Randburg’s Ferndale Recreation Centre became the country’s stage for women’s skateboarding on Sunday, as The Skate School Academy hosted The Motherland, officially South Africa’s largest dedicated women’s skateboarding competition to date.

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More than thirty girls travelled from across the country to take part, with entrants ranging from a five year old beginner taking her first steps on a board to hardened veterans of the sport. Among them was a determined group from Alexandra, several of whom had only started skating six months earlier.

Shayne Robinson, founder and head coach of The Skate School Academy, said: “Today day marks a first for the sport in the country.”
He explained that the competition was created simply to show what women could achieve when given the opportunity and the space to do so. The contest ran from young beginners learning to push off for the first time through to the big ramp finale, which drew nineteen brave finalists willing to take on the largest drop many had ever faced.

The ramp itself was built entirely by hand by the academy team over three weeks. “For me, the standout moment of the day involved one of the youngest competitors, who had travelled from Tzaneen.”

Robinson said he had coached her online for months, but had never met her in person until the day before the event. Watching her compete, he said, was the most heartwarming moment of the entire competition, and he praised the standard of talent on display as extraordinary.

The event was officiated by respected figures from the local skating scene. South African Olympic skateboarder Boipelo Awuah served as head judge, joined by Peter Holtzausen, a fifty-one-year-old skating veteran who has run the Germiston Bowl since 1990 and holds World Skate judging accreditation.

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Holtzausen praised the organisation of the event, noting that clear rules meant there was little for the judges to debate. “The standard of skating on display exceeded my expectations. This is one of the most rewarding of my judging career.” He added that being part of such a historic day had been humbling and inspiring, and commended the journey the academy had taken to bring the event to life.

Despite the success of the free to enter event, Robinson is already looking to grow next year’s competition. He noted that some competitors from Durban and Kimberley had been unable to attend because of transport difficulties, and said he hoped to secure sponsors to help bus and accommodate more riders in Johannesburg, with an eye on drawing fifty to seventy girls to next year’s event.

His message to sponsors and spectators who missed Sunday’s event was direct. He said the academy had approached numerous potential partners ahead of the competition, and he hoped that seeing the coverage of the day would draw greater support for an even bigger event next year.

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