Cory Juneau and Kokona Hiraki Take First Place at 2019 VPS Paris
Select pros and tour challengers mustered in at the penultima Vans Park Series (VPS) competition in Paris-Chelles, France. For their first time in VPS history, USA’s Cory Juneau and Japan’s Kokona Hiraki score their first-ever first-place victory. Juneau, Hiraki, and the highest-ranking competitors, regional champions, and select pros will gather in Salt Lake City, Utah for the VPS World Championships on September 7.
Celebrating his first VPS victory, Cory Juneau won with tricks that are notorious for his serene style. Juneau’s habit of performing long frontside boardslides through corners and lofty frontside kickflips are just two maneuvers of his idiosyncrasies. Accompanying Juneau on the men’s podium for a home-country win was Frenchmen Vincent Matheron in second place. Matheron’s highest scored run featured speed, amplitude, and aggression that made for a rowdy youthful vigor that would excite a crowd of skaters of all ages. Rounding out the podium was USA’s Roman Pabich who has a knack for getting down in any contest.
Moving over to the women’s division, first place went to 10-year-old Kokona Hiraki whose incredible performance carried over from the semi-final into the finals. Hiraki earns her way into the VPS World Championships for her second time, the first taking place in 2018, the same year she won the VPS Asia Regional Championship. As for second place, fellow competitor Lizzie Armanto (FIN) podiums with a powerful yet smooth second run that dominated the deep end portion of the bowl. Finally, coming in third place is Mami Tezuka (JPN) who leaves it to her fourth and final run that lands her on the podium.
The 2019 VPS Pro Tour nears its end with the World Championships coming up in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 7. Skateboarders in the top five 2019 season rankings will advance into the World Championships joining the VPS Select Pros and Regional Series champions in Utah. Scroll down below to view the VPS Paris-Chelles results along with Oceania, Africa, and Europe Regionals and 2019 VPS men and women’s tour challenger rankings.
2019 VPS Results Men’s Pro Tour, Paris-Chelles
1.) Cory Juneau (USA)
2.) Vincent Matheron (FRA)
3.) Roman Pabich (USA)
2019 VPS Results Women’s Pro Tour, Paris-Chelles
1.) Kokona Hiraki (JPN)
2.) Lizzie Armanto (FIN)
3.) Mami Tezuka (JPN)
2019 VPS Oceania Regional Champions
Keegan Palmer (AUS)
Poppy Starr Olsen (AUS)
2019 VPS Africa Regional Champions
Thalente Biyela (ZAF)
Melissa Williams (ZAF)
2019 VPS Europe Regional Champions
Alessandro Mazzara (ITA)
Daniela Terol Mendez (ESP)
2019 VPS Men’s Tour Challenger Rankings
Top 5 Season-End Rankings Advance to World Championships
1.) Luiz Francisco (BRA)
2.) Tristan Rennie (USA)
3.) Vincent Matheron (FRA)
4.) Karl Berglind (SWE)
5.) Keegan Palmer (AUS)
2019 VPS Women’s Tour Challenger Rankings
Top 5 Season-End Rankings Advance to World Championships
1.) Mami Tezuka (JPN)
2.) Kihana Ogawa (JPN)
3.) Autumn Tust (USA)
4.) Grace Marhoefer (USA)
5.) Shani Bru (FRA)
Sound off in the comments below!