Rayssa Leal & Kelvin Hoefler take home gold at the first stop of SLS Chicago 2023
Brazil's Rayssa Leal and Kelvin Hoefler won the 2023 SLS Championship Tour in Chicago. Leal won on her last trick, beating Nishiya Momiji and Roos Zwetsloot, while Hoefler took the trophy with his full cab back tail trick, edging out Ryan Decenzo and Nyjah Huston. Australia’s Chloe Covell, 13, made an early impression with her runs and took the lead but struggled in the best trick section, leaving her out of podium reach.
WOMEN’S SLS FINAL
In the women's final of the in SLS (Street League Skateboarding ) in Chicago, the competition was fierce as the 6 skaters (Rayssa Leal, Nishiya Momiji, Funa Nakayama, Yumeka Oda, and Roos Zwetsloot) took to the course for two 45-second runs and five single tricks. The top four scores (max 1 run) counted towards each skater's final score.
In the lead up commentator, Alex White mentioned Chloe as a potential standout in the event and she did sure make an early impression with her first run putting her in front with a score of 8.6, 1 full point ahead of runner-up Rayssa Leal. Especially Chloe’s 50-50 kickflip out ledge with a massive drop had everyone going wild! Chloe switched up (literally) her second run with a switch flip, a powerful ollie over a huge gap and another solid 50-50 kicky out.
Nishiya Momiji added to the excitement with a front tail 270, Roos Zwetsloot (NL) impressed with lip slides and a back tail, and everyone held their breath while Rayssa fell on a kicky front board in her second run. Rayssa’s run score of 7.6 left her eyeing Chloe as her main competition.
Best trick section
In the Best Trick section, the battle heated up with crooked grinds down the hubba, a front crook from Nakayama Funa, and a back smith from Rayssa. Chloe missed a 50-50 kickflip out on a round rail for her first two tricks, putting pressure on her to land the next three. Chloe Covell, unfortunately, missed her remaining best tricks and held her emotions like a true champ.
Ultimately, it was a battle between Rayssa Leal, Roos Zwetsloot, and Momiji Nishiya, with Leal holding onto her front blunt for the win. Roos and Nishiya fell on their last tricks, leaving Momiji in second and Roos in third.
The women's final at the Street Skateboarding League in Chicago was nothing short of epic. The level of skill and athleticism on display was through the roof with each skater pushing themselves to the limit in hopes of taking home the coveted trophy.
2023 Street League Skateboarding Chicago
Results - Women
1. Rayssa Leal (BRA) 31.4
2. Nishiya Momiji (JPN) 28.3
3. Roos Zwetsloot (NED) 25.8
4. Nakayama Funa (JPN) 20.3
5. Oda Yumeka (JPN) 16.2
6. Chloe Covell (AUS) 8.6
MEN‘S SLS FINAL
Before the men's final, a knock-out round narrowed down the heavy field of skaters. Competitors were divided into four groups of five skaters each, and the one with the highest score in each group advanced to the final round. Ryan Decenzo, Kelvin Hoefler, Felipe Gustavo and Nyjah Huston wonn their groups and joined the reigning Super Crown winner, Ribeiro, in the final. In addition, Jagger Eaton joined the final, as he took the "second chance" spot for the highest-scoring skater across all groups.
With some of the biggest names in the industry vying for the top spot, the final was fierce, and the stakes were high.
Ryan Decenzo (CAN) came out of the gates with a flawless run, setting the tone for the rest of the competition. The crowd was on their feet as he flawlessly executed his tricks, leaving the other contestants with a high bar to meet.
Best trick section
The Best Trick section of the competition was where things started to heat up. The judges awarded several 9 club scores, including a half cab back smith back 180 out by Kelvin Hoefler, a nollie flip crook on the big hubba by Felipe Gustavo, and a backside flip reverse nose grind by Jagger Eaton.
But Nyjah Huston stole the 9 club show with a switch heel front side tail slide on the big hubba, earning the highest score of the day at 9.3. He also landed a half cab bs smith bs 180 out, earning another 9 club result.
Gustavo Ribeiro met some challenges as he skated on a cracked board and snapped it, yet landed a crook nollie flip on the out ledge.
As the competition entered the final stages, it was down to Ryan Decenzo, Nyjah Huston, and Kelvin Hoefler to battle it out for the top spot. The pressure was on for NyjahHuston and Ryan Decenzo as Hoefler set the bar high with a full cab back rail on his last trick, earning a score of 9.0 and putting him in the top spot.
Nyjah needed an 8.1 on his last trick to win, but just missed his landing, leaving Ryan Decenzo with a chance to steal the win. The crowd held their breath as he executed a front shuv backside nosegrind on his final trick, putting him in the top spot until Hoefler stuck a full cab back tail causing a roar of applause from the audience and the win!
2023 Street League Skateboarding Chicago:
Results - Men
1. Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) 35.7
2. Ryan Decenzo (CAN) 35.1
3. Nyjah Huston (USA) 34.2
4. Jagger Eaton (USA) 17.8
5. Felipe Gustavo (BRA) 16.7
6. Gustavo Ribeiro (POR) 14.8
