Youth skating fun at Beach Africa
20 June 2006
A smorgasbord of youth culture events will take place during the Vodacom Winterslam at the Durban Beachfront skate park from 30 June to 9 July, run by the Indigo Skate Camp. The Vodacom Winterslam will be one of the biggest attractions at the Durban Beach Africa Festival.
Beachgoers can expect exciting events at the Vodacom Skate Park from poetry readings to traditional Zulu dancers and graffiti, as well as high action sporting events. The event features a completely original line up with the aim of exposing youngsters to a variety of fun and engaging activities, in which they can express themselves.
On 30 June, Hip-Hop performances by the popular 'Life Check Crew' are expected to pull the crowds in time for the "B Boy" break-dancing battles where contestants will compete for R1 000 in cash.
Big names
On 1 July, the nation's finest skateboarders will compete in the lucrative Vodacom Winterslam Skate Contest.
Big names like George Von Blerk, Braxton Haines and Simon Stipcich are expected to enter, as well as a host of rising stars spawned from the Indigo Skate Camps.
Included in the contest format will be a development contest for the street children of North Beach who have been introduced to skateboarding through regular clinics.
A plethora of skate-orientated events is on offer including a Father and Son Skate Jam, Amazulu Skate Day, and a Girls Go Skate Day to attract newcomers and encourage more females to try their hand at the traditionally male-dominated sport.
Amazulu Skate Day
On 3 July, the Amazulu Skate Day takes place with 50 Amazulu Skaters transported from the Valley of 1000 Hills to the Beachfront Skate Park for a day to celebrate the arrival of a new generation of skateboarders and compete for cash prizes. The Amazulu skaters are a group of talented young skaters who were introduced to skateboarding four years ago when
the Indigo Skate Camp began building ramps in their community.
The BMX riders and Rollerbladers at the Skate Park will be catered for with best trick competitions and cash prizes. On 4 July, following the Vodacom BMX Best Trick event, a punk rock concert will be held with Banx, The AK Massive, Low Profile and Sibling Rivalry performing.
"At the Vodacom Winterslam, Indigo Skate Camp aims to make skateboarding available to anyone from rural African kids to urban street children. Skateboarding is a form of self-expression, much like poetry, or punk rock music. It is a shared language in motion so we may communicate and connect through the flow of adrenaline and good times together," commented Vodacom Winterslam event organizer Dallas Oberholzer, who has used skateboarding to transform the lives of previously-disadvantaged children.
Demos
At the event, daily skate demos will be held by Element team riders, as well as introductory
coaching clinics for first-timers in the park at 09:00. There will also be DJs, product give-aways, and screenings of skateboarding and BMX videos.
The Vodacom Winterslam festivities will draw to a close on 9 July with a day themed "Skate of the Nation" where workshops on skate photography and ramp building will be conducted.
Vodacom Winterslam Schedule
30 June: Hip Hop with the 'Life Check Crew' and B Boy battle
1 July: Winterslam Skate Contest with top SA Skaters
2 July: Father Son Skate Jam
3 July: Amazulu Skate Day
4 July: BMX Best Trick event
5 July: Graffiti: Art or Anarchy?
6 July: Juniors Skate Day
7 July: Girls Go Skate Day
8 July: BMX Banditos
9 July: Skate of the Nation
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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