Photo by Richard Vogel / Associated Press
Above: Members of America’s First Olympic Skateboarding Team pose for photos with their boards during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, June 21, 2021.
For the first time in Olympic history, skateboarding will be part of the Tokyo Summer Games program.
The USA Skateboarding National Team was selected in 2019, but the pandemic has delayed the 2020 Olympics by one year.
Twenty-three passionate skaters make up the 2021 United States National Skateboard Team.
According to Skateboarding in the United States, eight of the skateboarders are from San Diego, and that’s creating excitement in the skateboarding community.
Hayden Acasio, an avid Oceanside skateboarder, is excited to see the sport reach the big leagues.
“It’s crazy, we’ve probably wanted the Skateboarding Olympics since skateboarding has been around. So it’s kinda crazy for us to see it on the big screen. I think everyone will watch it. It’s going to be sick, ”he said.
Three of the competitors in the Women’s Skateboard Park division have ties to North County.
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Reported by Tania Thorne
Liz Nguyen is skating at the Alex Road Skatepark in Oceanside and is thrilled to see some locals on the team.
“I think it’s great, keeping it local is great, especially in North County, it’s great,” Nguyen said.
Brighton Zeuner Encinitas will be 17 just in time to compete in the Olympics and is the youngest competitor in the X Games.
Bryce wettstein is also from Encinitas and has been on the United States National Skateboarding Team since 2019.
Jordyn barratt from Oceanside is also a professional surfer.
These North County skateboarders are well known in North County skate parks.
“I’m just thrilled to watch Bryce (Wettstein) on TV, to see her at the Olympics,” Nguyen said.
Acasio said the North County skaters are excited to see some of their own make it to Tokyo.
“I have to meet them and everything and they’re so sick and so nice. I am excited that they represent our state and our country, ”he said.
Although the Tokyo Games are taking place this year, they will always be called the 2020 Olympics.
The opening ceremony will take place on July 23. Skateboarding competitions will debut on July 25.
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Tania Thorne
North County Journalist
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