Can a skater have another go if something goes wrong that is not their fault?
A · Advanced · Safety and procedures · 2 of 4Yes,
How it works
- Grounds: conditions of the course "change dramatically and unexpectedly", such as the weather.
- Grounds: technical conditions stop a full performance, such as cables or cameras in the way, lights going off or concrete chipping from an obstacle.
- Grounds: third-party interference, such as security staff or fans on the course or a camera flash at close range.
- A re-start: the skater continues and finishes the run "from the moment of interference or interruption".
- A re-run: the skater starts the whole run or single trick attempt again.
- How to ask: stop during or immediately after the interference, raise a hand, go to the course manager and describe what happened.
- Who decides: "The Head Judge will decide if the request will be accepted."
- When: it may be granted immediately or deferred.
- A trick re-run: the skater may choose any trick on any obstacle.
- Equipment failure: the athlete may try to continue on the damaged board. "the clock is not interrupted, and the run is scored as normal".
- A spare board: the athlete can be given a replacement skateboard to finish.
- Staged interference: if the head judge finds it was arranged to win a restart, the skaters involved are marked as not starting.
The glossary has the re-start and re-run entry, the equipment failure entry, the head judge, the run, the trick and the irregular result marks entry.
Tricky cases
A skater is put off by something, finishes the run anyway and then asks for a re-run. Is it granted?
Unlikely. The skater must stop during or immediately after the interference to claim it.
The board snaps on landing halfway through a run. What happens?
The clock keeps running. The skater may continue on the broken board or be handed a replacement, and the run is scored as normal.
It starts to rain during a run. Can the skater ask to go again?
Yes. A dramatic and unexpected change in conditions, such as the weather, is one of the listed grounds.
A team-mate runs onto the course to force a restart for a skater who is having a bad run. What is the result?
The skaters involved are scored as not starting, and if it is repeated the technical delegate may disqualify them for bad behaviour.
Why the rule exists
Skaters perform in a venue full of cameras, cables and crowds. A run lasts under a minute, so one stray object can ruin it. The remedy is there for things outside the skater's control. The board is the skater's own equipment, so its failure is treated as part of the performance.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outside interference | Re-start or re-run at the head judge's discretion | WSK Rules, Athlete's Re-start and Re-run Request |
| Equipment failure | No stoppage, and a replacement board allowed | WSK Rules, Equipment failure |
| Competition interrupted | The interrupted athlete is given a restart in the same heat | WSK Rules, Competition Related Situations |
| Park first wall rebate | A restart for a bail on the first trick, where announced | WSK Rules, Competition Formats: Park |
From the rule book
World Skate, Street & Park Competition Rules (April 2025), Competition Related Situations and Athlete's Competition Performance Request. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: Skateboarding Street & Park Competition Rules and Skateboarding Judging Criteria (PDF).