Debut mini ramp skateboard competition in Kommetjie goes off the hook; Marci Rodrigues wins Open division

Those in attendance witnessed a full day of mini ramp carnage featuring local Kom skate groms and teenage rippers in the comp; followed by a rad jam session afterwards with a bunch of OGs and special guests.

Article by bluntEd. Photos by Moe Abrahams.

The mini ramp skate comp, organised by blunt mag, Merchant and Maker, IamThalente’s Skate School’s Thalente Biyela, and hosted by Merchant and Maker, drew around 40 entrants, with top South African professional skateboarder, Jeanmarc Johannes, acting as one of the judges.

Up for grabs was an impressive array of prizes sponsored by blunt, Merchant and Maker, Fallen, Volcom, Olfi SA, The Shred Skate Park, Dope Industries, Glob Wax, Slappy Skateboards, Freestyle Designs, Blind Skateboards and Cone Collection, with the support of Kommetjie Skate Association and Monster Energy.

The grom skate spirit was wild from the get go, with a flurry of lip tricks and airs from the boys and girls. The skating from the Intermediate division was also next level, with plenty of technical magic on the coping and some solid runs from the young rippers.

Thomas Williams of Hout Bay won best trick for a backside noseblunt revert, that had the crowd going mental when he finally stuck it in the Open jam session. On form, Marci landed a solid kickflip across the gap to the baby mini ramp and came close to edging out Thomas for the prize of the Olfi SA action camera for best trick.

The Open division was even more hotly contested, with the presence of some of Hout Bay’s Eyethu Skate Park best shredders lifting everyone’s performances. Standouts through the day included local up and comer and eventual winner Marci Rodrigues and Eyethu’s Thomas Williams, who finished third. 

Thomas won best trick for a backside noseblunt revert, that had the crowd going mental when he finally stuck it in the Open jam session. On form, Marci landed a solid kickflip across the gap to the baby mini ramp and came close to edging out Thomas for the prize of the Olfi SA action camera for best trick, but only managed to stick the last of several attempts at a frontside blunt after time was called on the session. 

Hout Bay Eyethu skate park local, Thomas Williams, Olfi SA best trick winner (backside noseblunt revert) and third place Open division, blunt to fakie.

It was a crazy day with a good vibe and plenty of stoked smiles. There were so many solid runs and sick tricks from all of the competitors, too many to mention here. The judging panel of KSA’s Miguel Howell, Zen Littler and guest pro skater Jeanmarc Johannes had a tough job to do, so a big thanks to all of them for volunteering for this often thankless but crucial aspect of skate contests.

Marci Rodrigues won the Open category with Eyuthu’s Xola ‘Kwekwe’ in second and Thomas Williams in third. Kai Stubbs and Griffin Robb placed first and second in the Intermediate, and Cody Painter, Nick Dorn and Ryder Bertish were first to third respectively in the Beginners. Isabella Anderson won the Girls division ahead of micro grom Charlotte McCoulough.

Intermediate winner Kai Stubbs, impossible rock fakie.

After the prize giving and product toss, a few OGs hit the ramp for a jam session, joined by a few special guests, including Jeanmarc, a technical master who predictably stole the show with tricks like a ghetto bird (nollie hardflip late backside 180°) to backside disaster, a bigspin flip backside disaster revert and a frontside flip from the extension. 

OG winner Miguel Howell released a day of pent up skate energy leading the judging team, with a flurry of crazy lip tricks and solid runs, closely followed by Cape Town legend Amin Gray, who brought the old school with bonelesses, lofty frontside ollies and a bucket load of OG style. 

After the prize giving and product toss, a few OGs hit the ramp for a jam session, joined by a few special guests, including Jeanmarc, a technical master who predictably stole the show with tricks like a ghetto bird (nollie hardflip late backside 180°) to backside disaster, a bigspin flip backside disaster revert and a frontside flip from the extension. 

Props to local ballie rippers and Kom residents Knut Otto and Lingo Rodrigues, OG Joburg and Pretoria lifer skate legends who held their own in the manic session in between runs by skate groms aged from 12 to over 50. Great to see such a range of skateboarding styles and trickery across the generations. Jeanmarc in particular was out of his skin stoked to skate with the likes of Knut, Lingo, Amin and Miguel, making it a great way to end an epic day that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

OG jam guest Jeanmarc Johaness, bigspin flip backside disaster revert.

Another big shout out to our judges, as well as commentator Thalente, Simon Clark and Ross Painter and Andrew and the rest of the staff of Merchant and Maker, Moe the Photographer, Anne Grit-Dorn for helping out with the admin and organising the cool skate deck medals, and Lingo Rodrigues, Jamie O’Brien and the crew from Kommetjie Skate Association, Ben Bing and anyone else we forgot.

Already known for its world-class surf and surfers, Kommetjie is also fast becoming a hotbed of skateboarding talent. Several experienced older and influential skateboarders from all over South Africa have settled in the area and are nurturing a new generation of young rippers. 

The future looks bright for skating in the area. All going to plan, this event will just be the first of many like it to follow. A final big thanks to our sponsors and everyone who showed up to watch or compete (results and more shots below).

Check out some of the skating highlights gallery (all photos by Moe the Photographer):

Mini Ramp Skate Competition presented by blunt Mag and Merchant and Maker Results

Girls

1st Isabella Anderson

2nd Charlotte McCoulough

Beginners

1st Cody Painter

2nd Nick Dorn

3rd Ryder Bertish

Intermediate

1st Kai Stubbs

2nd Griffin Robb

3rd Siya Siyabuswe (Eyethu Skate Park Hout Bay)

Open

1st Marci Rodrigues

2nd Xola ‘Kwekwe’ (Eyethu Skate Park Hout Bay)

3rd Thomas Williams (Eyethu Skate Park Hout Bay)

O.G.s

1st Miguel Howell

2nd Amin Gray

Intermediate Style Master Award:

Siya Siyabuswe

Olfi Camera Best Trick:

Thomas Williams

Check out the prize giving and scene photos below (credit: Moe the Photographer)