The delayed Park and Street 2022 World Championships commence today at the Aljada Skate Park in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with the event doubling as the first Olympic Qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Nine Australian skaters will be hoping to take home gold, with Street qualifying rounds starting today and Park beginning on Wednesday 8 February.
The events, which culminate with the Street final on Sunday 5 February and Park final on Sunday 12 February, will crown new world champions and allow skaters to bank ranking points towards Paris 2024 qualification.
QAS Street skater Haylie Powell has been training with fellow 16-year old Victorian Felicity (Flic) Turner in the lead up to the event. The skaters have been practicing their tricks throughout the hot Australian summer weather, leaving the pair and are both feeling well-prepared for the competition and conditions in Sharjah.
“I’m feeling good, excited for the event,” said Powell.
“I haven't done one since Rome in Italy [July 2022], but feel pretty good for it.”
“I’ve been skating with Felicity a week before we came and we have been skating every day to get used to the heat and practicing lines and getting in the best tricks.”
Powell is ready for the challenge ahead but is aiming to make it past the semi- finals, having missed out in Rome by just three points.
“I think the most challenging thing is going to be trying to get a line in when everyone is in the Park,” she said. “It’s going to be pretty difficult because you just want to get everything done straight away, but that’s just what happens.
“I just want to make it to the semis and have fun from there.”
Thirteen-year old Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Park skater Phoenix Sinnerton, now based in California has been training hard towards the event and is starting to feel the nerves.
“Training has been fun, hard sometimes but I've been working hard to get things consistent,” said Sinnerton.
“Being here at the World Championships, I’m feeling pretty nervous but excited all at the same time.”
With only 45 seconds to earn maximum points, Sinnerton is feeling the pressure but is aiming to get past the qualifying round.
“The most challenging thing about the competition is going to be getting my runs in the little amount of time I have and getting everything sold before I get on,” said Sinnerton.
“When I first saw the bowl it was so exciting and nerve-racking because everything is a bit more different than I thought, but my goal is to do my best and hopefully to get past the qualifying round.
The Championships will be streamed live on Olympic Channel from the semi-final stage.
To see the full team list click here