According to a press release from the Olympics, only a small group of skateboarders will earn the chance to compete at the LA28 Olympic Games, and getting there will require far more than a few good contest results.
When the qualification window opens in June 2026, riders from around the world will begin collecting ranking points that will determine who secures one of the coveted Olympic spots.
Every major contest over the next two years will have an impact, making consistency just as important as finishing on the podium.
A total of 88 skateboarders will compete at LA28. Street and park will each feature men's and women's divisions with 22 athletes in every event.
Qualification is based on the World Skateboarding Ranking, which keeps track of results from approved World Skate competitions. By the time the rankings are finalized on June 11, 2028, they will decide nearly every place available for Los Angeles.
Before any rider can qualify, a few requirements must be met. Every athlete must appear in the official World Skateboarding Ranking by the qualification deadline, belong to a recognized national federation, and be at least 14 years old by December 31, 2028.
The first ranking points become available at the World Cup in Rome, which opens the qualifying period on June 11, 2026.
From there, athletes will travel through the World Skate calendar, competing at World Championships, World Cups, and Olympic Q Series events.
Rankings are calculated using each skater's strongest results during an 18 month period rather than every contest they enter.
RELATED: Snoop Dogg Makes History as Team USA’s First Honorary Coach Ahead of Olympics
As the qualifying period moves toward its final months, the field becomes much smaller.
Only the top 44 riders in each discipline and gender category will continue into the last stage of qualification. Countries are also limited to six riders per event during this phase, making every ranking position even more valuable.
Those remaining athletes will compete across four cities during 2028. Tokyo hosts the opening stop from May 4 through May 7, followed by Shanghai from May 11 through May 14. Montreal welcomes riders from June 1 through June 4 before the final contests take place in Orlando from June 8 through June 11.
Athletes carry ranking points earned during the opening stage into these events, meaning strong performances early in the qualifying period continue to matter all the way through the final rankings.
Once the Orlando event concludes, World Skate will publish its updated rankings on June 11, 2028. Twenty riders from each event will qualify through those standings, with no country allowed more than three Olympic entries per discipline and gender.
RELATED: Skateboarding Sets Minimum Age Requirement For 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Additional places are reserved for the host nation if the United States has not already qualified an athlete in a particular event.
One universality place is also available to give nations with smaller Olympic delegations an opportunity to compete.
The qualification system also guarantees representation from every continent.
When competition begins in Los Angeles, both street and park will follow the same format.
Riders first compete in preliminary rounds, and those who advance will battle for medals in the finals. Skateboarding is scheduled to run from July 18 through July 27, 2028.