Skaters flock to Edenvale for tournament
"There was a huge turnout on the day with over 600 people attending throughout the day."
Hundreds of skaters flocked to Edenvale to compete and show off their skills at the Johannesburg leg of the Kimberly Diamond Cup.
Hosted at 011 Skatepark, the competition was intense as skaters battled it out for the top position and the prize money.
Known as one of the biggest skateboarding competitions in South Africa, the event, hosted by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism as well as Experience The Northern Cape, attracted skaters from far and wide.
ALSO READ: Bedfordview Country Club defeats Blackball United
The first part of the competition was hosted in Gqeberha before making its way to Johannesburg. It now heads to Kimberly, Bloemfontein, Durban and Cape Town.
According to the owner of 011 Skatepark, Dean Backos, the event went well.
“There was a huge turnout with over 600 people attending.
“Considering where 011 Skatepark started it hasn’t sunk in that we hosted one of the biggest extreme sports events in South Africa.
“The Kimberly Diamond Cup has always been a dream in terms of building something to get to the same level.
“The fact that they’ve come to 011 must mean we’re doing something right.
“Being able to transform and grow from a dilapidated, forgotten about property, to hosting the KDC almost feels as if the place has become happy again.”
ALSO READ: Soccer skills exhibited at Edenvale Sports Club
Backos said hosting an event of this magnitude shifted the focus on how these skaters compete as athletes.
“R100 000 is a lot of money to be won. Skaters came throughout the week to practice. Some of our winners are part of JHB Skate Club, which was formed to make a difference and benefit the impoverished youth,” said Backos.
Backos said the KDC final is the biggest skateboarding event in South Africa and has seen skaters like Nyjah Houston compete in it.
Backos said the competition was on the back burner for some time but is back for the next few years, all for the benefit of the community. It generates economic empowerment and tourism throughout the Northern Cape.
“When I spoke to one of the organisers we both couldn’t believe it. It’s almost ethereal.”
Winners of the event were:
• U16 Girls – Ashley (R5000), Danielle (R3000), Ntokozo (R2000).
• Men U16 – Ayanda (R7500), Omphile (R5000), Kopano (R3000).
• Women open – Thabiso (R10 000), Neyo (R7500), Sasha (R5000).
• Men open- Terry (R15 000), Kyle (R10 000), Siye (R7500).
