diff --git a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
index 85cf459..e0d9f6c 100644
--- a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
@@ -23,23 +23,23 @@ import { useTranslation } from '@/contexts/language';
  */
 
 const SESSION_KEY = 'splash-shown-session';
-const MIN_MS = 900;        // choreography needs room to breathe
-const WARM_GRACE_MS = 550; // wait after connection for content to stream in
-const MAX_MS = 2600;       // hard cap — never block on a slow/offline network
-const FADE_MS = 480;
-const READY_HOLD_MS = 340; // savour the 100% "ready" beat before revealing
+const MIN_MS = 380;        // keep the brand beat, lose the artificial wait
+const WARM_GRACE_MS = 180; // a short breath after relays connect
+const MAX_MS = 900;        // hard cap — reveal the shell even on a dead network
+const FADE_MS = 280;       // iris-close exit
+const READY_HOLD_MS = 120; // show the ready check, then move
 
 const SPARKS = [
   { sx: '-8px', sy: '18px', ex: '-54px', ey: '44px', delay: '0ms' },
-  { sx: '4px', sy: '22px', ex: '38px', ey: '58px', delay: '90ms' },
-  { sx: '-16px', sy: '10px', ex: '-72px', ey: '18px', delay: '180ms' },
-  { sx: '12px', sy: '14px', ex: '66px', ey: '30px', delay: '260ms' },
-  { sx: '-4px', sy: '24px', ex: '-28px', ey: '76px', delay: '340ms' },
-  { sx: '8px', sy: '24px', ex: '22px', ey: '78px', delay: '430ms' },
-  { sx: '-12px', sy: '2px', ex: '-48px', ey: '-16px', delay: '520ms' },
-  { sx: '14px', sy: '4px', ex: '52px', ey: '-12px', delay: '610ms' },
-  { sx: '-2px', sy: '28px', ex: '-10px', ey: '88px', delay: '700ms' },
-  { sx: '2px', sy: '28px', ex: '12px', ey: '90px', delay: '790ms' },
+  { sx: '4px', sy: '22px', ex: '38px', ey: '58px', delay: '20ms' },
+  { sx: '-16px', sy: '10px', ex: '-72px', ey: '18px', delay: '40ms' },
+  { sx: '12px', sy: '14px', ex: '66px', ey: '30px', delay: '60ms' },
+  { sx: '-4px', sy: '24px', ex: '-28px', ey: '76px', delay: '80ms' },
+  { sx: '8px', sy: '24px', ex: '22px', ey: '78px', delay: '100ms' },
+  { sx: '-12px', sy: '2px', ex: '-48px', ey: '-16px', delay: '120ms' },
+  { sx: '14px', sy: '4px', ex: '52px', ey: '-12px', delay: '140ms' },
+  { sx: '-2px', sy: '28px', ex: '-10px', ey: '88px', delay: '160ms' },
+  { sx: '2px', sy: '28px', ex: '12px', ey: '90px', delay: '180ms' },
 ];
 
 const STATUS_KEYS = [
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
     if (!visible || ready) return;
     const id = setInterval(() => {
       setStatusIndex((i) => (i + 1) % STATUS_KEYS.length);
-    }, 640);
+    }, 380);
     return () => clearInterval(id);
   }, [visible, ready]);
 
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!visible || ready) return;
     const id = setInterval(() => {
-      setProgress((p) => (p >= 85 ? p : p + Math.max(0.6, (85 - p) * 0.045)));
-    }, 90);
+      setProgress((p) => (p >= 85 ? p : p + Math.max(0.9, (85 - p) * 0.065)));
+    }, 60);
     return () => clearInterval(id);
   }, [visible, ready]);
 
