Kasso, a Japanese skateboarding competition, made its United States debut in Long Beach over the weekend.
The Long Beach event, taking place at Lincoln Park and the old City Hall Plaza, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., is produced by Red Bull. But the show’s origins date back to 2024 in Japan, when the competition launched as a TV skateboarding challenge show.
“By launching in a city with deep roots in skate and surf culture,” Red Bull said in a news release, “Kasso is tapping into an audience that lives at the intersection of sport, music and lifestyle.”
Tom Schaar competes for the best time during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Kyle Walker high fives his fans during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Torey Pudwill races against the clock during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Kyle Walker grinds the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
David Loy grinds a rainbow rail during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Jamie Foy attempts to grind the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Raphae Ueda bails off of the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Jamie Foy askes for one more try after falling from the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Taylor Kirby bails off of the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Yurin Fujii attempts to grind the railcoaster during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Tom Schaar competes for the best time during the KASSO Fest Skate and Sound event in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
More than 28 professional skaters were expected to participate in the two-day event, which concludes Sunday, March 22. Unlike traditional skating competitions, Kasso puts the participants up against time and demanding obstacle courses instead of simply against other skaters.
“Kasso is superdifferent because it’s not like your average contest,” Jamie Foy, a two-time Thrasher skater of the year, said in the news release. “You’re not competing against the person next to you. You’re just competing against the course and yourself, because there could be multiple winners. It’s whoever finishes all the courses together.”
Foy was one of several skaters participating in Kasso, alongside others including Kyle Walker, Leo Romero, Greyson Fletcher, Tom Schaar and Jiro Platt.
Besides the skaters, though, Kasso also featured several live performers, including rapper LaRussell and hip-hop artist Andy Mineo on Saturday. Hip-hop duo EarthGang and rock band Mainliners are expected to perform Sunday.
The event is also being livestreamed on Red Bull TV and Red Bull Skateboarding’s YouTube channel.