Skateboarding Competitions: How They Work (2026)
From local park jams to the Olympics, skate contests come in many formats. Here's how they work, the major events and how to get started.
Main Competition Formats
| Format | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Street | A course with stairs, rails, ledges and banks, like urban spots |
| Park | Bowls and curved transitions for flowing runs and airs |
| Vert | A large half-pipe with vertical walls |
| Best trick | Skaters attempt their hardest single trick on one obstacle |
| Jam sessions | Groups skate together for a set time |
| Downhill | Racing down roads, usually on longboards |
Major Events
The Olympics
Skateboarding debuted at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) with men's and women's park and street, returned at Paris 2024 and is scheduled for LA 2028. See Olympic skateboarding.
X Games
The X Games, which began in the mid-1990s, became a major stage for skateboarding, especially vert. Tony Hawk's 900 there in 1999 is one of skateboarding's most famous moments.
Street League Skateboarding
A professional street contest series known for its scoring format and best-trick sections.
Other Events
World championships, national series and long-running contests such as Tampa Pro and Tampa Am are important for pros and rising amateurs.
How Judging Works
At the Olympics, street skaters take two 45-second runs and five single-trick attempts. Each run and trick is scored from 0 to 100, and a skater's best run plus their two best tricks make the final score, out of 300. Park skaters take three 45-second runs, and only their best run counts. In park, five judges score each run, the highest and lowest scores are dropped and the remaining three are averaged. The street format resembles the run-plus-best-trick format popularized by Street League Skateboarding.
Formats vary between contests, but judges usually consider:
- Difficulty of tricks
- Execution and style
- Variety and use of the course
- Flow and consistency across a run
What Judges Look For
| Criterion | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | How hard the tricks are |
| Execution | Clean landings and control |
| Variety | Different tricks and obstacles, not repeats |
| Speed and flow | Keeping momentum through a run (especially in park) |
| Height and amplitude | Big airs in park and vert |
| Style | How good it looks |
Governing Bodies
World Skate is the international federation for skateboarding and sets the format used at the Olympics. National federations and independent organizers run contests below that level.
Entering Your First Contest
- Ask at local skate shops and parks about jams and amateur contests.
- Enter the right age or skill division.
- Plan a simple run of tricks you land consistently.
- Wear a helmet; many contests require one, especially for kids.
- Have fun; contests are a great way to meet skaters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest skateboarding competitions?
The Olympics, X Games and Street League Skateboarding are among the best-known, along with world championships and long-running events like Tampa Pro.
What are the Olympic skateboarding events?
Park and street, each with men's and women's competitions.
How is skateboarding judged?
Judges score runs and tricks on difficulty, execution, variety, flow and use of the course. Exact formats vary by event.
How can I enter a skateboarding competition?
Start with local skatepark contests and amateur events, often run by skate shops or parks.
Is there an age limit for skate contests?
It depends on the event. Many local contests have age divisions.