The two-time Olympian won the WST World Cup Kitakyushu Street 2025 in Japan on Sunday (November 30) with the final strike of the entire match to lead a podium finish for the host nation.
Shirai didn’t sit down Netsuke Kairi with the highest stroke of the day of 90.50 for a total of 170.27, winning by less than a point over his compatriot (169.78). Filling the stage was Aoki Yukito at 165.91.
Netsuke appeared to be on his way to victory after leading the points with an 82.78 and making his opening stroke. But he failed to connect with his last two tricks to put things to bed, giving Shirai a lifeline.
And former world champion Shirai made the most of the opportunity, hitting a backside 180 switch nosegrind for the win – the very trick that helped him take the World Cup in Rome to the next level in June.
“I had something higher in store, but I needed a 90 to move into first place,” Shirai said. “There was some risk, but not much and I used something that only I could do to win. So I used the same trick as in Rome and I’m glad it worked well.”
“I wasn’t really thinking about beating Kairi in particular, I was just focusing on doing the tricks I’m capable of. I’m glad I finished a one-two with my best friend, but there’s no rivalry or anything like that.”
“I’m completely exhausted. I’ve had a great time here. It’s absolutely flown by the last three, four days. Even in practice it was so intense and now that it’s lifted, it’s all starting to come out.”
Netsuke complained about not being able to take advantage of his nose-stub heel flip.
“It hurt that I messed up the third shot,” he said. “I knew then and there that I wasn’t going to win. I really wish I could have achieved that.
“Technically I thought I was competitive. But I couldn’t do it when it all mattered and that was the difference.”
#Skateboarding #WST #World #Cup #Kitakyushu #Street #Shirai #Sora #wins #mens #crown #final #stroke