Cory Gunning for Glory!
Cory Juneau and Kokona Hiraki wow the crowd as they win the VPS Paris-Chelles qualifier. Next stop is the 2019 VPS World Championships in Salt Lake City. Let the games begin!
This August the world’s best park terrain skaters converged for the penultimate stop of the 2019 Vans Park Series Pro Tour at the brand-new Vans-Cosanostra permanent legacy skatepark in Paris-Chelles, skating their hearts out before ranting and raving crowds.
The exciting finale to the week’s competition saw USA’s Cory Juneau and Japan’s Kokona Hiraki declared as the Paris-Chelles winners, in addition to the crowning of two new VPS Europa Regional champions, Allesandro Massara (ITA) and Daniela Terol Mendez (ESP) earlier this week. The final stop on this nonstop action-packed tour will be the 2019 VPS World Championships, to be hosted in Salt Lake City, Utah this September 7, where the highest-ranking competitors and invited Select Pros will meet for one last time to crown two new champions in park terrain skateboarding.
Right out of the gate, the ever-stylish Cory Juneau (USA) made his mark, leading the semi rounds, and securing his victory lap with maneuvers such as an insanely long frontside boardslide and floating a frontside kickflip. Celebrating his first event victory to date, Juneau has been competing for the series since 2016, rising from challenger rankings to earn his status as a VPS Select Pro. Joining him on the podium for a huge hometown victory, France’s Vincent Matheron (FRA) secured a worthy 2nd place, cheered on by his passionate fans and community as he put down fast, trick-heavy runs all weekend. Select Pro Roman Pabich, returns to the podium in 3rd, consistently landing the smoothest runs of the finals.
The top five challengers who have earned the highest rankings since the start of the tour will join the VPS Select Pros and regional series champions in Utah for the final competition. Notably, French skater Vincent Matheron’s 2nd place score today secured his seed into the World Championships field. He’s joined by fellow French native Shani Bru, who also made the top five cut this week.
Hosted for the first time in France, the 2019 VPS Pro Tour has brought world-renowned names in park terrain skateboarding to Paris-Chelles, including Pedro Barros, Tom Schaar, Lizzie Armanto, Yndiara Asp, Alex Sorgente, Oskar Rozenberg Hallberg, Curren Caples, Roman Pabich, Poppy Starr Olsen and many more.
The Vans-Cosanostra Skatepark is one of three new permanent Legacy Skateparks that Vans Park Series has donated along the VPS Pro Tour this season. Following the event, the skatepark will be gifted to the community, offering a free, world-class skate facility for the public to enjoy.
Talk about awesome!
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