RIDE THE

LIGHTNING

Annual Skateboarding Competition

Official date: Saturday- October 25, 2025

Gates open at 11:00am

4880 Colt St, Ventura, CA (free parking)

2025 Competitors

Victor Brooks, Johnny Mercado, Dave Bustos, Juan Escotto, Jason Smith, Angel Vasquez, Travis Bildahl, Londonn Smith, Taj Wood, Seth Freeman, Elijah Hernandez, Victor Castillo, Sto Struss, Bryan Figueroa, William Edwards, Jalen Willis, Kevin Hibbert, Renato Moraes,

18 of 25 verified.

Hurry! Registrations are still open.

JUDGES: Arthur Cordova, Joshua Bichayda & Ramiro Salcedo (FURBY)

REGISTRATIONS

Think you’ve got the grit to compete? Fill out the registration form — but don’t expect a golden ticket. We’re only taking 45 riders to compete. If that’s you, we’ll hit you up by September 22, 2025 (fall season).

Stay up to date on our website as we begin to publish the riders who received the “golden ticket” to compete this year.

Online registrations and General Admissions will be open Friday August 08. Admissions cover the entire experience this year including games like “ESCAPE QUEST and SKATE AGAINST THE MACHINE.”

REGISTER TO COMPETE
ATTRACTIONS
AFTERPARTY

HEAT ONE

  • Round 1

        •    12:00–12:15 Group 1 — Heat 1

        •    12:15–12:20 scoring/reset

        •    12:20–12:35 Group 2 — Heat 1

        •    12:35–12:40 scoring/reset

        •    12:40–12:55 Group 3 — Heat 1

        •    12:55–1:00 scoring/reset

        •    1:00–1:15 Group 4 — Heat 1

        •    1:15–1:20 scoring/reset

        •    1:20–1:35 Group 5 — Heat 1

    ➡️ 1:35–1:55 PM — 20-min Intermission

HEAT TWO

  • Round 2

        •    1:55–2:10 Group 1 — Heat 2

        •    2:10–2:15 scoring/reset

        •    2:15–2:30 Group 2 — Heat 2

        •    2:30–2:35 scoring/reset

        •    2:35–2:50 Group 3 — Heat 2

        •    2:50–2:55 scoring/reset

        •    2:55–3:10 Group 4 — Heat 2

        •    3:10–3:15 scoring/reset

        •    3:15–3:30 Group 5 — Heat 2

    ➡️ 3:30–3:50 PM — 20-min Intermission

Final HEAT

  • Round 3

        •    3:50–4:05 Group 1 — Heat 3

        •    4:05–4:10 scoring/reset

        •    4:10–4:25 Group 2 — Heat 3

        •    4:25–4:30 scoring/reset

        •    4:30–4:45 Group 3 — Heat 3

        •    4:45–4:50 scoring/reset

        •    4:50–5:05 Group 4 — Heat 3

        •    5:05–5:10 scoring/reset

        •    5:10–5:25 Group 5 — Heat 3

    ➡️ 5:25–5:45 PM — 20-min Intermission / Awards Prep

RIDE THE LIGHTNING PODIUM WINNERS

Bronze - 300 cash prize + T1 BAG

Bronze Medal – Strong Finish:

With heart, grit, and fearless energy, this skater delivered a crowd-pleasing performance packed with style and determination. Despite stiff competition, their standout moments and solid runs earned them a well-deserved third place—bronze.

Silver - 500 cash prize + T2 BAG

Silver Medal – Runner-Up:

Just shy of the top, this skater impressed judges with smooth transitions, bold creativity, and consistent landings. A near-perfect run filled with high difficulty and clean execution secured a proud second-place finish—silver.

Gold - 750 cash prize + T3 BAG

Gold Medal – Champion:

With flawless execution, unmatched style, and gravity-defying tricks, the skater dominated the course and left the crowd breathless. From technical precision to creative lines, this performance set a new standard and earned the top spot on the podium—gold.

Obstacles SPONSORED BY

KEEN RAMPS

Cory Keen has been skateboarding and a strong enthusiast of the culture for over two and a half decades. As a teenager, he and his friends would gather scrap wood from his father's garage or neighbors trash and build whatever they could: boxes, quarter pipes, rails, and even a small indoor half pipe.

Upon completing his Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning, Keen decided to return to his roots and create a quarter pipe ramp as a gift for his seven-year-old nephew. That ramp was the first of tens of thousands of Keen Ramps obstacles to be created in years to follow. 

KEENRAMPS.COM

Games & contests

S-K-A-T-E AGAINST THE MACHINE

Each skater will step into the arena knowing they’ve only got one chance—a single attempt—to prove they’ve got what it takes. No practice runs. No mercy. The AI will call the shots, generating tricks in real-time, each one designed to push riders beyond their limits. One moment, it might be a clean technical flip; the next, something more advanced- maybe switch.

It’s the ultimate test of adaptability—similar to a high-stakes game of S.K.A.T.E., but here, the stakes are heavier, the pace is faster, and the AI is an unforgiving judge. Land the trick, and you move on, riding the rush as the crowd’s energy fuels you. Miss it, and you take a letter. This one is until the last rider is standing.

“ESCAPE” the FINGERboard Quest

ESCAPE: The Fingerboard Quest Game is not your average fingerboard setup—it’s an all-out horror-themed adventure. Step into custom-built arenas dripping with eerie detail, from twisted rails to haunted ledges, each designed to test your skills and nerve.

Your mission? Complete a series of intense quests, each packed with challenges and obstacles that will push your creativity, precision, and speed to the limit. With every trick landed, you edge closer to unlocking prizes, exclusive merch, and bragging rights among the fingerboard elite.

Expect cash prizes, sponsor giveaways, vendors, and freebies—all wrapped in a dark, adrenaline-charged atmosphere. This is more than just fingerboarding. This is survival.

“ESCAPE”

FINGERBOARD QUESTS

This isn’t just a fingerboard competition — it’s a full-blown quest game.
Three levels. Ten tasks each. 180 seconds to escape.

Learn about "ESCAPE"

INFO

  • Get ready for a one-of-a-kind skateboarding showdown built specifically for ledge skaters. This competition is all about precision, style, and technical mastery. Designed with custom ledge setups- the event will challenge skaters to showcase their best lines and combos. Whether you’re grinding, sliding, or flipping in and out, this is your stage to dominate. Open to amateurs and pros alike, the event celebrates the art of ledge skating in its purest form.

    1. Fill out the basic registration form here on our website.

    2. After review, our judges will make the decision whether you qualify or not for this year’s competition. You will be notified via text message.

    3. What are we looking for when seeking qualifiers?

      • Ledge tech

      • Flawless landings

      • Overall performance

  • Ride The Lightning – Quarter finals, semi-finals & finals announcement:

    The Ride The Lightning Skate Competition will be held on Saturday, October 25, starting at 2:00pm.

    • Rider Check-In: All riders must sign in before 12:30 PM sharp — no exceptions.

    • Event Details: Additional competition details will be released on Monday September 22.

    • Questions? Email us at josh@metadecafe.com for more information.

  • The competition isn’t just about skating—come hungry and thirsty. Enjoy a curated selection of barbecue menu items and craft beer on site. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol. Valid ID required.

    *No outside alcohol is allowed.

  • Limited parking is available on-site. Additional parking spots in the area available. Please read all street signs before parking on the street. Parking is free.