Skateboarding
Skateboarding
Never miss a trick: Here's how the scoring in skateboard competitions works
Ahead of skateboard appearing on the global stage in Paris this summer, we break down the scoring system used at the skate contests so you can keep up with every grind, grab and flip.
Part of this story
Wherever they take place and however they unfold, all skateboard contests have one thing in common: the show is guaranteed to be a spectacle. Whether it's in a park or on the street, contests are full of action, especially when the best skateboarders from around the world are competing -- as will be the case during this summer in Paris. And that's exactly why it's time to explain how scoring works in contests.
With so many features, street competitors have got to be true all rounders
© Alexey Lapin/Red Bull Content Pool
Bowl skating is all about speed, flow, stylish transfers and big air
© Nicolas Jacquemin/Red Bull Content Pool
01
What's the judging criteria in skateboarding contests?
The judging panel of five judges will base their scores on the overall impression of an entire performance. Overall impression is made up of judging criteria that includes:
- Difficulty and variety of performed tricks
- Flow or consistency in the performance
- Quality of execution
- Use of course/obstacles in a performance
- Repetition
The highest and lowest scores submitted by the five judges will get “dropped” and are not counted. The remaining three scores are then added together, and the total sum is averaged to provide the final score for the performance.
What you think or an athlete thinks is a great run and should score higher may not be the same as what a judge sees. Subjectivity is something that will occur in judging, says Spanish skate athlete Danny León.
"There is a lot of subjectivity when scoring skateboarding. It's a sport that follows certain influences and trends. Suddenly one trick is more popular than another, or something new comes along that you've never seen before. It's not an easy task to evaluate tricks."
Judges watch the action at the Japanese skate event Red Bull Boarding Pass
© Jason Halayko/Red Bull Content Pool
02
Format and scoring for street skateboarding contests
At the big street competition this summer in France, the skaters will have two runs of 45 seconds each, with each run having a scoring scale from 0 to 100 points. Only the score of the best run is considered. The skaters then have five attempts to land their best single tricks, which are also scored from 0 to 100 points. Only the two best tricks scores are counted.
An athletes total score is derived from the sum of the points from the best run and the two best single tricks. A maximum of 300 points can be achieved.
WST Finals – contest format
© World Skate
Additionally, a new rule has been introduced during the best trick phase: the 'Scoring Refusal Procedure.' This rule allows skaters to cancel the score of a trick if they wish to go back and do it better later. They can do so without incurring any repetition penalty. However, refused attempts are given zero points immediately.
If two or more skaters are tied for a place, the athlete with the highest run score is ranked higher. If still tied, the athlete who then has the highest-scoring single trick will be ranked higher.
León explains what judges are looking for on a street run: "When street skating, your style, your execution of tricks and your technical skills are assessed. There are many factors that influence a score, and there are the subjective criteria of the judges, who have all skated themselves or are still skating and therefore know exactly what to look for. There are endless tricks that can be combined in many different ways -- that's the hard part."
25 min
ABC of... Skateboarding
Take a look at the history of skateboarding, from the pioneers of sidewalk surfing to today's skateboarders.
03
Format and scoring for park contests
The format for the park contest is not expected to differ from what was used in Tokyo in 2021. Athletes will be able to do three runs of 45 seconds each, with each runs scored on a scale of 0-100. Only the score of the best run is considered and that score ranks the athlete.
The format and scoring system is the same in qualifying and finals. Strategy is very important in this format with skaters adjusting the difficulty of their tricks to achieve a higher score in their later runs.
If two or more skaters are tied for a place in a park contest, the score of the second-highest run decides who places higher.
Part of this story
