SKATE, also known as the Game of Skate, is a skateboardinggame using rules based upon the H.O.R.S.E. game played by basketball players. SKATE was first played in the 1970s by vertical skateboardersLance Mountain, Neil Blender and John Lucero, and was then adopted by street skaters in the 1980s. In January, 2003 Eric Koston's éS Game of SKATE a professional invitational event, was held, and was the first tournament-style, head-to-head format event of its kind. Not longer after, K5 Boardshop was the first organized amateur tournament for SKATE. The éS Game of SKATE tournament expanded globally in 2004 and has both professional and amateur divisions.
Rules
One player sets a trick by doing a particular skateboarding trick of their choice. If the trick is not landed, or the board did not fully rotate another player attempts to set a trick. Once a trick has been set, if the offensive player lands a trick in a line the other player cannot do another trick within the line, the other player must respond by doing the same trick in their first try. If they make it the game continues; If every one gets the trick the player who set it gets a point if they miss it, they get a letter, starting with S, and so on, until they have missed five tricks, spelling SKATE, and they are out or the game is over. No trick may be set more than once in the same game and a skater defending on their last letter may receive two attempts at that trick. If the player lands the trick they have gained the lead and set the trick. The last man standing is declared the winner and if they themselves did not receive a letter, then they are said to have "blanked, or "skunk'd" their opponent. When "Skater B" does not have the opportunity to set a single trick and does not match a single trick, "Skater A" is said to have committed a "Perfect Whitewash".
Battle at the Berrics is a slightly updated version of the Game of SKATE held at the Berrics in Los Angeles, CA. Their rules are: Flat ground only, but, that does not mean everything on flat ground counts. No feet on the ground. That means no No Complys, no Hand plants, no Bonelesses, no grabs, and no "Malto manual bullshit". No doing tricks that slide on the ground if your opponent popped their trick. Last letter gets two tries. Offensive toe drag gets one do over. Defensive toe drag has a bigger margin of error but will ultimately be decided by the referee. If trick maker does not pop the trick but is still landed, the trick still counts.
Team S.K.A.T.E.
"Team S.K.A.T.E", also called "Legion of Doom" is when there is one team of skateboarders competing against another team of skateboarders. One person from one team will set a trick. After that team fails to perform one of their tricks, the opposing team sets a trick. Once someone on Team A has set, when it is Team A's turn again a different person must set. Additionally, instead of individual people receiving letters, the team as a whole receives a letter.
