The 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour is set to take place in Los Angeles on July 27 at the Galen Center at USC, and with just one more event remaining in the season, skater performance here will determine the roster for the $200,000 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship in August. While the safe bets may be on Nyjah Huston as the winner of the season’s first event in Chicago, the pressure to progress into the Finals will ensure a competition elevated to levels that will surprise the competitors themselves. The skater’s next opportunity at a win is in the skate Mecca of Los Angeles, after which only the eight best of the season progress through to the Finals.
the first stop in Chicago
Nyjah Huston edges out Luan Oliveira & Shane O'neill in an epic Chicago show
With Luan and Shane having skated amazingly in Chicago and being just a few points short of the prize, we can expect both to pull out the hammers for an even more impressive performance in Los Angeles. Although 2013 SLS Super Crown World Champion, Chris Cole, hasn’t seen a win this season, his mind-blowing performance that sealed his title as Champ last year could yet reappear for his continuation onto the Finals in Newark. His main concern for the title last year, Paul Rodriguez, has been gaining momentum through this season, and as with seasons past, could easily come out strong to take the Los Angeles event by storm.
What’s most uncertain, for both athletes and fans alike, are the rookie wildcards such as Matt Berger that have advanced into the Tour from SLS Monster Energy Pro Open that kicked off the season. As is so common in skateboarding, it is the unknown young gun skating out of the public spotlight that breaks onto the scene to outshine the rest. With a $100,000 prize purse and express “Golden Ticket” straight to the Finals to be earned, skateboarding can expect a lot from the SLS Nike SB World Tour event in Los Angeles.
"This year's tour is picking up incredible energy heading into the Los Angeles event at the Galen Center. Not only did we see the last event in Chicago come down to the final trick with Shane and Luan battling Nyjah at the highest level, we saw the new blood from the Pro Open skate at an elite level as well. All in all, the entire group of SLS will go all in at this stop because it is the final chance to qualify to the Super Crown World Championship. It should be one of our best events yet," says Brian Atlas, President of Street League Skateboarding.
Continuing as the only enduring competitive platform for professional skateboarding in Los Angeles, the SLS Nike SB World Tour will completely transform the USC’s Galen Center with a custom built, one-of-a-kind concrete skate plaza. Constructed on-site by California Skateparks, Street League’s innovative courses are a skateboarder’s dream; complete with creative transitions, challenging ramps, and unforgiving steel handrails. To win, the world’s most elite skateboarders not only have to conquer these challenging obstacles but also continually one-up their competitors with trick difficulty, consistency and style. It is this unique format and the clarity of the ISX scoring system that continues to draw unprecedented appreciation of skateboarding from both the skate and broader communities alike.
Live coverage including the pre-show, as well as practice and prelims. Don't miss it!
Photos: © SLS, copyright applied.
Source: http://www.streetleague.com
