SLS Returned to Sydney with Sold-Out Event at Ken Rosewall Arena

 Sora Shirai Earns First Ever SLS Win in Front of Adoring Crowd; Current SLS Super Crown Holder Giovanni Vianna Earns Silver; Veteran Chris Joslin Rounds Out Podium 

Chloe Covell Goes Back-to-Back in Sydney with Dominant Performance; Liz Akama Continues Strong 2024 with Second Place Finish; 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Bronze Medalist Funa Nakayama Places Third 

SLS Sydney Presented by Boost Mobile in Partnership with Destination New South Wales 

 Street League Skateboarding (SLS) made a triumphant return to Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, where a sold-out crowd witnessed the world’s top street skaters deliver an unforgettable performance. With the best talent from around the globe converging in one place, fans were treated to a showcase of technical skill and relentless progression that has come to define SLS competitions. Sydney proved to be the perfect stage for skateboarding’s biggest stars to shine. 

In the women’s competition, it was deja-vu as Chloe Covell once again put on an electrifying display for her adoring hometown fans capturing SLS Sydney for the second consecutive year. In what’s become a common theme, Covell lifted the first-place trophy for the fourth time in her last six SLS Majors (Tokyo 2023, Sydney 2023, Paris 2024, Sydney 2024). This time, her dominance was on display again, as she led from the get-go after a super technical line run nabbed her an 8.3 score. When Liz Akama (Japan) failed to land her final trick, victory was secure for Covell and the crowd went crazy for the 14 year old Australian sensation. For Akama, the second-place finish builds on a great 2024 which has seen her just miss the podium at SLS Paris before emerging victorious at the first ever short form SLS Apex event in March. Akama’s fellow countrywoman Funa Nakayama took home third by landing the highest score of any woman during the competition with an 8.7 on her final trick attempt. Superstar Rayssa Leal (Brazil) had a chance to make the top three but failed to land her final two trick attempts after a strong start. 

Said Covell: “It was amazing to get the victory again here in Sydney. Having the fans behind me is always such a great feeling and I love hearing how loud the arena can get. Sure there’s pressure to perform but I was confident I could land what I needed.” 

In the men’s field, Japan’s Sora Shirai claimed his first-ever SLS victory with a dominant display that saw him join the prestigious 9 Club an incredible four times in his seven overall attempts. Shirai’s brilliance had already secured him the win before his final trick, capping off an electrifying performance in front of a fiery crowd. Brazil’s Giovanni Vianna, the reigning SLS Super Crown World Champion, finished in second place, thanks to a jaw-dropping 9.6 score on his final trick, which pushed him ahead of Chris Joslin (USA). Joslin, a fan favorite known for his high-energy and daring attempts, secured third after narrowly making the finals, edging out last year’s SLS Sydney champion Felipe Gustavo in a dramatic knockout round on Saturday. 6-time SLS Super Crown Champion and icon of street skating Nyjah Huston (USA) had a difficult afternoon in which he seemingly battled injuries throughout but still made sure to give fans a great show in a sixth-place finish. 

Said Shirai: “It was a very competitive final with a lot of talent. Im just very happy to get the win and have my first SLS trophy. Hopefully I can continue that success in Tokyo next month.” 

Sydney is the major events capital of the Asia Pacific, hosting exclusive international sporting events, Australian premieres of blockbuster musicals and a world-class calendar of cultural events including Sydney Festival, Mardi Gras, Sydney Biennale and the world-renowned Vivid Sydney, delivering more than $1 billion into the local economy.

SLS continues the season with their return to Tokyo, Japan on November 23 which can be streamed live and free on Rumble Sports at https://rumble.com/sls.