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’t 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.

This is KASSO Fest, the first event the popular TV show has hosted outside of Japan. Judging by the crowds and the millions of views the show racks up on YouTube, there’s an audience for it.

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.

Long Beach beat out Santa Monica, Venice Beach and downtown Los Angeles to host the festival. The giant dirt hole surrounded by urban skyline “was unlike anything we had seen before—strange in the best way,” KASSO producer Yohei Yasunaga said. “Almost no flat ground. Uneven levels. Foundations of old buildings still visible. Grass growing wildly everywhere. And yet … something about it pulled us in.”

We spent Saturday checking out the action. Here’s what we saw.

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.
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.
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.
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.
People enjoy KASSO Fest in Long Beach despite the hot weather on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
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.
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.
Skateboarders wait for their turn on the Rail Rollercoaster in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
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.
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.
Aaron “Jaws” Homoki soars over the volcano feature on the Long Beach Downhill course. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Taylor Kirby bails as he can’t complete the Rail Rollercoaster course on the first day of KASSO Fest in Long Beach, Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
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.
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.
Monica Torres, a pro skater, hosted and emceed KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A fan attends KASSO Fest in Long Beach on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
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.
Sora Negishi catches air between jumps on the Long Beach Downhill course. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
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.