SLS DTLA Takeover 2026 — Juni Kang and Chloe Covell Crush Los Angeles

On April 4, Downtown Los Angeles came alive like never before. Ace*Mission Studios, sold out, 500 fans on their feet, and two names etched into global street skateboarding history. Juni Kang, 18, Seoul in his veins, stole the men’s crown. Chloe Covell, 16, confirmed she’s untouchable in the women’s division. The SLS Championship Tour 2026 just found its leaders.

⏱ Reading time: 5 min

The DTLA Takeover, more than just a contest

Forget sterile indoor contests. The DTLA Takeover, this is street skateboarding in its rawest form. Ace*Mission Studios, in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, transformed into a giant playground. A massive stair set, technical rails, and that raw energy that makes the difference between a competition and a historic event.

Around the spot, LA culture overflowed. Lowrider Magazine brought its finest rides. Nitro Circus sent its stunt performers. Paul Wall dropped a surprise concert during intermission. Food trucks, DJs, art and graffiti activations everywhere. SLS didn’t just organize a contest — they kidnapped Downtown for a night.

And the detail that changes everything: Samsung filmed the entire event with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A first for an SLS competition. Street skateboarding filmed on a smartphone, in 2026. Progress never stops.

Juni Kang: South Korea has its street king

He came through the Wildcard Jam. Not directly invited. No guaranteed spot. Juni Kang, 18, Seoul, had to fight just to set foot on the main spot. And once there, he crushed it.

His final run? Surgical street skateboarding. A switch 270 backside lipslide on the main handrail that made the crowd roar. Then, on his last trick, when the pressure was at its peak, a 270 boardslide with obscene precision. Score: 9.0. The kind of score that sends you straight into the SLS history books.

With this victory, Kang snags his golden ticket for the Super Crown in Brazil this autumn. South Korea, already on fire on the world stage since the DTLA Takeover preview, just placed its champion at the top. Korean street skateboarding is no longer a promise. It’s a reality.

Chloe Covell: 3 for 3, invincible

Chloe Covell doesn’t know defeat in the Takeover format. 3 appearances, 3 wins. At 16, the Australian is redefining what « domination » means in women’s skateboarding.

Her highlight in DTLA: a massive kickflip in the stair set. The biggest trick of her young career, in her own words. When a 16-year-old lands tricks that some male pros don’t dare attempt in a contest, you know the game has changed.

Behind her, a great surprise: Daniela Terol, Spanish, snags her first SLS podium in her very first competition. Europe places a skater on the second step. Paige Heyn completes the podium for the USA. But no one could compete with Covell. Number 1 pick of the XGL Draft a few weeks earlier, she confirms that choice was a no-brainer.

Full results and standings

What’s next? The rest of the Championship Tour

SLS 2026 is just getting started. After Sydney and now DTLA, the Championship Tour continues its world tour. Next stop: the US East Coast in May, then Brazil in August, France in October, Japan in November.

The burning question: Ginwoo Onodera, reigning champion and absolute record holder in Sydney (9+ on all 7 tricks), will he answer Juni Kang? The South Korea vs. Japan rivalry in men’s street skateboarding is becoming the main thread of this 2026 season.

On the women’s side, no one seems capable of stopping Covell. But Daniela Terol just proved that Europe has what it takes. And with the XGL starting in June in Sacramento, the 2026 calendar is packed like never before. Pro skateboarding has never been so competitive. And it’s just getting started.