What happens if two skateboarders finish on the same score?
A · Advanced · Safety and procedures · 4 of 4The next-best score decides. In a runs-only round, the skater with the higher second-best run is placed ahead. In a runs-plus-tricks round, the better best run decides, then the better best trick. If they are still level, the judges vote, with one vote each.
How it works
- Runs formats: "The score of the second-highest run decides the Tie-break."
- Still tied: "the jury votes to break the tie. Each judge has one vote."
- Runs plus tricks: "The score from the best run decides the Tie-break."
- Then: "the score from the best single trick attempt breaks the tie".
- Then: the judges vote electronically on who is first.
- Several ties: the judges vote again for second-best, and so on.
- The head judge: records the vote and breaks the tie in the final results.
- Two decimal places: scores are averaged to two places, which makes exact ties uncommon.
- Same irregular mark: athletes with the same result mark in a round are ranked by their placing in the previous round.
The glossary has the tie-break, the judges, the head judge, the overall score, the run and the runs plus tricks entry.
Tricky cases
Two park skaters both have a best run of 86.50. One's second run scored 80 and the other's 60. Who wins?
The one with 80. The second-highest run decides.
In a street final two skaters total the same. One has the better run and the other the better trick. Who is ahead?
The one with the better run. The best run is the first tie-break in the runs-plus-tricks format.
Could a medal be shared?
The rules read provide a way to break every tie, ending in a vote. They do not mention shared places.
A skater had only one scored run because the other was a fall. How is the second-best run counted?
The rules do not spell it out. A fallen run still receives a score for what was done before the fall, and that would be the second run.
Why the rule exists
The first tie-break rewards the skater who had more in reserve: a strong second run shows the best one was no accident. In the street final the run is preferred to the trick, a small tilt towards the complete skater. A vote comes last because the judges have, in effect, already said the two were equal.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Runs formats | Second-highest run, then a vote | WSK Rules, Scoring Process Regulations |
| Runs plus tricks | Best run, then best trick, then a vote | WSK Rules, Scoring Process Regulations |
| Same irregular mark | Previous round's placing | WSK Rules, Irregular Results Marks |
| Olympic Games | Its own rules | Not read |
From the rule book
World Skate, Street & Park Competition Rules (April 2025), Scoring Process Regulations and Irregular Results Marks. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: Skateboarding Street & Park Competition Rules and Skateboarding Judging Criteria (PDF).