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?
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Difficulty – Are you throwing down hard tricks that push your limits?
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Style – Do you look clean and in control? Are your tricks steezy?
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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:
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Hit As Much of the Park as Possible – Show the judges you're using the whole course. Especially transfers and gaps!
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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.
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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 🧠
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Refresh those bearings
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Swap out worn grips or griptape
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Replace any cracked or worn components
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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!
Want to upgrade your setup before your next comp? Check out some of our top gear picks! 👀
