LONG BEACH, CALIF.—It’s OK if you don’t know what ollie, kickflip, or tic-tac means. A new kind of skateboarding event is aiming to appeal to both dedicated skaters and first-time spectators. No scorekeeping required.
The KASSO Fest Skate & Sound took over Old Hall Plaza in Long Beach, Calif., March 21–22. The two-day festival brought together top-tier skate talent, including Jamie Foy, Leo Romero, Kyle Walker, Greyson Fletcher, Aaron “Jaws” Homoki, Gavin Bottger, Tom Schaar, and Jiro Platt.
Musical acts were also featured including LaRussell, EARTHGANG, Andy Mineo, and The Mainliners, along with local Long Beach DJ group Secret Service LBC.
Raphae Ueda entertains the crowd. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Created by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS), the team behind American Ninja Warrior, KASSO began as a Japanese TV show and has grown into a global movement that’s reimagining skate culture as a high-energy, spectator-driven live event. The Long Beach fest was the organization’s U.S. debut—and was the first time the concept expanded beyond Japan.
“From the very beginning, when we launched KASSO in 2024, hosting an event in the U.S. has been one of our biggest dreams,” said KASSO producer Yohei Yasunaga. “The U.S. is the birthplace of skateboarding and street culture and has always been a place we admire. We wanted to challenge ourselves and see how much attention we could attract there.”
KASSO partnered with AIM Entertainment, The Brand Agency, Time & Space, and VacancyLand to bring its vision to California.
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Based on the success of KASSO Fest Skate & Sound, the group is considering another U.S. event this year. According to organizers, about 4,000 to 5,000 people attended the event.
One of the biggest differences between the KASSO events and other skateboarding events is that there is no scoring. “We intentionally designed it to be simple and intuitive so that the audience can enjoy it without needing to understand complex judging systems,” Yasunaga explained.
As for the courses, the venue, along the Los Angeles River, had a unique, bowl-like shape, so the group took full advantage of that natural layout.
“Having Jamie Foy design a rail had been an idea we’d been discussing for quite some time, and we’re really happy we were able to bring it to life for this event,” Yasunaga said.
Known for its signature courses, KASSO introduced the “Grasshopper,” a course created specifically for the Long Beach event. It featured platforms suspended above water that skaters had to navigate.
See more from KASSO Fest Skate & Sound…
The Long Beach fest was the organization’s U.S. debut. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Aaron “Jaws” Homoki is caught mid-air. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
The event featured four dynamic courses designed to test speed, precision, and creativity. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Torey Pudwill skates the RailCoaster. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
And falls into the water obstacle. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Dashawn Jordan shows off during the event. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Skaters needed to jump from one landing pad to the next like a grasshopper during this course. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest
Andy Mineo performed during the two-day festival. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for KASSO Fest