Damn Am Japan 2022: Qualifiers Photos
Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2022 by Matt Shail
Imagine having to judge the best skateboarders in the world and only being able to choose 30 to go to the finals. Sounds like a tough job to me, but we got it done!
Photos by Matt Shail
Photos by Matt Shail
Toa Sasaki didn't have to warm up much. He was always turned on. Hardflip back lip out the gate like nothin'!
...then proceeds to back up himself with a beautiful kickflip back tail down the hubba. He had these dialed all weekend!
Men's top Qualifier Aumi Yamazuki had a smile on his face during his entire run - you can tell the kid loves skateboarding. 180 switch crooks to kick off his run.
Aimu might actually own the varial heel. Is there a way to find that out? Does someone have the skateboarding manual somewhere?
One of the contest favorites, Momohei Yabushita, whips a hardflip over the bank to bank for the judges.
Taiyo Ishii is one of my favorites from the weekend. It's hard to stick out in a sea of dialed Japanese skaters - Taiyo brought the style and trick selection to make a name for himself!
Glancy in the back like: "No way is Junnosuke about to catch this beautifully tweaked frontside flip!"
Tatsuma was the only dude out here that was willing (and wanting) to do suicide grinds on this hubba. This isn't a suicide grind, but it is a fakie 50-50 which I know was NOT easy
Our friend Daisuke Hayakawa brought his family out and I think I shot a magazine style ad with them on accident
Women's Qualifiers had some new faces and Rino Hoshino was one of them. She is 11 years old and skated with absolutely no fear. It was an incredible sight to see!
One of the least skated obstacles on the course and you can see why. Front board from Niko Sugimoto into the bank
Paul Zitzer on the mic with Akio Homma, the owner of Instant Skateshop which is the largest chain of shops in Japan
Aoi Fukuda had no problem getting the speed to get this bump to crook. You gotta push all the way from the other side of the course to get this one!
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