World-class skateboarders gather in Cape Town for an unforgettable event

Some of the world’s top skateboarders descended upon Cape Town, an emerging global scene for the action sport.

As part of the Red Bull Spot Check, which took place around the city in spectacular fashion on Sunday, November 9, young stars were also given the platform to showcase their gnarly flips, rotations, and grinds.

From young girls and boys to seasoned professionals and international superstars, the Mother City’s residents from all walks of life came out to enjoy the festivities.

In a celebration of creativity and freedom, the event, which was held at four top spots, sought to showcase the culture and energy that make street skateboarding one of the world’s most expressive sports.

But before all the skateboarding tricks were whipped out, “Independent Media Lifestyle” caught up with Mzansi’s Brandon Valjalo.

The 27-year-old Joburg-born Olympic skater is renowned for his unique style as well as pushing South African skateboarding to the world stage.

During an interview, he explained that he has his own skating ramp at home, something his parents built for him so that he had a safe space to experiment with his craft.

“I travel for about six to nine months of the year, but when I am at home, I use it as a training facility, especially ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

And while he loves Jozi, Valjalo has enjoyed the past few weeks he has spent in Cape Town with some of the world’s best skaters.

“I am open to relocating to Cape Town, where the scene thrives the most in  South Africa.”

“This trip has taken me to different skating spots and I have been really loving it!”

Meanwhile, this was the US’s Jamie Foy’s first time in South Africa as part of this trip.

“I love fixing up spots and creating spots like what we have done on this trip,” he said.

“The ground here can be pretty rough, but it's all good. We have the tools to fix it, and we make it better for people to skate later on.”

When it comes to skateboarding, Foy, who is loved for his technical street skating, rails and precision, lives by this mantra: “The world is your open canvas and the skateboard is my paint brush.”

“We love skating so much, and we try to put a little bit of creativity into it. Realistically, there is no right or wrong answer; you get to do what you want.”

He is also impressed with the skateboarding talent he has witnessed in Cape Town and has the following advice for anyone who would like to follow in his footsteps: “When it comes to wanting to progress your skating, surround yourself with people who are better than you,” Foy said.

“Don’t worry about being the best, just be in a group of homies where you all push each other and you all want each other to do better.”

“When you surround yourself with good people, good things happen.”

Following these interviews, we headed to different skate spots, from City Bowl Park through The Company's Garden and Thibault Square.

At these locations, dedicated local skaters and scores of fans followed the action spot to spot, building toward the final, unforgettable Tricks For Cash session at the Civic Centre.

Those who featured on the international roster included heavyweights like Ryan Sheckler, Jamie Foy, Zion Wright, CJ Collins, Chloe Covell, Gavin Bottger and SA's own Brandon Valjalo. Together, they turned Cape Town into a live masterclass, each stop revealing new dimensions of what street skating can be.

And after all the action, it was Ethan Cairns, a local name written in the winner's circle.

Through skating with consistency and style across every location on the “‘tricks for cash” jam format, Cairns balanced power with finesse to claim the overall South African win.

He ultimately walked away with a golden ticket to compete at an international Red Bull skate event in 2026.

"I honestly didn't expect it at all," Cairns admitted after the final session.

"I just tried to skate every spot the best I could and have fun with my friends - that's what it's all about. Getting to skate with all the international pros was amazing and really inspiring. The energy was crazy from start to finish."