In den letzten Minuten des DC Shoes Street League Contest in Kansas City war es ein Kopf an Kopf Rennen zwischen Nyjah Huston und Bastien Salabanzi.Man hätte fast meinen können, dass der Event in KC ein Heimspiel für den Franzosen sei, jedenfalls liebten die Zuschauer Salabanzi.
Am Ende schafft es Huston, den ersten Platz zu erfahren. Nur 5 Punkte trennen Nyjah und Bastien, es war verdammt knapp (siehe Tabelle und Press Release).
Im Anschluss gibt es das erste Video Footage aus dem Finale. Wer den gesamten Contest sehen möchte, sollte StreetLeague.Com besuchen (Facebook Account wird benötigt).
Am 15.Juni geht die Liga in Kalifornien weiter, natürlich wieder mit Livestream.
Press Release:
May 19, 2012 NYJAH HUSTON WINS FIRST STOP OF 2012 STREET LEAGUE
Nyjah Huston Edges Out Bastien Salabanzi by just 3.7 points.
Kansas City, MO. (May 19, 2012) – This weekend a filled Kansas City Sprint Center witnessed the first stop of the 2012 Street League DC Pro Tour Fueled by Monster Energy (SLS). Fans witnessed some of the world’s best skateboarders who battled it out for the top prize worth $150,000. In the end Nyjah Huston put the final nail in the coffin with an amazing Kick Flip Backside Nose Blunt Slide down the Big Section Rail for a 9.1.
In what is being called the most exciting Street League contest yet, Chris Cole and EU Selection pro, Bastien Salabanzi came out in the top 2 spot after the semi-finals to earn themselves a spot in the finals. Kansas City finalists included Paul Rodriguez, Mikey Taylor, Chaz Ortiz, Ryan Sheckler, Sean Malto, and Nyjah Huston. With only a few attempts left Nyjah and Bastien were going back and forth between 1st and 2nd place. With one try left Bastien nearly took first by almost Double Kick Flip Frontside Boardsliding the Big rail. Bastien’s bail left the contest in Nyjah’s hands, who in typical Nyjah style did not disappoint on his final trick with a kickflip backside nosebluntslide on the big rail.
It was a hard one tonight, that’s for sure!“ said Nyjah. „I definitely had to work for it. I love the challenge though and to skate with these guys is great.“
„I could not have imagined a better way to start the 2012 tour. The changes to the format combined with the new pros help make this stop one of our most exciting contests ever,“ says Street League creator Rob Dyrdek. „Seeing Bastien, Cole, P-Rod, Ortiz, and Nyjah fight it out to the very end was exactly what I was hoping for. Congrats to Nyjah and all the other pros that helped make this one unforgettable.“
From the very beginning to fireworks at the end, the first stop of 2012 will be one to remember. In the Run Section on the Finals it was Chaz Ortiz in 1st place after his solid line that included tricks like Kick Flip Frontside Crooked Grind and a Kick Flip Frontside Board Slide. Kansas City’s own Sean Malto nearly didn’t make the cut but was able to bump out Mikey Taylor on his last attempt by 1/10th of a point. In the Best Trick Section the pros rolled away from some of the most technical tricks to ever go down in Street League. Tricks like Chaz Ortiz’s Kick Flip Backside Tail Slide Backside 360, Nyjah Huston’s Big Spin to Frontside Hurricane Grind for a 9.4 and new member of the 9 Club Paul Rodriguez who landed a Switch Kick Flip Backside Tail Slide Shove It out down the Hubba Ledge for a 9.2.
Unable to catch up despite his amazing Backside Nose Grind Nollie Flip Sean Malto was eliminated after the Best Trick Section. In the Big Section it was still anyone’s contest with just over 2 points separating 1st and 6th place. Every Single pro put it down from Ryan Sheckler’s Backside 360 off the Big Section Bump, Chris Cole’s Caballerial Frontside Boardslide, Paul Rodriguez stomping a Switch 360 Flip, and Chaz Ortiz’s Nollie Backside Big Spin off the Bump. The most incredible Big Section skating came from our top 2 Bastien Salabanzi & Nyjah Huston with Tricks like Bastien’s incredible Big Spin Flip Frontside Boardslide for a 9.2 and Nyjah Huston sealing the deal by 1st try Kick Flip Backside Nose Blunt Sliding the Big Rail for a 9.1.
Street League’s $1.6 million purse is the largest in skateboarding history and almost double the combined winnings for all other skate contests. Nearly $400,000 will be awarded at the next stop in Ontario, CA at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 15 – 16 with the SLS tour culminating in a winner-takes-all Championship in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center on August 26. The SLS Championship will feature the winners of the first three stops of the 2012 tour along with the remaining top eight qualifiers who will compete for $200,000 as well as the title of Street League Champion. Finals for the next stop will air LIVE on ESPN2. Check www.streetleague.com for complete qualifying webcast schedule.
Street League Skateboarding is presented by DC Shoes and Monster Energy, with additional sponsorship by Chevrolet, Air Force Reserve, Superheat, mophie, Zumiez, Nixon, Bill My Parents, and Paramount – G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation.
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