Foundations of elite skateboarding beginning to take shape
Local skateboarders encouraged to form organised groups to formalise administration
Even in individual sports, the strength and identity of the collective is powerful.
When the phrase ‘Olympic skater’ is heard, it conjures images of lycra and spandex clad ballerinas gliding effortlessly across polished ice. In the upcoming Tokyo sporting Olympiad and the 2024 edition in Paris, the scourge of mall cops around the world will finally get the recognition they deserve when skateboarding joins the ranks of elite sporting disciplines competing for the fabled five-ringed gold medals.
Whether an attempt to capitalise on a youthful and booming X-Games market, the decision announced in 2016 has stirred the imagination of skaters across the country. Roller Sport South Africa (RSSA), which governs all sports that revolve around small plastic wheels bolted to shoes or boards, is the body entrusted with the growth of the sport through their affiliation with World Skate and the SASCOC overlords.
Despite a large skateboarding community in South Africa and RSSA’s impressive record, no standalone association exists to push the exclusive interests of the sport. “Our development is probably the best in the country, and in the last five years we were in the top three federations at the SA Sport Awards,” boasted RSSA president Wendy Gila.
As with all sports, success is built on a solid foundation and this begins with the formation of local skateboarding clubs. In order to create a wider network and avoid centralised power, community, regional and provincial bodies need to form to create a pyramid that warrants national independent status.
Leading the charge in local skateboard administration is managing director of Pretoria’s Thrashers Skate Park, Bianca van Zyl. “A club will need to have members and a constitution, and these registered members will democratically elect representatives. Once there are more than two clubs we would be able to host a tournament. Eventually clubs will feed into provincials and then to nationals. So the inception of a local club is the first step in this process,” explained Bianca.
Skating nodes are scattered throughout the country but no pathways exist for the renegades skating in parking lots behind petrol stations. Dylan du Preez is one such skater who himself frequents Thrashers as well as the skate park at Key West Shopping Centre. “I’m hoping to start a petition to try get a skate park built somewhere closer because there is so much space here,” said the Allen Glen High School matric who lives almost 20km from the nearest adequate venue.
With a quintessential skater acumen, Bianca has evolved solutions from the ups and downs of running Thrashers. “Equipping the right people to run the clubs with strong and transparent administration at club level is the greatest challenge. The Pretoria Skateboarding Club is an online portal whereby members sign up and pay the applicable fee. Should any other potential club wish to make use of our administrative services, they simply need to contact me to get the ball rolling,” she advised.
RSSA is hosting the 2021 South African Championships at The Shred in Cape Town but community events staged at easily accessible parks is the only way to uncover Olympic champions. In a message synonymous with all sidewalk surfers, Bianca shared, “Thrashers is currently servicing the greater Gauteng area due to limited skate parks. Interest in skateboarding is picking up immensely in SA and there is the potential to take it to the highest level of competition in the world.”
