Akama Liz qualified tops for the women’s final at the WST World Cup Kitakyushu Street 2025 in Japan on Saturday (Nov. 29), one of four skateboarders from the host country to reach the showpiece event.
The Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist scored a semi-final best run of 66.76 before producing a trick score of 80.48 for a total of 147.24.
Behind Akama in second place, the 13-year-old was the favorite with the home crowd Matsumoto Ibuki (145.85), who came first in the quarterfinals, followed by Room Yumeka (143.00).
The remaining Japanese were Onishi Nanamiwho was the eighth and final finalist (125.69) as she held on Tokyo 2020 champion Nishiya Momiji (125.01) by less than one point.
A day earlier in the quarter-finals, Akama was eighth with an under-par run of 48.67, which did not suit her because she was afraid of missing the cut.
Akama found himself a much better version of himself on Saturday.
“In [the quarter-finals]I couldn’t make either run and my score wasn’t that great,” said the 16-year-old.
“I thought I came too close, but today I was able to complete both runs and get at least one trick, so I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
“I felt good during training, the board felt good, which slowly but surely gave me confidence. I think it went quite well for a semi-final, but the final is the most important thing.”
“I can’t give up yet.”
The Chinese duo of Cui Chenxi And Zhu Yuanling; Shin Jiyul of the Republic of Korea; and Australian Chloe Covelwho won the World Cup in Rome in June, is also through to Sunday’s final.
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