{"id":231320,"date":"2026-03-22T14:55:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/231320\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T14:55:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:55:18","slug":"japanese-skating-show-kasso-just-took-over-the-pit-in-downtown-long-beach-heres-what-it-looked-like-long-beach-post-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/231320\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese skating show KASSO just took over the pit in downtown Long Beach. Here&#8217;s what it looked like. \u2022 Long Beach Post News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some of the best skaters in the world are in Long Beach this week, taking on a series of intense, brightly colored rails, ramps and jumps. If they can\u2019t master the obstacle, they risk ending up in the water at the bottom of a dirt pit that once housed old City Hall at the heart of downtown.<\/p>\n<p>This is KASSO Fest, the first event the popular TV show has hosted outside of Japan. Judging by the crowds and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@kasso_0318\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">millions of views the show racks up on YouTube<\/a>, there\u2019s an audience for it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/21221909\/3-21-26-kassmo-9027-063190-rqlvbux8-862670-Jke5TYPs.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-182571\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9027-063190-rqlvbux8-862670-Jke5TYPs-1024x597.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\"  \/><\/a>Taylor Kirby rides a turn on the Long Beach Downhill course, with Long Beach City Hall and the Long Beach Police Department in the background on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n<p>Long Beach beat out Santa Monica, Venice Beach and downtown Los Angeles to host the festival. The giant dirt hole surrounded by urban skyline \u201cwas unlike anything we had seen before\u2014strange in the best way,\u201d KASSO producer Yohei Yasunaga said. \u201cAlmost no flat ground. Uneven levels. Foundations of old buildings still visible. Grass growing wildly everywhere. And yet \u2026 something about it pulled us in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We spent Saturday checking out the action. Here\u2019s what we saw.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/21221800\/3-21-26-kassmo-8540-588614-g8mc6jdd-412462-HEo7V8Qr.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-182564\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8540-588614-g8mc6jdd-412462-HEo7V8Qr-1024x763.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"763\"  \/><\/a>Taylor Kirby skates on the Long Beach Downhill course, one of three courses, on the first day of KASSO Fest in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182566 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8837-251841-rc2zveyv-002005-Xhy9qPmE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"912\"  \/>A skateboard is pulled out of the water at the Rail Rollercoaster course after a skater was unable to finish and fell in during KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182567 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8729-147297-4cga3aqn-641488-s0QSsU50.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"737\"  \/>Fans are seen reflected in the water at one of the skate courses during KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182568 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8723-385232-jvdtndrh-274312-JYOBq0pR.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"817\"  \/>People watch and enjoy KASSO Fest from the other side of the fence in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182569 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8711-232407-urvmbka7-318020-cp0mjvDL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\"  \/>People enjoy KASSO Fest in Long Beach despite the hot weather on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182570 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9049-565398-9klbhqrl-590083-TV0gQmzV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"921\"  \/>Kyle Walker takes on the Long Beach Downhill course, one of three courses at KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182572 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8984-964934-gczmztp1-980513-mVlrqwcm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"897\"  \/>Torey Pudwill falls into the water after not completing the Rail Rollercoaster course on the first day of KASSO Fest in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182573 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8975-187510-ibcrdhno-669761-Ow3yv8hK.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"682\"  \/>Skateboarders wait for their turn on the Rail Rollercoaster in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182574 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8919-722767-y9utypri-167901-7mxYKyFF.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"817\"  \/>Jamie Foy rides the rail on the Rail Rollercoaster course on the first day of KASSO Fest in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182575 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8886-534075-rzj48uap-057235-oCKth3H4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"811\"  \/>Kyle Walker falls into the water after failing to complete the Rail Rollercoaster course in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182576 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8688-419206-wbmhbw0y-473952-skvHntlV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"703\"  \/>Aaron \u201cJaws\u201d Homoki soars over the volcano feature on the Long Beach Downhill course. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182577 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8852-528132-qll12o1l-376474-keM8t3OJ.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"808\"  \/>Taylor Kirby bails as he can\u2019t complete the Rail Rollercoaster course on the first day of KASSO Fest in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182578 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8643-167246-qwjyhixd-792353-5tz06jt8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"862\"  \/>Torey Pudwill loses his skateboard but manages to catch it on top of the volcano feature on the Long Beach Downhill course. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182579 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9156-032091-tkriwsmi-000272-PuNsD7Gr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"794\"  \/>Skater Yurin Fujii signs a board for a young fan during KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182580 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9119-497459-rohkryx8-164342-mDfdoeig.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"773\"  \/>Monica Torres, a pro skater, hosted and emceed KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182581 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9115-714221-0jupdjaf-395945-CUa3K9GO.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"802\"  \/>A fan attends KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182582 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9134-571732-nczurgpd-855484-8dzubxAs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"835\"  \/>Skater Sora Negishi signs a board for a young fan at KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182583 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-9097-841348-dosylzl4-874729-x6uHATi2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"662\"  \/>Sora Negishi catches air between jumps on the Long Beach Downhill course. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-182584 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-21-26-kassmo-8599-068535-5urowjuh-922279-PGrjCFck.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"816\"  \/>Kyle Walker successfully gets over the volcano on the Long Beach Downhill course, one of three courses at KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some of the best skaters in the world are in Long Beach this week, taking on a series&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231321,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[53150,131,133,132],"class_list":["post-231320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-kasso","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}