Skateboarding Road Show to Hit Free State this Weekend

The Skateboarding for Hope community outreach programme will make a stop in the Free State this weekend with a full day of skateboarding action at the Loch Logan Mall in Bloemfontein.  Skateboarding enthusiasts from across the province will have the chance to show off their tricks on Sunday, 7 July 2013 from 11h00.

One talented skateboarder will also win a wild card entry into the world skateboarding championships, which will be taking place in Kimberley in September.  The day’s action will include skateboarding clinics, demos, best trick competitions with cash prizes and skateboarding merchandise up for grabs.

Expert skateboarders will be conducting training sessions to show novice skateboarders the basic moves.  Kids from local children’s homes and disadvantaged communities will be invited to form part of the fun and will be kitted out with skateboards and merchandise.

According to Mr John Block, Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, the roll-out of the Skateboarding for Hope tour continues to reach other provinces in the country. “We have been increasingly impressed by the skills and talent of local skateboarders and with the speed of growth of this sport in the Northern Cape and Free State. During the past couple of years, we have seen skateboarding gaining an ever greater popularity and providing our youth with incredible opportunities. The Bloemfontein activation will be an ideal chance for more youngsters in our neighbouring province to learn about this exhilarating sport and we keenly await to see who will be the next qualifier for the amateur world championship event in Kimberley later this year. Over the next couple of months, this initiative will also stop in the Southern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape and bring skateboarding to the youth of the country”. Said Mr Block.

The Skateboarding for Hope initiative was launched by the Northern Cape provincial government to offer South African youth the opportunity to challenge themselves mentally and physically. The programme aims to introduce youth to skateboarding as a healthy, affordable and accessible lifestyle alternative, while creating a strong youth culture centred around mutual respect and intercultural cohesiveness. As a way of combatting socio-economic problems affecting the youth, Skateboarding for Hope presents road shows with skateboarding clinics and life skills training to raise awareness of the fastest growing sport in the world.

The Skateboarding for Hope road show is proudly supported by Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore and is currently travelling across the country to promote skateboarding as a sport and to identify emerging talent to compete in the amateur division of the world championships. Retail partner Boogaloos has lined up a jam-packed schedule in seven of the country’s nine province and has also added three Grand Slam events in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg respectively.

Upcoming Skateboarding for Hope tour stops include:

Sunday, 7 July:                                  Loch Logan Mall, Bloemfontein

Saturday, 13 July:                              Skatelab, York Street, George

Saturday, 27 July:                              Wave House, Umhlanga, Durban (GRAND SLAM)

Saturday, 3 August:                           Riverside Mall, Nelspruit

Saturday, 17 August:                        Stoneridge, Edenvale, Johannesburg (GRAND SLAM)

Saturday, 24 August:                        Kings Beach Skatepark, Port Elizabeth

Saturday, 8 September:                   Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town (GRAND SLAM)

Follow the Skateboarding for Hope tour on Facebook at Northern Cape Events or Boogaloos SA for the latest updates.

For more enquiries, please contact Tebogo Velembo on 071 462 3150 or email: [email protected].