How to Play Game of SKATE

Think of it like HORSE in basketball—only it’s all about tricks on your board.

Starting the Game

  • Throw down a roshambo (rock-paper-scissors) to see who sets first.
  • Whoever wins sets the first trick. The other skater has to match it.
  • Miss the trick? You get a letter.
  • First skater to spell out S-K-A-T-E loses.
  • Last letter = two tries.
  • Big crew? Play 1v1 battles ‘til it's down to the final two.

The Game Plan

To win at SKATE, you need two things:

  • 1) A solid bag of tricks.
  • 2) A little strategy.

You don’t need a million tricks—just 10 solid ones you can land under pressure. Five clean tricks in a row can take the W, but it helps to have backups ready.

If You Win Roshambo:

  • Come in hot. Run through your best five tricks fast.
  • No hesitation, no filler. Just drop your hardest stuff right away and catch your opponent off-guard.

If You Lose Roshambo:

  • Match their tricks quickly. Keep the pace up and don’t give them time to relax.
  • Stay in it long enough to flip the pressure back on them.

Attack Mode (Offense)

  • Choose less common, high-difficulty tricks—things your opponent probably doesn’t have dialed.
  • Examples:
    • Tre flip
    • Fakie tre
    • Fakie frontside flip
    • Hardflip
  • Run these in order. Already knowing what’s next keeps your head clear and your flow fast.
  • Keep the spotlight on them—fast pace, no breaks, stay in control.

Stay Alive (Defense)

  • Don’t get caught slipping on the basics—most players throw in easier tricks to stay alive.
  • Be ready to match anything: pop shove, varial flip, whatever.
  • After your opponent sets, respond fast. Speed puts pressure on them to keep the game moving.
  • Make them sweat. Force the pace, even on defense.

Wanna Keep It Chill?

Game of SKATE doesn’t have to be all strategy and sweat. It’s perfect for:

  • Warming up at a spot
  • Killing time at the park
  • Friendly contests or shop jams

Pro tip: In a casual game, it’s cool to give homies a do-over to keep it fun. Make it competitive if you want, but don’t forget to laugh when you credit card a flatground tre.

Final Word

Game of SKATE is all about control, creativity, and consistency. You can play to win or just vibe out with your crew. Either way—land your tricks, keep it moving, and always bring the stoke.