What is S.K.A.T.E?

SKATE, also known as the Game of Skate, is a skateboarding game where skaters attempt to perform each other's tricks in succession until all but one player is eliminated. It uses rules based upon the H.O.R.S.E. game played by basketball players.

SKATE was first played in the 1970s by vertical skateboarders Lance Mountain, Neil Blender and John Lucero, and was then adopted by street skaters in the 1980s. In January, 2003 Eric Koston's éS Game of SKATE a professional invitational event, was held, and was the first tournament-style, head-to-head format event of its kind.

Not long after, K5 Boardshop was the first organized amateur tournament for SKATE. The éS Game of SKATE tournament expanded globally in 2004 and has both professional and amateur divisions.

One player sets a trick by doing a particular skateboarding trick of their choice. If the trick is not landed, or the board did not fully rotate, another player attempts to set a trick. Once a trick has been set (landed exactly), if the offensive player lands a trick in a line, the other player cannot do another trick within the line, the other player(s) must respond by doing the same trick in their first try.

If they make it the game continues; If every one gets the trick the player who set it gets a point. If they miss it, they get a letter, starting with S, and so on, until they have missed five tricks, spelling SKATE, and they are out or the game is over.

No trick may be set more than once in the same game and a skater defending on their last letter may receive two attempts at that trick. If the player lands the trick they have gained the lead and set the trick.

The last man standing is declared the winner and if they themselves did not receive a letter, then they are said to have "blanked, or "skunk'd" their opponent. When "Skater B" does not have the opportunity to set a single trick and does not match a single trick, "Skater A" is said to have committed a "Perfect Whitewash".