Pastor Defends Street Luge World Title in Asunción

France’s Loreline Pastor defended her Women’s Street Luge world title at the 2026 World Skate Games in Asunción, winning the final ahead of two American challengers. The victory on 5 October gave the Frenchwoman a second consecutive world crown and her third since 2022.

A drying track and a time trial advantage

The contest on Cerro Lambaré opened in difficult conditions. Consistent rain fell through the morning warm-up runs and the early rounds before the track began to dry, forcing riders to adapt lap by lap. Pastor had already built a platform the day before, topping the time trial in 1:11.754 ahead of Sabrina Riffenburgh and Sam Marsteller. The men’s benchmark that same session came from Abdil Mahdzan, whose 1:07.611 framed the pace on a course running fast after a night of torrential rain.

First final, firm grip

Women’s Street Luge was the first final to drop. She crossed ahead of Marsteller, with Riffenburgh taking bronze. The discipline leaves no room for hesitation: riders descend prone and feet-first on a sled with no braking system, trusting only their line on a closed mountain road.

Three editions, one familiar podium

The result repeated a pattern. At the 2022 World Skate Games in Argentina, Pastor beat Riffenburgh and CJ Wilkinson on the Punta Negra Dam road to claim her first world title. Riffenburgh has now finished behind the Frenchwoman at two editions, underlining Pastor’s grip on the sport’s biggest stage.

Australia’s Harry Clarke retained his Men’s Downhill Skateboarding title the same weekend, and Colombia’s Alef Torres won Women’s Inline Downhill after also topping her time trial. Defending a crown, it turned out, was the theme of the hill.