
Check this link for all you need to know- and see you then!