Pitch and Ride events: Growing skateboarding, BMX and extreme sports in Gauteng, DIY style

If you live in Joburg or Pretoria and ride a skateboard or bike, you may have heard of the ‘Pitch and Skate’ or ‘Pitch and Ride’ events taking place at various skateparks recently. The basic idea is simple: choose a skate park or bike track, get some prizes and invite locals to session and participate in a fun day. 

Words by blunt. Photos by Joe Dludla, Marcel Deandrade and Sean Fulton.

blunt caught up with Cade Mein of Shadey Films, who along with friends, partners and sponsors, is trying to help to grow skateboarding, BMX and other freestyle sports in Gauteng through these DIY events.

With a few Pitch and Ride motocross meets under the belt, Cade returned to running these events in 2021 after the recent lockdowns, expanding the range to skateboarding and BMX, including 2022 events at Key West Skate Park in Krugersdorp, a skate-only event at 011 Skate Park in Edenvale, and a bike-only BMX Jam at Thrashers in Pretoria earlier this month. 

Who is Cade Mein and why are you doing these Pitch and Ride events?

I am a professional free ride athlete for Dragon Energy drink and I started Shadey Films and Pitch and Ride to help grow extreme sports in South Africa, by making it a fun safe place for all ages to come get involved from motocross, BMX, skateboarding and a lot more.

Cade Mein and crew, Pitch and Skate, 011 Skate Park, Edenvale. Photo by Marcel Deandrade.

Where did the idea for the pitch and skate / ride events come from?

We started the events just as a group of friends trying to make a difference in South African extreme sports. We noticed it had gotten a lot quieter and we wanted to make an impact so we started doing small Pitch and Rides. Where we only had 25 people, now we are on our 20th pitch and ride and have a following of 4000, so it’s been amazing to watch and be a part of.

“We started the events just as a group of friends trying to make a difference in South African extreme sports. We noticed it had gotten a lot quieter and we wanted to make an impact so we started doing small Pitch and Rides. Where we only had 25 people, now we are on our 20th pitch and ride and have a following of 4000.” – Cade Mein, Shadey Films.

Do you only do the events only in skate parks or can you do them anywhere, maybe a car park with some obstacles or dirt jumps for the BMXers?

We can do it absolutely anywhere as long as we get permission from the venue, we are all good. At Shadey Films we have an awesome team, where we can actually build tracks, pump tracks, BMX parks and if anyone is interested we can also build skateparks. The Shadey team is a group of talented athletes, with the skills to build A-class facilities.

Micheal Joos, nollie to flat off the spine, Pitch and Skate, 011 Skate Park, Edenvale. Photo by Joe Dludla.

Do you have many sponsors?

We don’t have a lot of sponsors but the brands we do have are amazing and have been supporting us for years, including Dragon Energy Drink, BTT Media, Tings Tattoo, Motokustoms, Mary Jane, Grease Tech, Skate Shack, Rolling Stunts, Sbta Academy and TNT Moto.

Who have you been working with to put the events on, maybe a list of people to thank?

I would like to give a huge shout out to my brother, Travis Mein, he always kills it at the events. I would also like to thank all the athletes Scott Billett, Vincent Leygonie and Reece Chinery for all their hard work and support. Huge shout out to Thrashers and 011 Skate Parks and all our local venues for believing in our dream. Huge shout out, too, to blunt for the support, I’ve been a fan since day one and absolutely love the brand and what you guys do.

Aw, thanks. What do you hope to achieve with these events? Are they just local or do you think you can take them further?

For now we are local but we are definitely aiming to grow and travel around SA bringing new faces to all extreme sports.

Nathi ‘Steeze’ Nkosi and Vince Leygonie, Pitch and BMX, Thrashers. Photo by Sean Fulton.

What has the response been from the skaters and riders, as well as the spectators and sponsors?

We have had the most amazing response and support from all sides and we are beyond grateful with everyone’s support, it’s what drives us to keep going.

“I would like to give a huge shout out to my brother, Travis Mein, he always kills it at the events. I would also like to thank all the athletes Scott Billett, Vincent Leygonie and Reece Chinery for all their hard work and support. Huge shout out to Thrashers and 011 Skate Parks and all our local venues for believing in our dream.” – Cade Mein, Shadey Films.

Do you know about the South African Skateboarding Federation being formed, what is your view on that?

I have definitely heard about the Skateboarding Federation and I am all for it and I think it’s a brilliant idea to put SA skaters on the map and give the industry an even playing field to earn their spot in events around the world such as the Olympics. We would love to back it from our side wherever we can.

Skaters, Pitch and Skate, 011 Skate Park, Edenvale. Photo by Joe Dludla.

Anything further you would like to add?

If anyone would like to be featured on Shadey Films, please tag us in your post or story and let us help show our local talent in SA. We are proud to be South African and we know we have what it takes to compete against the best. Catch you all at the future #pitchandride, yeeew!

Can people contact you if they want to put on a Pitch and Skate event at their local park etc?

Most definitely, if anyone is interested please email me at cade@shadey.co.za or go to our social media Shadey_films and send us a DM.

For more info on Pitch and Ride visit Shadey Films website.

Follow Shadey Films on Instagram and Facebook.

Check out the Krugersdorp Key West Skate Park Pitch and Ride in March on bluntmagza.com.

Check out the Pitch and BMX event in May on Shadey Films’ YouTube channel.

Photo Galleries:

Pitch and Skate, 011 Skate Park, Edenvale (March 2022)

Pitch and BMX, Thrashers Skate Park, Pretoria (May 2022)

Pitch and Skate, 011 Skate Park, Edenvale (March 2022)

Pitch and BMX, Thrashers Skate Park, Pretoria (May 2022)