KDC Grand Slam Johannesburg Regional Qualifiers: Youth Day In Soweto
The KDC Grandslam Johannesburg Regional Qualifiers went down on 16 June in Soweto in which over 100 skaters showed up to compete for their share of cash and wildcard entries to KDC in TopGrom and Rider Cup.
The day kicked off with the Skateboarding For Hope Presented By DC Shoes SA, Where well known SA skaters such as Khule, Anthony De Mendonca and Sam Khumalo were happy to give back to the disadvantaged youth of Soweto by running skate clinics and handing out 15 Skateboards to the kids.
Following the Skateboarding For Hope was the TopGrom(13-) and Open Div(14+) Qualifiers. Amongst up and coming Soweto Skaters were some usual suspects who are no strangers to the podium such as Damian Bramley, Shuaib Philander, Jeremy Stone, Brandon Ramos and Taylor Sturgess to name a few. In the end, TopGrom was dominated by a young Durban rider, Jamie De Villiers. Having a spot in the KDC already, Lucky Ndlovu was able to snatch himself a wildcard. The Open Div.(14+) ended in an epic battle between Brandon Valjalo and Khule Ngubane, to which Brandon Valjalo came up first seecuring a R12000 prize purse. Trae Rice won himself R2000 best trick with a smith grind on a grindbox bridging 2 quarter pipes.
Shout out to everyone that made the day possible: DC Shoes SA, Kumba Iron Ore, Northern Cape Tourism, Red Bull, Top Grom, World Skateboarding Grand Prix, Old School Productions and Pragmatics.
Results
Top Grom(13-)
1. Jamie De Velliers
2. Brian Styliano
3. Letlhogonolo Thom
Open Div.(14+)
1. Brandon Valjalo – R12 000
2. Khule Ngubane – R7 000
3. Tabo Lochelt – R5 000
Best Trick
Trae Rice – Smith grind across channel box – R2000
Rider Cup
The Wolf Pack (R10 000)
David Woolf
Anthony De Mendonca
Taylor Sturgess
Brandon Valjalo
Sam helps out a first-time skater in the Skateboarding For Hope clinic to start the day out.
Rad to see some of the skaters from the clinic already popping lil’ ollies!
Smiles all around as board are handed out.
Newly formed generation of skaters to take over the streets of Soweto. Yeah!
Ashton Banwell, kickflip over the gap.
Jamie De Velliers with a smooth FS Lip slide.
Lucky loves early grabs. Seen here: early grab 360.
Lehlonogonolo Thom, nose grind.
KDC SA Women’s Street 2nd place runner up, Boipelo Awuah with a 180 over the gap. Going toe to toe with the TopGroms.
Taylor Sturgess with an effortless back tail.
Khule Ngubane, backside nose blunt.
Jozi based German skater Tabo was definitely one of the crowd’s favorite. Here’s a solid backlip on the rail.
Anthony De Mendonca, front blunt transfer.
Trace Rice with a 50-50 grind on the bridge.
Khule Ngubane had no problems putting down this 360 flip lipslide on the rail.
Bandon Valjalo puts down a big spin to front board.
Kimberley born Rapper Krossword, entertaining the crowd with some good bars.
TopGrom Winners from left to right: Jamie De Villiers(1st), Lucky Ndlovu (Wildcard), Brian Stylianou(2nd) and Lehlogonolo Thom (3rd).
Rider Cup winners, Team Wolf Pack. Anthony De Mendonca, Taylor Sturgess, David Woolf and Brandon Valjalo.
Open Div.(14+) Winners from left to right: Tabo Lochelt(3rd, Khule Ngubane(2nd), Brandon Valjalo (1st) and Trae Rice (Best Trick).
Congratulations to everyone that won. It was a rad day!
All Photos: Martin Kotze
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