Round 3 of the 2025 World Downhill Skateboarding Championship

Beautiful scenery and the warmest of welcomes from the people of the Isle of Man for the WDSC’s first visit to the island set the tone for the thrilling weekend for round 3 of the tour. An island steeped in history with all things on two wheels and now WDSC history.

The 1.2km course with an average gradient of 8.5% increasing to 22% at it’s steepest provided a different test to rounds 1 and 2 and tested the riders to the max. With rain overnight practice was a wet affair but the clouds lifted, and the road started to dry throughout the day. The sun started to appear and although the road remained patchy, the worlds best riders were dialled in ahead of finals and ready to add their name into the history books of this fabled island.

After two dramatic semi-finals the Open Luge final was ready to go. With Championship leader Abdil Mahdzan missing, the WDSC would be crowning a new winner for the first time this season. Ulrich Becker (GER), George Cheeseman (GBR), Josh Fieldwick (GBR) and Kolby Parks (CAN) lined up ready to do battle. Fieldwick had shown all race that he has one of the fastest starts in the business and once again stormed into the lead. Parks, making his 100^th start and Becker were giving chase and into the turns the pressure was on. Becker made his way into 2^nd place with Parks in 3^rd on the opening straight. Becker took the lead after turn 1 and Parks had the speed leading to a stunning pass around the outside to overtake Fieldwick. As the riders headed towards the tricky hairpin section at speeds of 60mph, it was Cheeseman who had the speed and chaos ensued as Cheeseman braked late and collied with Parks, Fieldwick was also caught up in the drama.

Out of the chaos came Becker  who ran a clean line through the hairpins and was able to storm towards the line to take his first WDSC win and take over in the lead of the championship. Parks took a well earned 2^nd place and Josh Fieldwick claimed his second career WDSC podium in 3^rd. With two races to go and the luge championship determined by the best 3 results out of 5, the battle for the 2025 title is still wide open.

Open Standup

The last race of the was the Open Standup final. Championship leader Adrien Paynel (FRA) went into the final looking for his 3^rd win in a row but faced stiff competition from the US duo, 2^nd and 3^rd place qualifiers Antonio Madariaga and Nick Broms. Rounding out the final was 2024 WDSC champion Harry Clarke (AUS).

Clarke again showed he had one of the best kicks in the business and go a great start but Paynel, Broms and Madariaga had all shown extreme pace on the course all weekend long. With maximum commitment on display the battle the continued to heat up into the hairpins

Out of the hairpins it was Clarke in the lead with Paynel in hot pursuit but Clarke hit some damp pavement and was into the bales. This handed Paynel the victory, his 3^rd in a row and the first standup rider to win three WDSC events in a row and to cement his position at the top of the championship standings. Madariaga capped off a great weekend in 2^nd with Broms in 3^rd, the first WDSC podium results for both riders. Clarke was to finish in 4^th.

The tour now takes a break before round 4 in Utah from the 25^th – 28^th September.

CT OPEN SKATEBOARD

1^st Adrien Paynel (FRA)

2^nd Antonio Madariaga (USA)

3^rd Nick Broms (USA)

CT OPEN LUGE

1^st Ulrich Becker (GER)

2^nd Kolby Parks (CAN)

3^rd Josh Fieldwick (GBR)