In a groundbreaking achievement for female skateboarders, a 13-year-old Australian girl named Arisa Trew has made history by successfully landing a 720 skateboarding trick. This remarkable feat, never before accomplished by any female athlete, marks a significant milestone in the world of skateboarding. The legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk was the first to complete the trick back in 1985, but until now, no woman had managed to replicate it.
Trew’s groundbreaking moment occurred during the Tony Hawk Vert Alert event held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The trick itself involved executing two full rotations while airborne, a demanding and technically challenging maneuver. Overflowing with excitement, Trew took to Instagram to share her joy, exclaiming, “I can’t believe I landed my first 720!!! And to be the first girl in the world to land a 7 in competition.” She expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her on this historic journey. For those unfamiliar with vert skateboarding, it entails riding a skateboard on a nearly vertical ramp, as explained by CNN.
Trevor Ward, Trew’s coach, recounted their journey to this historic accomplishment and shed light on the competition between Trew and 16-year-old Lilly Stoephasius to master the trick. Ward took to Instagram to reveal that they had embarked on this process relatively recently, with Trew quickly gaining proficiency. Their path led them to Argentina for a world skateboarding event, where Trew achieved a respectable 7th place. Recognizing Stoephasius’ talent and proximity to achieving the trick, they remained focused on the ultimate goal—the 2024 Olympics. With a break between the Argentina event and the upcoming competition in Rome, they decided to participate in the Tony Hawk Vert Alert event in the United States, where Trew emerged victorious.
An extraordinary turn of events unfolded during the competition when the best trick round approached. Ward inquired about Trew’s intentions, to which she responded with determination, “a 720.” Aware that Stoephasius was also vying for the same trick, Ward marveled at the scenario unfolding before them. The two premier vert skaters were engaged in a head-to-head battle to land the 720, all while being observed by none other than the trick’s inventor himself, Tony Hawk.
Yes, that’s right! The legendary Tony Hawk was present at the event, providing guidance and tips to both talented girls. Ward shared the incredible moment, stating, “Tony was giving both girls tips on how to do the trick. With the hype of the crowd, both girls battled for the trick, and in the end, Arisa landed the trick outside of time but became the first girl in history to land the 720. We knew it was coming soon. We just didn’t expect it to be on the world stage rather than on our vert ramp back home in Australia. Arisa has an amazing mindset and willpower to succeed. Congrats Arisa, you are amazing.”
This remarkable achievement not only secured Trew’s victory in the women’s division, winning by a seven-point margin, but also thrust her into the spotlight as a potential medal contender for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Currently ranked 14th in the world, Trew will now shift her focus to the X Games USA in California in July.
Wide World of Sports reported Ward’s words, stating, “It really was an amazing thing. We’ve worked really hard to get Arisa to this point right now. Just a lot of training, a lot of pain, and she came through with the goods on the biggest stage in the world. She did the 720 which Tony Hawk did in 1985, that was the first time to do it. And now she is the first woman in the world to do it, which is unbelievable as a 13-year-old.”