SLS DTLA Takeover — Juni Kang and Chloe Covell Blow Up the Global Skateboarding Hierarchy

On April 4, 2026, Downtown Los Angeles shook. An 18-year-old kid from Seoul set Ace Mission Studios on fire in his very first SLS appearance. Beside him, a 16-year-old Australian confirmed she’s the undisputed boss of women’s skateboarding. A look back at a night that reshuffled the deck.

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Juni Kang — the earthquake from Seoul

Nobody expected him. Or rather, nobody expected him this soon. Juni Kang, 18, from Seoul, entered the DTLA Takeover through the back door — the Wildcard Jam. He exited through the front, a trophy under his arm and a « 9 Club » score on his last attempt. Unheard of for an SLS rookie since Ginwoo Onodera’s legendary run in Sydney.

The kid had already made a name for himself in November 2024 by winning the Tampa Am, the ultimate springboard for amateur skateboarding. But going from Tampa to an SLS victory in less than two years? That’s a whole different ballgame. It’s a message to the entire scene: South Korea is no longer an outsider.

His combination of rail tricks left the crowd speechless. A switch 270 backside lipslide at the start of his run, followed by a 270 boardslide as a closer that triggered a standing ovation. Surgical technique, fluid style, zero hesitation. The judges didn’t flinch either: the highest score of the entire day.

Chloe Covell — the undisputed reign

On the women’s side, no surprise — and maybe that’s the most impressive part. Chloe Covell, 16, an Australian born in Tweed Heads, claimed her third consecutive Takeover victory. Three appearances, three titles. A perfect record that’s starting to look like pure domination.

Let’s remember this kid was already the youngest X Games gold medalist in history at 13 in 2023. Three years later, she’s crushing the competition with a technical maturity that would make veterans blush. Behind her, Spain’s Daniela Terol secured her first SLS podium in her very first appearance — a journey strangely reminiscent of Kang’s among the men. And American Paige Heyn completes the podium.

What’s striking is the average age of the women’s podium. We’re talking about kids who don’t even have a driver’s license but are throwing tricks the previous generation wouldn’t even dare to imagine. Women’s skateboarding is no longer a secondary category. It’s a revolution in progress.

BMW M x SLS — when luxury flirts with the asphalt

The other bombshell of the week is the deal. On April 2, two days before the Takeover, BMW M announced a multi-year partnership with Street League Skateboarding. BMW. The M3 manufacturer. Official partner of a skateboarding league. Ten years ago, that sentence would have been laughable. In 2026, it makes sense.

The flagship concept: « Skaters in Cars Scouting Spots », a series where SLS riders explore cities worldwide in BMW M cars in search of spots. Add the BMW M MVP Award, which will reward outstanding performances of the season, and you get a partnership that at least has the merit of being creative.

Skateboarding has always had an ambiguous relationship with corporate. But when contracts allow filming competitions with Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra integrated directly into obstacles — rails, ledges, gaps — it’s hard to spit on innovation. Samsung, by the way, filmed the entire DTLA Takeover with its smartphones, a first in pro skateboarding history.

What now? The rest of the 2026 season

After Sydney and Los Angeles, the 2026 SLS season promises big things. Next stop: the East Coast of the United States in May, then Brazil in August, France in October, and Japan in November. With a new men’s champion out of nowhere and a women’s queen who doesn’t give up an inch, every stop will be an event.

Can Juni Kang keep it going? Can Chloe Covell remain undefeated all season? And most importantly, who will be the next unknown to blow up the scoreboard? One thing is for sure: competitive skateboarding has never been so unpredictable — and so exciting.