It has been quite the three weeks here at the Ranking Hoppers Sportsdesk, with the World Skateboarding Ranking’s rolling 18-month results window absorbing last month’s WST São Paulo World Championships before shedding the 2024 World Championship results from the World Skate Games back in September 2024.
This almost-simultaneous double-shuffle has made for not only a more stabilised view of individual trajectories along the WST, but also thrown up some fascinating scenarios- such as Toa Sasaki claiming back to back World Championships in Men’s Street but still being kept of the No1 ranking spot by Sora Shirai’s incredible run of podiums in between times.
Read on for more!
Sora Shirai somehow holds off Toa Sasaki to retain World Number 1 Ranking!
A swapping of positions with Toa Sasaki to reclaim his World Number 1 position, Sora’s two first places in 2025 (Rome and Kitakyushu)- as well as a 2025 São Paulo World Championship third place with that increased point attribution- actually nixes Toa’s back-to-back World Championships wins because of his off-colour 26th at WST Kitakyushu in between times!
Ibuki Matsumoto pulls away from the pack in 1st place
It will surprise nobody to find Ibuki locked-in on that pole position spot having shut down both of the last two stops of the WST in Women’s Street. 67,000 points clear of compatriot Nanami Onishi in second place, she will remain unassailable at the top of the leaderboard regardless of the outcome of WST Rome this June- and may even extend her lead. Crazy to think that she debuted in WST Dubai 2024 and has only missed making finals once, since.
A new and deserved World Champion- and with some room to spare.
Bubble Trouble for Braden Hoban as he finds himself in 31st
Sharing the ‘O RLY?’ unexpected just-outside-the-bubble spot that Augusto Akio currently does in Men’s Park, is USA’s Braden Hoban in Men’s Street. Despite a Tour-best 6th place just when he needed it at OQS Budapest right before the Olympic Games, Braden has not made a semifinals since Rome 2025. With one of the most obvious natural abilities in skateboarding, undoubtedly the vagaries of luck come into play- but at this attritional level, nothing is asked or given.
In that sense, the upcoming WST Rome event in June seems like it will be a bellwether for his latest Olympic campaign.
Jessica Ready makes her move into 21st
New Zealand’s Nollie Tre-Flipping next-gen is the highest-ranked skateboarder on the WST from New Zealand, and was mightily-impressive in São Paulo, progressing out of Qualifiers in third place and temporarily leading after 53 skaters had dropped in.
Noticeably on a progression leap from event to event- and alongside Canada’s Evie Pritchard, ones to watch out for from now.
Wallace Gabriel glows up into 6th
Wallace Gabriel made his WST debut last November and is now lying 6th in the world. How about that. Two finals in his first two stops now make him the second highest-ranked Brazilian in Men’s Street- a national team that besides Japan has the most internal competition for roster spots. He was unlucky in the rain-impacted Men’s Final in São Paulo not to place even higher, having (just) missed the last trick on an otherwise perfect second Run which would have bounced him way up. Even so, fifth in a World Championship six months after your debut is not too shabby.
Jazmin Alvarez returns to the fray in 38th
While 26th place at the São Paulo World Championships was not the 26-year-old Colombian’s best-ever Tour result (that would be 10th at OQS Budapest), her presence at all was victory in itself. Marking her return to the World Skateboarding Tour almost two years after suffering a severe knee injury during warm-ups at the Paris Olympic Games, Jazmin looked poised, comfortable and confident.
We are delighted to welcome her back- and great to see her return at something close to top form!