Live Battles

A Live Battle is a real-time, head-to-head fingerboard challenge between two riders. Both turn their cameras on, compete live, and viewers can watch, chat, and send credit boosts to their favorite rider.

Battles are hosted on Kingpin — no third-party streaming app needed. All you need is a phone or computer with a camera and an internet connection.

1. Go to Live Battles and tap Start a battle.
2. Pick your game mode — S-K-A-T-E is the default.
3. Set an optional boost minimum for viewers.
4. Copy the battle link and share it in your story, DMs, or wherever your challenger will see it.
5. Wait in the lobby. Your camera goes live once the challenger connects.

The host controls the battle — they call tricks, confirm lands, and can end the session. The first rider to open the shared link automatically becomes the challenger.

1. Tap the battle link the host shared with you.
2. Allow camera access when prompted.
3. You will be placed in the challenger seat automatically — no account needed to join, but you will need to be logged in to earn boosts.

Only one rider can take the challenger seat. If someone else opens the link first, the seat is taken and latecomers can watch as viewers.

S-K-A-T-E works like the classic game: one rider calls a trick, the other has to match it. If you miss, you get a letter. First to spell S-K-A-T-E loses.

Lands and bails are self-reported — both riders confirm the result of each trick before moving on. Keep it honest. Kingpin is a small community and your reputation follows you.

While the battle is live, viewers can fire credit boosts at their favorite rider. A boost sends Kingpin credits from the viewer to the battle pot, backing the rider they want to win.

• Boosts are optional — viewers never have to spend credits to watch.
• The rider you boost gets a share of the pot when a winner is declared.
• Boost animations show up on screen so both riders and viewers can see the energy in real time.

Credits used for boosts are deducted from your balance when you send them. They are not refunded if your rider loses — that is how the stakes work.

When the host declares a winner, the boost pot closes and settles automatically.

• The winning rider receives the credits boosted at them during the battle.
• Riders also earn a share of the credits boosted at the other rider, so both sides of the battle earn something as long as boosts flew.
• Credits land in your Kingpin wallet after settlement.

Full settlement details and split rates are shown on the battle page before you start or join.

Anyone with the battle link can watch live. You do not need to be logged in to watch, but you will need an account to send boosts or use chat.

• Both camera feeds are visible side by side.
• Live chat runs alongside the video.
• Boost reactions appear on screen as they land so the energy in the room is always visible.

Chat runs live during the battle and is saved with the replay. If the host shares a replay link, anyone who opens it can read the full chat as it happened.

Keep chat friendly. Kingpin's community rules apply in battle chat the same as everywhere else on the platform.

Live Battles work anywhere you have a decent internet connection — at home, at a session, or on the road. You do not need to be in the same country or on the same network as your opponent.

If your connection drops mid-battle, the session will try to reconnect automatically. If both riders lose connection at the same time, the host can restart the session from the battle lobby.

• Report your lands and bails honestly. The game relies on both riders doing the right thing.
• Do not start a battle if you are not ready to compete — the challenger seat fills the moment someone opens your link.
• Sandbagging, teaming up with a viewer to fake boosts, or abusing the boost system is against the rules and may result in a credit freeze or account action.

• Use a phone propped up at desk height so your opponent can see your setup clearly.
• Good lighting helps — a well-lit clip is easier to judge than a dark one.
• Share your battle link somewhere riders who know you will see it so you get an opponent quickly.
• Announce your battle in the Kingpin Discord or story so viewers show up and the boosts fly.