Over three days of time trials and wheel-to-wheel racing on Cerro Lambaré, the world's fastest riders in Inline Downhill, Downhill Skateboarding and Street Luge battled changing weather and razor-thin margins at the World Skate Games Asunción 2026.

The 2026 Downhill World Championships delivered everything the discipline promises: speed, strategy and conditions that kept every rider guessing until the very last heat.

October 3: Inline Downhill opens the medal count

Inline Downhill had the honour of awarding the first medals of the World Skate Games Asunción 2026, with the time trials on Cerro Lambaré.

In the Women's Time Trial, Colombia's Alef Torres set the benchmark at 1:11.892, ahead of Mexico's Esmeralda Flores Montiel (+0.487) and Chile's Danae Gomez Huerta (+0.903). The men's race against the clock was even tighter: Spain's Pablo Soler Cabañero won in 1:06.011, just 0.229 seconds ahead of Italy's Daniele Vecchi, with Colombia's Juan Agudelo Sánchez third, only three tenths off the lead.

On the same day, the Swiss Downhill Skateboarding duo took the win in the Nations Team Race.

October 4: Downhill Skateboarding and Street Luge time trials under clear skies

After a night of torrential rain, the skies cleared on October 4 for a heated day of time trials. Qualifying unfolded over three rounds, with the larger fields narrowed down to ten for the "Top Ten Shootout."

In Women's Street Luge, France's Loreline Pastor set the fastest time at 1:11.754, ahead of Americans Sabrina Riffenburgh and Sam Marsteller. The Men's Street Luge podium was a gathering of veterans: Malaysia's Abdil Mahdzan, the 2023 World Champion, topped the session with a scorching 1:07.611, followed by Spain's 2024 World Champion Mikel Echegaray Diez and American Andy Lally.

France made an incredible showing in Men's Downhill Skateboarding, with Adrien Paynel (1:05.328) and Andréas Bouclier taking first and second, and Spain's Albert Forés in third. All three riders finished within roughly half a second of each other.

The Women's Downhill Skateboarding time trial belonged to the Swiss duo, fresh from their win in the Nations Team Race the day before. Reigning champion Selina Theiler took first with a 1:09.854, with Livia Waldburger in second and Italy's Giulia Bottazzin in third.

October 5: rain, a drying track and fierce finals

The final day opened with consistent rain through the morning warm-up runs and the first rounds of racing. Riders had to adapt to rapidly changing conditions as the rain stopped and the track dried, leading to completely dry later rounds.

Women's Street Luge was the first final to drop, and Loreline Pastor defended her 2024 world title with another victory, ahead of Sam Marsteller and Sabrina Riffenburgh. Men's Street Luge was a who's who of veteran racers, with Abdil Mahdzan leading the charge ahead of reigning champion Mikel Echegaray Diez and Andy Lally.

In Women's Downhill Skateboarding, the Netherlands' Lisa Peters reclaimed her place on the throne after narrowly missing out in 2024, holding off Switzerland's Selina Theiler and Livia Waldburger, who finished second and third.

The Men's Downhill was a relentless fight all the way to the line. Australia's Harry Clarke led into the infamous turn five, where Adrien Paynel slipped through to take the lead. Clarke struck back on the inside through turn six, setting up the defence of his World Champion title. France's Antoine Carlotti picked his way through the chaos to finish second, with his teammate Paynel taking the final podium spot in third.

The Inline Downhill knockout races, in heats of four, completed the programme. Alef Torres confirmed her time trial form and won the women's final, taking a double in Asunción. Italy's Sabrina Vitarelli finished second and Danae Gomez Huerta collected her second bronze of the Championships.

The men's race turned into a Colombian celebration. In a 32-rider knockout full of surprises, top seed Daniele Vecchi and time trial champion Pablo Soler Cabañero both went out in the round of 32. Jose Mejia, Juan Barrera and Carlos Quiroga then swept the podium, with France's Ambroise Nicolao fourth.

From rain-soaked opening heats to ferocious battles for gold, the world's best delivered in Asunción.

Results

Inline Downhill: Time Trial, October 3

Women
1.  Alef Torres (COL)
2.  Esmeralda Flores Montiel (MEX)
3.  Danae Gomez Huerta (CHI)

Men
1.  Pablo Soler Cabañero (ESP)
2.  Daniele Vecchi (ITA)
3.  Juan Agudelo Sánchez (COL)

Street Luge: Time Trial, October 4

Women
1.  Loreline Pastor (FRA)
2.  Sabrina Riffenburgh (USA)
3.  Sam Marsteller (USA)

Men
1.  Abdil Mahdzan (MAS)
2.  Mikel Echegaray Diez (ESP)
3.  Andy Lally (USA)

Downhill Skateboarding: Time Trial, October 4

Women
1.  Selina Theiler (SUI)
2.  Livia Waldburger (SUI)
3.  Giulia Bottazzin (ITA)

Men
1.  Adrien Paynel (FRA)
2.  Andréas Bouclier (FRA)
3.  Albert Forés (ESP)

Inline Downhill: Race, October 5

Women
1.  Alef Torres (COL)
2.  Sabrina Vitarelli (ITA)
3.  Danae Gomez Huerta (CHI)

Men
1.  Jose Mejia (COL)
2.  Juan Barrera (COL)
3.  Carlos Quiroga (COL)

Street Luge: Race, October 5

Women
1.  Loreline Pastor (FRA)
2.  Sam Marsteller (USA)
3.  Sabrina Riffenburgh (USA)

Men
1.  Abdil Mahdzan (MAS)
2.  Mikel Echegaray Diez (ESP)
3.  Andy Lally (USA)

Downhill Skateboarding: Race, October 5

Women
1.  Lisa Peters (NED)
2.  Selina Theiler (SUI)
3.  Livia Waldburger (SUI)

Men
1.  Harry Clarke (AUS)
2.  Antoine Carlotti (FRA)
3.  Adrien Paynel (FRA)