SLS TOKYO BETTING PREDICTIONS
For the first time since its launch back in 2010, Street League is heading to Japan. The second stop of the 2023 SLS Championship Tour will go down at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Saturday, August 12, and will be free to watch on Rumble.
The first stop at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago came down to a nail-biter between Kelvin Hoefler and Ryan Decenzo where Kelvin landed a “Cab tailslide to fakie” on his very last trick attempt for the win. Will he be able to repeat, or will it be one of the hometown heroes, Yuto Horigome or Shora Shirai, who will walk away with the win and a ticket to the SLS Super Crown Final later this year? Let’s dive into my picks and predictions for the second stop on the 2023 SLS Championship Tour.
FAVORITES
Yuto Horigome
Odds:
TBD
At the top of the list, we find Yuto Horigome, who besides a couple of mediocre performances at the World Skate Olympic Qualifying events in Sharjah and Rome, has won all events he has entered this year. Remember he withdrew from SLS Chicago due to stomach issues, so he didn’t compete. His most recent win came just a few days ago at X Games California, where he won not only Street but also Best Trick. As we all know a Yuto Horigome in top form is very hard to beat.
Nyjah Huston
Odds:
TBD
Coming in at number two is Nyjah Huston. The winningest SLS skater of all time and one of the few skaters who can match Yuto at his best. Nyjah followed up his third-place finish at the first stop of the 2023 SLS Championship Tour in Chicago with a win at the World Skate Olympic Qualifiers in Rome and, more recently, a fourth-place finish at X Games California. This proves that he has fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained last year, so it is not a question of if, but when Nyjah will win another SLS event.
Kelvin Hoefler
Odds:
TBD
The winner of the first stop on the 2023 SLS Championship Tour in Chicago Kelvin Hoefler, rounds up the list of favorites. The Brazilian is almost always in the mix due to his consistency (Kelvin Hoefler has podiumed in five out of six events so far this year) and go-to-trick, a “Halfcab noseslide to backtail.” Can he keep up with Nyjah or Yuto when they go on a tear? No, but as soon as they slip up or push each other too much, he will be right there. Also, let’s not forget, that as the winner of SLS Chicago, he is directly qualified for the final which is a huge advantage.
SLEEPERS
Sora Shirai
Odds:
TBD
Talking of home turf, the second Japanese skater in the field, Sora Shirai, is no stranger to SLS events and has a second-place finish at SLS Jacksonville last year as his best result so far. Sora also brings some unique tricks to the table such as a “Frontside 180 to fakie 5-0,” and definitely got what it takes to win in Tokyo. But first, he will have to get past both Gustavo Ribeiro and Chris Joslin in the knockout round.
Gustavo Ribeiro
Odds:
TBD
After a reasonably sluggish start to the year, Gustavo Ribeiro is primed for a big result. Will it happen at SLS Tokyo? With only one podium so far this year at the World Skate Olympic Qualifying event in Sharjah back in February, I’m not so sure. However, if you are looking to cover the board, it is impossible to leave the defending SLS Super Crown Champion out of the discussion.
LONGSHOT
Chris Joslin
Odds:
TBD
My longshot for SLS Tokyo, Chris Joslin is no doubt one of the most exciting skaters to watch. Even though he didn’t make it past the knockout round in Chicago, his score would have put him in the final if he had been in any other group. On a good day, Chris Joslin is almost unstoppable, which makes him the perfect longshot.
