Acres makes miles of ground in Italy

Young gun, and New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship athlete, Eddie Acres seized the spotlight in the practice heats of the Ostia World (skateboarding) Cup Park Contest in Italy.

Acres was among a mix of debutants and Olympians – including Paris gold medallist Arisa Trew – who formed Australia’s Park team. The 15-year-old from Sydney’s northern beaches was joined in the pressure cooker environment by fellow Pro Tour debutant, Chihiro Young, of Queensland.

NSWIS High Performance Manager Anna Longman, who is in Italy with the national team, reported Acres wasted no time in making his mark on the international stage.

“Eddie absolutely blew everyone away in his practice heats, he really got people talking,” said Longman.

While he didn’t manage to complete a run in the pressure-packed qualifying round – a fate experienced by many of the circuit’s new riders – Longman said Acres had good reason to celebrate his debut.

“Eddie finished 63rd out of 90 competitors in what was his first ever senior world skate tour event, and he’s also achieved his first world ranking,’ said Longman from the Australian team’s base in Rome.

“What really shone through is the future is very bright for Eddie who represented Australia – and NSWIS – with great pride.” 

Eddie Acres with NSWIS staff members Cara Dobinson (Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement), Anna Longman (Senior High Performance Manager) and Daniel Vukovic (Physiotherapist) who were selected for support roles with Team Australia.

Olympic Gold Medallist Arisa Trew was the pick of the Australian team, finishing in second place. 

The Street skaters are in action in Rome with Paris Olympian, Olivia ‘Liv’ Lovelace, joining fellow NSWIS athletes Felicity ‘Flic’ Turner and Daniel ‘Danno’ Wooley. 

Skate Australia PARK Team: Keefer Wilson * (VIS) Eddie Acres (NSWIS) Phoenix Sinnerton (QAS) Jake Harvey (VIS) Arisa Trew * (QAS) Coco Crafter (QAS) Aaliyah Wilson (VIS) Chihiro Young

Skate Australia STREET Team: Tommy Fynn * (QAS) Shane O’Neill Daniel Woolley (NSWIS), Leo McCaughley, Chloe Covell * (QAS) Liv Lovelace * (NSWIS) Felicity Turner (NSWIS) Ellie Burrows

*Denotes acceptance of automatic selection via Top 30 World Ranking.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS