Should You Join a Skate Contest — Or Is That Kinda Sus?

We’ve all been there: you’re at your local, minding your business, maybe trying to finally get your tre flip over that crusty hip, when someone rolls up and drops the dreaded sentence:

“Yo, you entering the contest next weekend?”

Suddenly your soul leaves your body and you’re 14 again, sweaty-palmed, wearing a name tag, and about to pressure flip in front of 40 parents and a Red Bull tent. Skate contests are like vape pens — everyone’s tried it, no one’s proud, and somehow they keep showing up.

But real talk: should you join a skate contest? Or is that just not the vibe anymore?

Exhibit A: Why You Should

• Free Water and Maybe a Banana
  Let’s be honest, you're broke. If there’s one thing contests are good for, it’s hydration and free fruit.

• Cash for Tricks (Sometimes)
  You might not win first place, but you might walk away with $20 and a sticker for a switch noseslide in the cash jam. That’s a burrito and a beer.

• You Might Land Something You Never Do
  It’s weird — the contest crowd either makes you fold or turn superhuman. Some people need that main-character energy to go off.

• Meet New Skaters, Make Enemies
  Contests are a weird mix of skate summer camp and Mad Max. You’ll high-five someone one second and then want to fight them after they snake you in your run.

Exhibit B: Why You Shouldn’t

• You’ll Probably Slam in Front of a Crowd
  You could land your trick clean 10 times during warmup, and still explode on the first try when it matters.

• Judged Skateboarding = Weird
  Trick difficulty? Style? Spot selection? Who knows what anyone’s scoring anymore. It’s 2025 and a no-comply might beat your tre down a six.

• The Coolest People Are Usually in the Corner Smoking
  Look at the legends. They’re not on the podium — they’re behind the ramp, talking shit and skating when no one’s watching.

• “Is It Gay Tho?”
  Let’s be real: if you’re worried about something being “gay” in 2025, the only thing you’re truly insecure about is yourself. Skate contests aren’t gay. They’re just contests. Being scared to try something new? That’s a little fruity.

So… Should You?

If it looks fun — do it. If it looks cringe — film your homies instead. Contests can suck, rule, or just be a weird afternoon. They’re not going to make you pro or ruin your rep. But if you’ve never tried one, it’s like skating a bowl: you don’t really know until you drop in.

Worst case: you slam, get laughed at, and someone buys you a beer.

Best case: you land your trick and some local shop flow kid gives you a fist bump.

Either way, you’ve got a story to tell.