Taking Back the Streets

At the Ranch, a barn on a farm outside Stellenbosch has been converted into a private skate park. Here the crew can congregate away from the law, on their own property, to live their passion. Here they can pull ollies, kickflips and grinds in peace. No traffic cops harass them. No drivers abuse them.

Skateboarding, once called “sidewalk surfing”, continues to grow around the world. King of modern skating Tony Hawk has 3 million followers on Twitter. Yet in South Africa, the sport struggles to shrug off its fringe status, despite big events like Ultimate X and the prestigious Maloof Money Cup.

The City has banned skating in public spaces, but what is irksome is that it has failed to offer an alternative, despite the need for facilities to grow the sport and give young stars the platform to succeed.

If you want to skate in Cape Town, the options are limited.

You can ride popular spots like Thibault Square, Civic Centre or Company Gardens. But this is illegal. You can ride a few parks, indoors such as Sports Unlimited in Tokai, or outdoors such as the UMC Park at Sun Valley, but you usually have to pay. You can ride private parks such as the Ranch, but you have to know someone who knows someone. There’s a cool setup in Langebaan  sponsored by Club Mykonos, but you have to drive.

The downhillers lying prone or standing on their longboards are similarly restricted, with popular haunts like Red Hill, Silvermine and Noordhaven illegal while The Noordhoek Group awaits the outcome of their appeal.  Then there are the riders who skate from A to B like cyclists do. Illegal too.

As Paul Hoffman, writing for advocacy group The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa, says, the City should offer roads for use at certain times which is “preferable to criminalising an entire sub-culture of healthy, brave and otherwise law abiding young citizens … sacrificed on the altar of a nanny state mentality.”

If guys like skateboard enthusiasts Mark Gordon and Jamie O' Brien had anything to do with it, free skate park amenities would dot the city. They have big plans. But no-one listens. O’Brien, a skatepark builder, constructs one in Edgemead with no cash from council. Funds come from donations and events, such as last week’s "Skateboarding is a Crime" art exhibition by Gerhard Human.

O’Brien says the City of Durban built a R2 million skate park before the Soccer World Cup. "I often speak with city officials and they complain how expensive skate parks are. It never goes further than that. Nothing ever happens."

The death of longboarder Carlos Trancoso, 29, on the Franschhoek Pass in March was a blow to the community. Sadly, skaters say it deepened the paternal, conservative attitude by authorities who see an uncontrolled extreme sport that is even subversive and unsavoury, lumping all skateboarding as though it was downhill.

"We have to break the same barriers surfers did years ago," says O’Brien, urging authorities to “allocate areas for people to skate.  You should see the Civic Centre after hours. Abandoned. Just another dead urban space.  You don’t need much. Build some ledges. Strengthen a few benches and handrails. You just need sturdy, skate-proof obstacles that cost next to nothing. You don’t need expensive banks and quarter pipes. People just want to jump stairs and ride hand rails.”

One could even erect special sculptures as skate obstacles. During the day, no-one would be the wiser.

At night, scraping sounds would denote one thing: art can meet reality .

To Whit

Nice to see “godfather” of Cape surfing John Whitmore honoured in coffee table US surf magazine Surfer's Journal. In the feature piece by former editor of Blunt magazine, Miles Masterson, the narrative of the 'Oom' and the fascinating early days of surfing in South Africa are relived.

Sifiso Style

Sifiso Nhlapo of MTN Qubheka nailed the National BMX Championships in Pietermaritzburg last week. A monumental tussle took place between Nhlapo and fast emerging youngster Kyle Dodd. Nhlapo has returned to England to prepare for the BMX World Champs in Birmingham and the Olympics.

Weather Tip

A solid 12 foot storm swell heaves through today, a bit smaller tomorrow. Leftover cloud clears this morning, leaving the rest of the weekend mostly sunny with calm winds and a dash of light SE for Sunday. Excellent for all sports that don’t need wind!

Random Tweeple

@africaskate Sharing the love and building the scene for a better future.