So, you’re entering a scooter comp and want to land higher on that podium? Whether it's your first time, or your tenth time, it's always a great idea to have a better understanding of how to maximise your points!
Let’s break it down. Learning how judging works and how to tailor your run can be the difference between a decent score and a standout performance.
How Judging Works
Judges aren’t just looking for the biggest tricks, they’re scoring based on a few key criteria:
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Use of Park – How well you use the entire park, including ramps, rails, and gaps.
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Consistency – Can you land your tricks smoothly and stay on your scooter the whole run?
-
Difficulty – Are you throwing down hard tricks that push your limits?
-
Style – Do you look clean and in control? Are your tricks steezy?
-
Diversity – Are you mixing it up? Overhead tricks, grind boxes and rails, grabs?
How to Maximise Your Score
Keeping the judging criteria in mind, here are the best ways to boost your run:
-
Hit As Much of the Park as Possible – Show the judges you're using the whole course. Especially transfers and gaps!
-
Stay Consistent – Sticking your tricks is everything. A clean run with less difficult tricks often scores higher than a run that includes harder tricks with a foot slip here and there.
-
Throw in Medium to Hard Tricks – Find the sweet spot between risk and reward. Don’t skip your big tricks, but make sure you can land them confidently.
Top Tips from the Pros
-
Play It Smart – If adding a whip to your bri-flip makes it sketchy, just stick to the bri-flip. Consistency will help your score more than a risky bail.
-
Look for Transfers and Gaps – Judges love creative use of the park. Squeeze in that transfer or launch that gap, it shows awareness and flow.
-
Mix It Up – Throw in a double whip, hit a grind box or rail, and include a mix of park and street style to bump your diversity score.
-
Make a Plan – Take your time to curate your run. The first line you think of may not work, find that out in practice, not in your 45 seconds!
-
Stay Protected – Wearing protection during your run is essential. This can be the difference between calling a run and receiving a DNF, or bouncing back and putting a score on the board.
Bonus Advice: Prep Your Scooter
Before comp day, make sure your setup is dialled. A small issue can throw off your whole run. Here's a quick pre-comp checklist:
-
Refresh those bearings, or opt for new wheels / headset entirely
-
Swap out worn grips or griptape
-
Replace any cracked or worn components
-
Dial up your scooter
Confidence is key when it comes to competing and having a scooter that looks the part and performs just as well is a great cheat code to be more confident and placing higher up the leaderboard!
Competition Advice!
So, you’re entering a scooter comp and want to land higher on that podium? Whether it's your first time, or your tenth time, it's always a great idea to have a better understanding of how to maximise your points!
Let’s break it down. Learning how judging works and how to tailor your run can be the difference between a decent score and a standout performance.
How Judging Works
Judges aren’t just looking for the biggest tricks, they’re scoring based on a few key criteria:
Use of Park – How well you use the entire park, including ramps, rails, and gaps.
Consistency – Can you land your tricks smoothly and stay on your scooter the whole run?
Difficulty – Are you throwing down hard tricks that push your limits?
Style – Do you look clean and in control? Are your tricks steezy?
Diversity – Are you mixing it up? Overhead tricks, grind boxes and rails, grabs?
How to Maximise Your Score
Keeping the judging criteria in mind, here are the best ways to boost your run:
Hit As Much of the Park as Possible – Show the judges you're using the whole course. Especially transfers and gaps!
Stay Consistent – Sticking your tricks is everything. A clean run with less difficult tricks often scores higher than a run that includes harder tricks with a foot slip here and there.
Throw in Medium to Hard Tricks – Find the sweet spot between risk and reward. Don’t skip your big tricks, but make sure you can land them confidently.
Top Tips from the Pros
Play It Smart – If adding a whip to your bri-flip makes it sketchy, just stick to the bri-flip. Consistency will help your score more than a risky bail.
Look for Transfers and Gaps – Judges love creative use of the park. Squeeze in that transfer or launch that gap, it shows awareness and flow.
Mix It Up – Throw in a double whip, hit a grind box or rail, and include a mix of park and street style to bump your diversity score.
Make a Plan – Take your time to curate your run. The first line you think of may not work, find that out in practice, not in your 45 seconds!
Bonus Advice: Prep Your Scooter
Before comp day, make sure your setup is dialled. A small issue can throw off your whole run. Here's a quick pre-comp checklist:
Refresh those bearings, or opt for new wheels / headset entirely
Swap out worn grips or griptape
Replace any cracked or worn components
Dial up your scooter
Confidence is key when it comes to competing and having a scooter that looks the part and performs just as well is a great cheat code to be more confident and placing higher up the leaderboard!