@@ -155,8 +155,24 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
     <div
       className="fixed inset-0 z-[9999] flex flex-col items-center justify-center bg-[#050505] overflow-hidden"
       style={{
-        opacity: leaving ? 0 : 1,
-        transition: `opacity ${FADE_MS}ms cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1)`,
+        // The exit is an aperture-style iris closing into the logo. It reveals
+        // the already-painted app from the edges without moving the map. Users
+        // who prefer reduced motion get a simple, quick fade instead.
+        opacity: leaving && prefersReducedMotion ? 0 : 1,
+        clipPath: prefersReducedMotion
+          ? undefined
+          : leaving
+            ? 'circle(0px at 50% 42%)'
+            : 'circle(150vmax at 50% 42%)',
+        WebkitClipPath: prefersReducedMotion
+          ? undefined
+          : leaving
+            ? 'circle(0px at 50% 42%)'
+            : 'circle(150vmax at 50% 42%)',
+        transition: prefersReducedMotion
+          ? `opacity ${FADE_MS}ms ease`
+          : `clip-path ${FADE_MS}ms cubic-bezier(0.7,0,0.84,0)`,
+        willChange: 'clip-path',
         paddingTop: 'env(safe-area-inset-top, 0px)',
         paddingBottom: 'env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)',
         paddingLeft: 'env(safe-area-inset-left, 0px)',
@@ -191,17 +207,19 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
       <div
         className="relative z-10 flex flex-col items-center px-8"
         style={{
-          opacity: leaving ? 0 : 1,
-          transform: leaving && !prefersReducedMotion ? 'translateY(-10px) scale(0.985)' : 'translateY(0) scale(1)',
-          transition: 'opacity 380ms ease, transform 520ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1)',
+          // Keep the mark visible all the way through the iris-close exit.
+          // The shrinking aperture clips it away, so there is never a dead
+          // black frame between the splash and the app underneath.
+          opacity: 1,
+          transform: leaving && !prefersReducedMotion ? 'translateY(-4px)' : 'translateY(0)',
+          transition: 'transform 280ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1)',
         }}
       >
-        {/* The orange wheel mark rolls in, keeps a slow roll, and throws sparks.
-            The handoff wrapper starts near the native splash's centred logo and
-            settles into the column, so the native → web handoff has no jump. */}
-        <div style={anim('splashLogoHandoff 760ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both')}>
+        {/* The mark arrives from the native splash's centre and settles into the
+            column. No rotation: a quick, grounded drop with one landing burst. */}
+        <div style={anim('splashLogoHandoff 440ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both')}>
         <div className="relative">
-          {/* Rotating conic ring — orange to match the wheel, with a lime kick */}
+          {/* Static conic halo — colour and breathing glow, no spin */}
           <div
             className="absolute -inset-3 rounded-full"
             style={{
@@ -209,15 +227,14 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
                 'conic-gradient(from 0deg, transparent 0deg, #ff6a00 90deg, #ccff00 190deg, transparent 310deg)',
               opacity: ready ? 0.9 : 0.58,
               filter: 'blur(7px)',
-              transition: 'opacity 400ms ease',
-              ...anim('splashSpin 3.2s linear infinite'),
+              transition: 'opacity 240ms ease',
             }}
             aria-hidden="true"
           />
           {/* Mask ring interior so only a thin halo shows */}
           <div className="absolute -inset-1 rounded-full bg-[#050505]" aria-hidden="true" />
 
-          {/* Sparks are decorative and disabled for reduced-motion users. */}
+          {/* One-shot landing sparks, disabled for reduced-motion users. */}
           {!prefersReducedMotion && (
             <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0" aria-hidden="true">
               {SPARKS.map((spark, index) => (
@@ -236,25 +253,16 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
             </div>
           )}
 
