Noel Cossa, the kid from Mozambique with a dream, was true to his word and made it happen when he won first prize in the Free State leg of the KDC. Picture: Danie van der Lith
THINGS are heating up ahead of the Kimberley Diamond Cup (KDC) in March. There is an already frenzied and growing excitement for the skateboarding spectacular in the Diamond City, with skaters from across the country - and the continent - setting their sights on bringing their best game to the party.
On Saturday, February 8, Thaba Nchu in the Free State was part of the excitement as skateboarding enthusiasts gathered in the town to witness top-tier talent compete for another substantial prize pool.
And DFA readers will be pleased to know that Noel Cossa, the kid from Mozambique with a dream, was true to his word and made it happen when he won first prize in the Free State leg of the KDC.
Cossa didn’t hide his joy after this stunning achievement. “If I didn't have ears, my smile would wrap around my face,” he said after claiming his R15,000 prize.
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And it’s not only Cossa who has his sights set on the big event in Kimberley at the end of March.
In fact, the recent Johannesburg leg of the KDC saw hundreds of eager skaters descend on the 011 Skatepark in Edenvale as they competed, trying to impress the judges with their varied skill sets and aiming for the top step of the podium and the prize money on offer.
The KDC – hosted by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Northern Cape Tourism – is one of the biggest skateboarding competitions in the country, and no wonder that skaters from far and wide are eager to be part of the action and excitement.
This event is part of a series leading up to the grand finale scheduled for March 21-22 in The Diamond City.
And according to Dean Backos, the owner of 011 Skatepark, the event was a success. He said that over 600 people attended the Johannesburg event.
This was especially pleasing to Backos, seeing as being part of the KDC proved to him that his skate park was on the right track.
“Being able to transform and grow from a dilapidated, forgotten-about property, to hosting the KDC almost feels as if the place has become happy again,” Backos said.
The thrill and allure of skateboarding, coupled with some generous cash prizes has been proving to be a huge drawcard for skaters, according to the 011 Skatepark owner.
“R100,000 is a lot of money to be won. Skaters came throughout the week to practice.”
He added that skateboarding also offered hope for many poorer youth in the area: “Some of our winners are part of JHB Skate Club, which was formed to make a difference and benefit the impoverished youth.”
Winners of the Johannesburg leg of the KDC event were:
• Under-16 Girls Ashley (R5,000), Danielle (R3,000), Ntokozo (R2,000).
• Men Under-16 Ayanda (R7,500), Omphile (R5,000), Kopano (R3,000).
• Women’s Open Thabiso (R10,000), Neyo (R7,500), Sasha (R5,000).
• Men’s Open Terry (R15,000), Kyle (R10,000), Siye (R7,500).
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