-
Durban hosts qualifiers for the Kimberley Diamond Cup, spotlighting South Africa’s top skateboarding talent
The first skateboard qualifiers for the Kimberley Diamond Cup Grand Slam kicked off in Durban, today.
[WATCH] Skateboarders from across SA have descended on Durban for the first regional qualifiers of the Diamond Cup Grand Slam. Both pros and amateurs are battling it out for the title. SABC News reporter Mlondi Radebe has more. pic.twitter.com/U8dB4vfKAf
— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 23, 2025
This event brings together professional and amateur skateboarders from across the country to compete for the cup. The competition that has been around for more than a decade showcases various formats of skateboarding from street to team skateboarding.
Skateboarding is now an Olympic sport having made its first debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The Kimberely Diamond Cup originates from Kimberly in the Nothern Cape.
RELATED VIDEO | Two Kimberley skaters to represent SA in Russia
Head of Department for Economic Development and Tourism in the Northern Cape, Thami Mabija, says the aim of this program is to grow the sport while attracting more tourists for the province.
“It is yielding results. You must see the main event when it happens in December when we congregate all the winners from across the province. Remember these winners, some of them are youngsters and they will be bringing their parents and they will be congregating in Kimberley. That becomes a very big show,” he says.
Mabija says since they have started they have seen that in different areas it is growing and they are hoping that it grows bigger and bigger.
“We want to have a different additional avenue for the young stars where they can focus, especially on their free time,” he adds.
Professional skateboarder, Khule Ngubane, from Durban has encouraged young aspiring skaters to stay committed to the sport.
“Anything is possible. Success doesn’t need a Visa. It just needs our heart and a a lot of courage and dedication. So, I will say go step by step you; don’t just go from Grade 1 to Grade 3, but you also have to do Grade 2 as well,” says Ngubane.
VIDEO | Skateboarders descend on Durban for the regional qualifiers of the annual Diamond Cup Grand Slam:
