Juni Kang Steals the Show at SLS DTLA — The 18-Year-Old Korean Shakes Up L.A.
On April 4th, Downtown Los Angeles was the stage for one of the most explosive debuts in SLS circuit history. Wildcard entry, 9 Club score in the final, and the title in hand — Juni Kang didn’t take long to shake the foundations of global street skateboarding.
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L.A. as a Playground — Ace Mission Studios
Sold out. Ace Mission Studios in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles transformed into a street arena for Stop 02 of the SLS Championship Tour 2026. Not a sanitized skatepark — raw urban architecture, with what will remain the spot’s signature: a 20-stair handrail that put every run under high tension. Every attempt on that rail was a Royal Rumble, wood and steel edition.
The SLS Takeover format attracts the best: Chris Joslin, reigning Skater of the Year, Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston, both Olympic medalists, Ginwoo Onodera the defending Super Crown champion. The lineup was heavy. The crowd’s response was even heavier.
Juni Kang: The Wildcard Who Flipped Everything
18 years old. Seoul. First SLS. And the title. Juni Kang’s trajectory makes no sense on paper — and that’s exactly what makes it a historic moment. The Korean entered the event via the Wildcard Jam, meaning at the bottom of the day’s hierarchy. He exited at the top.
In the final, Kang executed a switch 270 backside lipslide on the rail that left the crowd speechless. Then, in his last run, he sealed the deal with a high-flying 270 boardslide — score of the last attempt: 9 Club. For reference, the 9 Club designates any score equal to or greater than 9.0 out of 10 — the circuit’s most exclusive club. Landing a 9 Club on your last attempt in the final of your first SLS, no one had done that since Ginwoo Onodera and his legendary first season.
Kang is sponsored by Nike SB and Red Bull — two brands that don’t invest in random names. The global circuit knows it now. Korean skateboarding enters a new dimension.
Chloe Covell: 3 Takeovers, 3 Wins
While Juni Kang stole the headlines, Chloe Covell confirmed what the women’s circuit has known for a while: the Australian is unstoppable in the Takeover format. Three participations, three first places. Statistical perfection.
At DTLA, Covell landed a kickflip down the stairs that she herself called the biggest trick of her career. She’s 15. The trajectory is dizzying. Covell embodies everything the women’s street skateboarding has best to offer right now — power, technique, and machine-like consistency in competition.
Other Performances of the Day
On the full women’s podium: Daniela Terol (Spain) took second place in her very first SLS — a remarkable entry into the big leagues. Paige Heyn (USA) completed the podium in third position.
Chris Joslin, Nyjah Huston, and Jagger Eaton, despite their status, couldn’t find a way to counter Kang’s momentum. Ginwoo Onodera, the reigning champion, didn’t replicate his title magic. The hierarchy is shifting — that’s what’s fascinating about the SLS Takeover format.
What’s Next: Where is the SLS Circuit Heading in 2026?
The SLS Championship Tour 2026 doesn’t stop in Los Angeles. The circuit resumes its global stops in the coming weeks, with the Super Crown Championship at the end of the season as the ultimate goal — the real title, the one that counts long-term. The question is simple: Can Juni Kang maintain this level when he’s no longer the unknown Wildcard no one scouted?
The setup he needs to perform at the highest level — competition street trucks, 52mm street wheels made for rails and concrete — he masters it better than anyone. The rest is a matter of consistency on the circuit.
Keep a close eye on him.