-          {/* Bounce wrapper + rolling wheel. Nested transforms keep the spin
-              from fighting the entry animation. */}
           <div
-            style={anim('splashLogoRollIn 720ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both')}
+            style={anim('splashLogoDrop 380ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both')}
             className="relative"
           >
-            <div
-              style={anim('splashHover 1.9s ease-in-out infinite')}
-              className="relative"
-            >
-              <div style={anim('splashWheelRoll 5.4s linear infinite')} className="relative">
-                <img
-                  src="/images/icon-1024.png"
-                  alt="SkateSpots"
-                  draggable={false}
-                  className="relative h-28 w-28 select-none drop-shadow-[0_0_34px_rgba(255,106,0,0.65)]"
-                />
-              </div>
-            </div>
+            <img
+              src="/images/icon-1024.png"
+              alt="SkateSpots"
+              draggable={false}
+              className="relative h-28 w-28 select-none drop-shadow-[0_0_34px_rgba(255,106,0,0.65)]"
+            />
             {/* Contact shadow / dust line under the wheel */}
             <div
               className="absolute -bottom-2 left-1/2 h-2 w-20 -translate-x-1/2 rounded-full bg-[#ff6a00]/30 blur-md"
@@ -270,8 +278,8 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
           className="font-display neon-red mt-7 text-4xl tracking-[0.06em]"
           style={{
             textShadow: '0 0 14px #ff0040, 0 0 30px rgba(255,0,64,0.6)',
-            ...anim('splashRise 620ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
-            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '120ms',
+            ...anim('splashRise 320ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
+            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '0ms',
           }}
         >
           SKATESPOTS
@@ -281,8 +289,8 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
         <div
           className="relative mt-8 h-1.5 w-52 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-white/[0.06] ring-1 ring-white/[0.05]"
           style={{
-            ...anim('splashRise 620ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
-            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '220ms',
+            ...anim('splashRise 320ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
+            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '30ms',
           }}
           role="progressbar"
           aria-valuemin={0}
@@ -293,7 +301,7 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
             className="relative h-full rounded-full bg-gradient-to-r from-[#ff0040] via-[#ff0040] to-[#ccff00]"
             style={{
               width: `${progress}%`,
-              transition: 'width 420ms cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1)',
+              transition: 'width 240ms cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1)',
               boxShadow: '0 0 12px rgba(255,0,64,0.6)',
             }}
           >
@@ -315,8 +323,8 @@ export function SplashScreen() {
         <div
           className="mt-5 flex h-4 items-center gap-2"
           style={{
-            ...anim('splashRise 620ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
-            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '320ms',
+            ...anim('splashRise 320ms cubic-bezier(0.22,1,0.36,1) both'),
+            animationDelay: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : '60ms',
           }}
         >
           {ready ? (
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 633375f..88c9e0b 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -337,24 +337,14 @@
   0%, 100% { opacity: 0.7; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(1); }
   50%      { opacity: 1;   transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(1.08); }
 }
-@keyframes splashSpin {
-  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
-}
 @keyframes splashLogoHandoff {
   0%   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(56px) scale(0.96); }
   100% { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0) scale(1); }
 }
-@keyframes splashLogoRollIn {
-  0%   { opacity: 0; transform: translateX(-58px) rotate(-210deg) scale(0.82); }
-  62%  { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(5px) rotate(14deg) scale(1.03); }
-  100% { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(0) rotate(0deg) scale(1); }
-}
-@keyframes splashWheelRoll {
-  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
-}
-@keyframes splashHover {
-  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
-  50%      { transform: translateY(-4px); }
+@keyframes splashLogoDrop {
+  0%   { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-14px) scale(0.92); }
+  62%  { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(2px) scale(1.02); }
+  100% { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0) scale(1); }
 }
 @keyframes splashDust {
   0%, 100% { opacity: 0.28; transform: translateX(-50%) scaleX(1); }
@@ -374,7 +364,7 @@
   border-radius: 9999px;
   background: #ffb347;
   box-shadow: 0 0 10px 3px rgba(255, 106, 0, 0.85);
-  animation: splashSpark 1.15s ease-out infinite;
+  animation: splashSpark 560ms ease-out 1 both;
 }
 .splash-spark:nth-child(3n) {
   width: 4px;