Best Bets for Olympic Skateboarding in Tokyo – Top Picks for Each Event

From the X Games to the Dew Tour, skateboarding has elevated its international presence over the years. Now set to be unveiled at the Summer Olympics for the first time ever, we can finally put the debate to bed on “hobby versus sport.”

Especially considering we can bet on the outcome of the result at all the top sportsbooks. 

Here’s a quick look at some of the details; I’ll then dive into my Olympic skateboarding picks for each event.

All four events will be hosted at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. 

According to the men’s skateboarding street odds at the top Olympic betting apps, this competition lines up to be a two-horse race. Of the 20 participants, none are priced lower than +700 outside of Nyjah Huston and Yuto Horigome.

Huston is perched at the top of the betting sheet, and given that the 26-year-old phenom is closing in on 5 million followers on his IG account, expect him to be by far the biggest liability for the bookies. Armed with a resume littered with gold medals from the Summer X Games and the World Skateboarding Championships, you won’t find anyone who glides across the pavement with as much swag as Nyjah.

While there’s certainly merit in pivoting to Horigome at +125, don’t get too caught up in trying to capture the “plus-money.” Last time I checked, they only hand out one gold medal in each event.

Pamela Rosa strolls into the women’s street competition as the woman to beat. The 22-year-old Brazilian won gold at the 2019 World Skateboarding Street Championship; more recently, she took the title at the 2021 Dew Tour Des Moines.

Another female to watch is Japan’s, Aori Nishimura. Born and bred in Tokyo, Nishimura won’t turn 20 five days after the competition but will garner plenty of attention at the betting sites. Aori was touted as the top pick in my colleague’s Olympic street skateboarding betting preview.

Having said all that, the most captivating woman in the field isn’t Nishimura or Rosa. It’s one of Rosa’s fellow countrywomen, Rayssa Leal.

Just 13-years-old, forget about lack of experience deterring Leal from getting to the podium. Being 13 simply means she’s skating with no fear, and oh, by the way, she beat Rosa on her way to winning the 2019 Street League Skateboarding Championship just three months after turning 11.

Hyped as the most powerful skater on the block by most “in the know,” I suggest hopping on this +250 price tag before it goes away.

When it comes time to pencil in your Olympic skateboarding betting picks for the Men’s park event, I only see two viable options. Knotted at the top of the odds sitting at +125 apiece, take your pick between Americans Cory Juneau and Heimana Reynolds.

Juneau, 22-years-young and as laid back as it gets, was one of the skateboarders who initially spoke out about his hesitation on his sport joining the Olympics. The San Diego resident who builds motorcycles in his spare time is undoubtedly a top-flight performer; I’m just not so sure how hungry he is to compete on this stage.

On the flip side, Heimana Reynolds can’t wait to get going in Tokyo.

Currently ranked #1 in the world in men’s park skateboarding, 22-year-old Hawaii native won the 2019 World Skate Park Championship and has dreamt about being an Olympian since age 10.

Now that he’s here, I can’t imagine he lets this “golden” opportunity fall by the wayside.

Much of the talk surrounding the women’s skateboarding park event has been about Sky Brown. The skateboarding prodigy just turned 13 on July 8 and is among the most exciting young athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics.

From learning how to skate on YouTube to sustaining a devastating head injury last year, it’s nothing short of a miracle that Brown is here with a legitimate shot at a medal. Nonetheless, one of her elders should have a considerable leg up.

Misugu Okamoto, 15, has two years on Sky and has been utterly dominant in park competitions. After winning all five of the international competitions she entered in 2019, Okamoto has picked up right where she left off in 2020-21.

The first-place finisher in four of the five Olympic qualifying events to take place, Misugu is simply the most polished and talented competitor in this event. The “sexy pick” is to back Brown at +275, although the smart play is to bet on Misugu at -160.

One of the five new sports at the Tokyo Olympics, get ready for loads of excitement to unfold at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. Watching the events will be exhilarating no matter what, but you can spice up the action by locking in betting picks for skateboarding at the Olympics.

What’s better than watching a teenager pull off a front-side boardslide down a 12 stair? How about profiting when it occurs?

To stay satiated with Olympic picks and predictions, be sure to visit our Olympic betting blog filled with worthwhile content.