Section 3: Playing Area
3.1 Street Course Design
The Street course is a purpose-built environment that simulates urban architecture. Courses may be modular (assembled from prefabricated elements) or permanent concrete installations. Key specifications:
- Dimensions: Approximately 40 m × 25 m (131 ft × 82 ft) minimum competition area
- Obstacles (mandatory elements): Staircases (typically 4–10 steps), handrails (round and square profiles), ledges and manual pads, flat bars (round rails at low height), banks and quarter pipes, gaps, hubbas (angled ledges along stairs), and flat ground areas for flatground tricks
- Surface: Smooth concrete or equivalent. Surfaces must be consistent and free of cracks, moisture, or debris. Transition areas between obstacles must allow smooth skating lines.
- Obstacle variety: Courses must offer a range of difficulty levels and line possibilities. Both technical low-impact obstacles and larger high-impact features should be present to allow differentiation between skill levels.
- Flow: Course layout must allow multiple line options so athletes can demonstrate creativity in linking different obstacles
3.2 Park Course Design
The Park course is a continuous bowl/pool-based structure with varying depths, transitions, and coping profiles. Key specifications:
- Dimensions: Approximately 30 m × 25 m (98 ft × 82 ft) minimum competition area
- Depth: Varies from 1.5 m to 3.5 m (5 ft to 11.5 ft). Shallower sections provide speed generation; deeper sections allow higher aerials.
- Transitions: Smooth curved walls connecting the flat bottom to the deck. Radius varies by section. Tight transitions (small radius) provide quick acceleration; mellow transitions allow larger airs.
- Features: Coping (metal or stone lip at the top of transitions for grinds and lip tricks), hip transfers (angled meeting points between bowl sections), extensions (raised vertical sections above the coping), channels, spines (back-to-back transitions), love seats, and deck areas for roll-ins.
- Surface: Shotcrete, poured concrete, or equivalent smooth finish. Pool coping may be steel, stone, or concrete. Surface must be free of irregularities.
3.3 General Venue Requirements
- Course must be inspected and approved by the World Skate Technical Delegate before competition
- Practice sessions scheduled to allow athletes to learn the course
- Water, debris, and foreign objects must be removed immediately from the riding surface
- Adequate lighting for evening sessions (minimum 1500 lux at riding surface level)
- Wind barriers or indoor venues preferred for consistency, though outdoor events are permitted
- Medical and first-aid stations must be positioned within 30 seconds of any point on the course
- Warm-up area with flat ground and basic features must be provided for competitors