Brazilian duo Cini and Kalani reach Park final at Skate Worlds | OneFootball

Luigi Cini and Kalani Konig starred in a spectacular performance in the semifinals of the Skateboarding World Championship in the Park category, held in São Paulo. The two Brazilian athletes not only secured their spots in the final but also achieved the highest scores of the day, driven by the contagious energy of the crowd present at Parque Cândido Portinari. The duo, who share a strong friendship, showcased the talent and new generation of national skateboarding.

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Kalani Konig shines in the first heat

Kalani Konig opened the semifinal disputes with a stellar performance, achieving an impressive score of 89.00 right in his first run. The performance of the skater from Santa Catarina even surpassed that of the two-time Olympic champion Keegan Palmer. Konig attributed part of his success to the vibrant atmosphere provided by the São Paulo crowd, which inspired him to adjust his strategy and trick line. The perception of the judges' scoring trends, which valued the use of rails, led him to execute tricks like the 'Backside Smith' and the 'Nose Grind', which were very well received.

Luigi Cini reacts and leads the second heat

In the second heat of the semifinal, it was Luigi Cini's turn to steal the show. After an initial mistake in his first run, the skater from Curitiba recovered with an impeccable performance in the next run, recording the highest score of the day: 89.79. This score placed him ahead of all competitors, including the current world ranking champion, the Spaniard Egoitz Bijueska. Cini also emphasized the importance of the crowd's support, describing the energy as “unmatched” and “another level.” He celebrated securing a spot in the final alongside his friend Kalani, calling the moment “magical.”

Luigi Cini detailed the strategy that led him to the lead, highlighting the guidance from his coaches. The team emphasized the value of style, posture, and execution of tricks, as well as the pursuit of “powerful and as clean as possible” runs. Cini, who describes himself as the tallest skater among the competitors, also mentioned the hard work on his physical preparation to ensure strength and explosiveness in executing the tricks, a hallmark of his style.

Check out the qualifiers for the Men's Park final:

Heat 1

Heat 2

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.