Jamie Foy, who comes to Skatepark of Tampa in Tampa, Florida on April 2-6, 2025. Credit: Photo via Anthony Acosta/Red Bull Content Pool

Next weekend, downtown Tampa welcomes the NCAA Women’s Final Four, celebrating some of the best amateur athletes in the world. At the same time, a few pros will take a different stage less than five miles away, in another sport altogether.

The Skatepark of Tampa (an institution known as well for launching the careers of quite a few amateurs) kicks off the 31st rendition of its pro competition on Wednesday when the venue opens for practice for registered pros only.

The public is welcome to watch for free that day, but tickets are required next Thursday-Friday, April 3-4 when practice continues ahead of next Saturday qualifiers, plus semis and finals on Sunday, April 6.
Florida’s own Olympian Jake Ilardi (who no longer has to toe the line of amateur-pro) is scheduled to compete along with Trasher’s 2024 skater of the year Jamie Foy (pictured) for this intimate contest uniquely juxtaposed to the glitz and arena-scale sterility of Street League Skateboarding.

As usual, Tampa Pro’s weekend nightlife includes afterparties at The Bricks in Ybor City and a concert (this year the Friday show features Zinnia’s Garden, a band that includes Orlando-originating pro Evan Smith).

Die Spitz, an insane Texas band that just signed to Jack White’s Third Man Records, will also play a Saturday concert at the Skatepark of Tampa.

Tickets to Tampa Pro 2025 happening Wednesday-next Sunday, April 2-6 are still available and start at $15.

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2025.