Street League Skateboarding comes to VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena: What you need to know

They're back on the First Coast, and this time, they're taking on a full-size arena challenge.

For the second time in eight months, leading skateboarders from across the planet are gathering in Jacksonville for the city's latest visit of Street League Skateboarding on Saturday and Sunday as part of the SLS Championship Tour.

Unlike last year, the skateboarders will be taking on a new course inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena before a crowd of thousands. Last November's event took place at a temporary outdoor course set up near the site of the former Jacksonville Landing.

And while last year's competition was the finale of the tour season, this year's event — called Stop 1 — opens the 2022 schedule, to be followed by Seattle, Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro.

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The field includes many of the world's highest-ranked skateboarders, including several participants at last year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Here's what you need to know.

Who will be skating?

More than 40 skateboarders — 27 men, 14 women — are scheduled to participate, beginning with practice rounds on Friday.

Seven Olympic finalists from last summer, headed by Japanese gold medalist Yuto Horigome and Brazilian silver medalist Kelvin Hoefler, lead the men's field, along with four-time world champion Nyjah Huston.

In the women's competition, five of the eight finalists from last year's Olympics in Tokyo are set to face off in Jacksonville, including all three medalists: gold medalist Momiji Nishiya of Japan, silver medalist Rayssa Leal of Brazil and bronze medalist Funa Nakayama of Japan.

Eight men and eight women advance to Sunday's finals. Scoring for this weekend's event will be based on two runs plus four tricks.

Are there any Northeast Florida skaters?

The weekend marks a milestone for Fernandina Beach's Poe Pinson.

Already a bronze medalist in the women's street event at last year's X Games in California, she will be competing in her first home Street League Skateboarding event at the age of 17.

The skating future looks bright for Pinson, who placed second in women's street at last year's USA Skateboarding national championships.

What happened at last November's competition in Jacksonville?

Last year's event, the Super Crown Championship, capped the Street League Skateboarding season.

Olympic bronze medalist Jagger Eaton, a Phoenix native who needed to advance through the last-chance qualifier to reach the final field, took first place and the men's season championship.

In the women's competition, Brazil's Rosa tallied her highest score (8.1) on her final trick to earn the top spot ahead of three Olympic medalists.

How will indoor skateboarding differ from last year's outdoor event?

In some ways, not a lot. Like last year's outdoor course, the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena site will include a traditional collection of rails, steps and similar skateboarding implements.

However, the roar of an indoor crowd adds its own flavor to the competition, lending arena skateboarding an extra layer of intensity.

What's the schedule?

Friday

12-3 p.m.: Women's practice

3-7 p.m.: Men's practice

Saturday

8:30-10:30 a.m.: Men's practice

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Women's practice

11 a.m.: Doors open to fans

12-2 p.m.: Women's preliminaries

2-3:20 p.m.: Men's practice

3:30-7:30 p.m.: Men's preliminaries

Sunday

8:30-10 a.m.: Men's practice

10-11:30 a.m.: Women's practice

10:30 a.m.: Doors open to fans

11:30 a.m-1 p.m.: Women's final

1-1:45 p.m.: Men's practice

2-3:30 p.m.: Men's final

How much do tickets cost?

Listings on Ticketmaster currently begin at $39 per ticket for seating behind the ends of the arena, although floor-level tickets are available for more than $300.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Street League Skateboarding in Jacksonville: What you need to know