WORLD CHAMPIONS HEADLINE STAR-STUDDED ENTRY FOR WDSC SEASON-OPENER IN NUSENNA -ITALY

*Challenging 1.5km course set to test riders to their limits

Friday, 14 July, NUSENNA, Italy: Defending world champions Diego Poncelet, Grace Wong and Abdil Mahdzan headline a star-studded line-up for this weekend’s World Downhill Skateboarding Championship season-opener in Nusenna, Italy.

An impressive 90-rider entry from across Europe and as far and wide as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, America, Peru, and Brazil have descended on the picturesque village of Nusenna, Tuscany in central Italy to take on a challenging 1.5km course that will test all to their limits as they kick-start their championship campaigns.

Spain’s Poncelet was the stand-out rider in Open Standup last season winning two out of three events and knows he will need to be at his best to make a winning start. The 23-year-old faces a strong challenge from a handful of top-ten riders including the world number two from France, Yanis Markarian who finished on the podium twice last year, Switzerland’s world number three Gregoire Schwab who won in Kozakov and took the runner-up slot in Cappadocia and Australia’s Harry Clarke who just missed the championship podium last year.

In women’s Standup, Malaysia’s Grace Wong, Belgian Jasmin Hanegraef and German Myrjam Weissschuh will resume their great rivalry. The trio dominated the podium in 2022, Wong on the podium at each event winning one, Handgraef winning twice, with Weissschuh picking up two second places.

The world’s top six all start and head a field of 21 in Street Luge and will be led out by the defending champion from Malaysia Mahdzan, whose main rivals will likely be Spaniard Mikel Echegaray – who arguably it could be said missed out on the title by missing the final round last season – and the ever-consistent Canadian Kolby Parks who finished on the podium at all events, with the top two in the women’s Luge, Elchje Minne and Julie Erz heading up a field of five.

For all the competitors, the one common factor will be the challenging 1.5km course which includes three tough hairpin turns. “This track is truly something special – it’s incredibly technical with tightly packed turns that challenge racers to master their cornering skills and find the perfect racing lines. It’s all about precision and finesse rather than just raw speed,” said Will Stephenson, director of World Gravity Sports Federation (WGSF) and a former world number 2 Street Luger.

“But here’s the twist – Italy’s hot, dry heat adds an extra layer of difficulty. The scorching temperatures are making the urethane wheels lose grip, making it even more challenging for the competitors to navigate the track. It’s going to be a real test of their skills, battling not only the track but also the weather.

“I think this race is going to be anyone’s game. The track and conditions create an unpredictable environment where even the best racers could be surprised. It’s going to be a thrilling competition that showcases the true talents of the participants.”

All the action from Nusenna will be streamed live on the WDSC web site: https://worlddownhillskateboardingchampionship.com/

SATURDAY, 15 July:

9:00: Free practice.

13:00: WDSC briefing.

14:00: Warm up.

14:30: WDSC Qualifying 1 / LIVE STREAM STARTS.

15:30: WDSC Qualifying 2.

SUNDAY, 16 July:

9:00: WDSC free practice.

9:30: WDSC racing begins/ LIVE STREAM STARTS.

13:00: WDSC Finals.

15:00: Freeride.

16:30: Podium ceremony.

(All Times local)