Can a skater repeat a trick or turn down a score in the trick section?
I · Intermediate · The formats · 2 of 3Repeating costs points. A trick already landed in the skater's counted run and done again in the trick section is scored down, and in some formats scores zero if done on the same obstacle. In the 2/5/3 format a skater may also refuse the score for a trick as soon as they land it, by crossing both arms above the head.
How it works
- What is judged: difficulty, quality of execution and the obstacle chosen.
- What is valued: tricks that are progressive, risky and new are "highly valued".
- Obstacle selection: the size and other attributes of the obstacle may raise or lower the difficulty of the trick.
- Pure repetition, in the 2/3/2 and 3/3/2 formats: the same trick from the counted run, repeated "on the SAME OBSTACLES", is scored 0.00.
- Not pure repetition: the same trick with added components or variations, or on a different obstacle, is not penalised in those formats.
- Repetition, in the 2/5/3 format: any trick already landed in the counted runs, including variations of it, is treated as repetitive and scores proportionally lower.
- Refusing a score: in the 2/5/3 format only, a skater may decline to be scored for a trick straight after completing it.
- The signal: "both arms crossed above the athlete's head", within five seconds of landing.
- The result: the attempt is recorded as "Trick Not Scored" and given zero.
- No going back: once a trick has been scored, a refusal is not accepted.
- Afterwards: the skater may try the same trick again or any other.
The glossary has the pure repetition entry, the repetition entry, the scoring refusal, the obstacle selection entry, the best trick format and the progression entry.
Tricky cases
A skater did a kickflip down the stairs in their run and does the same trick down the same stairs in the trick section. What does it score?
Zero in the 2/3/2 and 3/3/2 formats, as a pure repetition. In the 2/5/3 format it is scored proportionally lower.
The same trick, but on the bigger rail this time. Is that penalised?
Not in the 2/3/2 and 3/3/2 formats, where a different obstacle is not a repetition. In the 2/5/3 format it is still treated as repetitive.
A skater lands a trick, sees the score and then crosses their arms. Is the refusal accepted?
No. The refusal must be signalled immediately, within five seconds of landing. It is not accepted after a score has been given.
Why would anyone refuse a score?
The rules do not say. The usual reason is to keep a sketchy landing off the board and try the trick again cleanly.
Why the rule exists
The repetition rules stop a skater being paid twice for one trick, once in the run and again on its own. Refusing a score is subtler. A skater who lands a trick badly can discard it, so that a cleaner version later is judged fresh and not as a repeat of something already on the board.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2/3/2 and 3/3/2 | Same trick on the same obstacle scores zero | WSK JC 6 |
| 2/5/3 | Any landed run trick repeated scores lower, variations included | WSK JC 7 |
| 2/5/3 only | A score may be refused | WSK Rules, Scoring Refusal Rule |
| Within a run | Repetition is proportionally penalised | WSK JC 4 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Street & Park Competition Rules (April 2025), Scoring Refusal Rule, and World Skate, Skateboarding Judging Criteria, Release 1.0 (2025), sections 6 to 8. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: Skateboarding Street & Park Competition Rules and Skateboarding Judging Criteria (PDF).