Event Report: Ziyaad’s Skate School hosts fun skate comp and Christmas Party for township kids at Eyethu Skate Park Hout Bay

Dec 20, 2023 | Bowl Skating, Community, Creativity, Culture, DIY skateparks, Events, Ramp skateboarding, Skateboarding, Skateboarding contests, skateboarding development, Skateparks, Small town skaters, Social Activism

The stoke was strong at Ziyaad’s Skate School Christmas Party.

Ziyaad’s Skate School youth development programme held its first Christmas Party earlier this month at Eyethu Skate Park in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Supported by various local businesses, the event was a massive success and the kids had a blast. The event was put together by the coaches of the skate programme, Ziyaad Davids, Wonga Lucas, Keerin Noah and a team of volunteers.

Words and photos by bluntEd.

Local skate groms in the programme got to participate in a variety of skateboarding challenges and contests, including a game of SKATE, a tic tac race, longest manual challenge and best trick and best run in the park. Deprived of a Christmas party for the last two years, the skate kids went nuts and skated their hearts out in what for many for them was their first-ever skate competition.

Stand out skateboarders were the intermediate winners, José Du Plooy, Nathan Sangiki and Frankie Moloto, who all bust out big tricks like ollies, flips and crooked grinds and showed consistency throughout the day, as well as Joshua Du Plooy, Cwenga Nogwavu and Iviwe Sikhisazana in the beginners division, where Azola Tsilane showed the most dedication, throwing himself off every obstacle to win the blunt magazine Full Throttle award.

“I can proudly say that the event was a true success. The energy of our skate kids also made me really happy and proud. There was not one bad moment, they started happy and left happy.” – Ziyaad Davids, Ziyaad’s Skate School.

“For me the standout was Nathan Sangiki as he was so consistent and put his all in to the contest, said Ziyaad. “Ashwill Williams was also another boy that grew so much through skateboarding and he really had the best energy on the day.”

Nathan Sangiki gave his all on the day with a clean run, including this crooked grind.

But the Christmas Party was not just about skateboarding. The day started with a clean up of litter in the skate park and surrounds aimed at instilling pride and responsibility in the kids for their park. There were warm up exercises and songs and several motivational talks from the skate coaches through the day.

Ziyaad created the youth programme as a unique way to support underprivileged kids from Imzamo Yethu township and Hangberg village in the Hout Bay valley. So the programme also focuses on things like academic performance, attendance, general discipline, teamwork, cleanliness, the environment, empathy for others, spiritual balance and the physical health and development of its members.

Intermediate runner up Frankie busting large with a nollie gap 180.

With normal and halal boerewors rolls cooked up by Eyethu Skate Park stalwart supporter Hilton Scheffler and other snacks, the kids filled their bellies between skate challenges. All of them had been psyching for weeks and lifted their game to another level, from the youngest groms to the more experienced park locals they threw themselves at every obstacle and challenge as their bros tapped their decks and screamed their support.

Boerie rolls for lunch was a welcome part of the day for the hungry kids.

All of the 30 participants received a certificate of recognition for completing the programme in 2023, while select individuals were rewarded with special certificates and skate gear and other prizes for their exemplary effort and contribution during the year. Proud parents and spectators cheered and clapped for each of them as they were called up to receive their certificates and prizes, with so many smiles and so much skate energy to remember for a lifetime.

Each skater also received a goodie bag with skate goods and other prizes donated by local businesses, including school stationery packs from Office National Hout Bay and shopping vouchers from Spar Hout Bay.

All of the 30 participants received a certificate of recognition for completing the programme in 2023, while select individuals were rewarded with special certificates and skate gear and other prizes for their exemplary effort and contribution during the year.

Special mention must also go here to Bret Thompsett. Bret was one of the earliest blunt mag photographers back in the day, who went on to become a paparazzi photographer in the US. Now living in Hawaii, Bret provided the movement with a welcome donation, which kickstarted the planning for the event, which would not have been as much of a success without his support and seed funding. Thanks Bret!

Intermediate winner Jose Du Ploy stoked with one of his prizes, a new skate deck.

Thanks also to Marianne Burke for the bags and snacks, Eyethu’s Hilton Scheffel for the boerie rolls and braai skills, Eyethu’s Sulaiman Wyngaard and Vicki Scheffel for the certificates, Rukaya Davids for the party packets, Kirstin Davids for the sandwiches, Keith Bull from Rotary Hout Bay, Rush and everyone else who contributed.

“I can proudly say that it was a true success,” said a stoked Ziyaad. “We didn’t get much support from the greater community, but just the fact that we had some parents come to see their kids skate made it a complete success. The energy of our skate kids also made me really happy and proud. There was not one bad moment, they started happy and left happy.”

Results

Intermediate

1. José Du Plooy

2. Nathan Sangiki

3. Frankie Moloto

Beginners

1. Joshua Du Plooy

2. Cwenga Nogwavu

3. Iviwe Sikhisazana

blunt Magazine Full Throttle Award

Azola Tsilane

Special Recognition