Skateboarding and judged competitions have not always got along. For those who consider skating a lifestyle more than a sport, lists of strict contest rules and Olympic scoring formats are the antithesis of having fun with your board and learning new tricks at the skate park. Street League Skateboarding (SLS) was developed to help bridge this gap.
Founded in 2010 by professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, SLS is an international tournament series for the 50 best pro skaters in the world. Each year, cities across the globe host pre-championship events, where competitors earn points by demonstrating tricks and skills on custom-built courses. The final event of each season is the Super Crown World Championship, in which the 8 men and 8 women with the highest cumulative points totals battle it out to be named SLS World Champion.
In the league’s own words, it was developed to “foster growth, popularity, and acceptance of street skateboarding worldwide.” Occasionally derided by its critics as an urban nuisance, street skating makes use of traditional public features like steps, railings, benches, and slopes, either in their original locations or replicated in skate parks. Skateboarders are constantly discovering new and exciting ways to travel on and around these obstacles, with innovation and originality highly prized in the community. SLS aims to bring this creativity to a wider audience.
In 2022, the Championship Tour touches down for Stop 1 in Jacksonville, Florida. From 16-17 July the best pro skaters in the world will descend on the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the 8 highest scorers in the men’s and women’s categories will contest the first Finals of the year. Defending World Champions Pamela Rosa and Jagger Eaton will seek to maintain their winning form, but they face tough competition from SLS icons like Nyjah Huston, who has won more than 20 events in his record-breaking career, and Rayssa Leal, an Olympic medallist who is still only 14 years old. Yuto Horigome and Momiji Nishiya, both Olympic Champions, will also be hoping for further glory in Florida.
Tickets for SLS Jacksonville have just gone on sale, so act quickly to secure your spot! Seats are available on the lower level of the arena, starting at USD $56.97. If that just isn’t close enough, you can also book seats on the floor for a truly immersive skate experience, with prices from $366.97.
Get your tickets now and head to Florida for a skate weekend to remember!
