Tag: action sports

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Brian Grubb and Matti Buys Wakeskate Durban’s Beachfront

Wakeskate show in Durban

This summer, local wakeskate athlete, Matti Buys invited one of the most influential pioneers of the sport, Brian Grubb (USA) to South Africa. To explore and session some of the most prominent spots around Durban. What transpired was an epic video short titled ‘Reflections’. Which not only showcases Durban’s flair but some of the most imaginative trick lines and obstacles.

 

Wakeskate legend Brian Grubb

“Since my last first trip to South Africa back in 2006, I have always wanted to come back and see more. Durban was a perfect location to wakeskate and put this project together with Matti,” says Grubb, who has been dominating in the sport since his first pro tour in 2003.

 

Red Bull Reflections

In Red Bull’s ‘Reflections’, you will see a myriad of cables and high-powered winches taking Grubb and Buys from the Indian Ocean shoreline, to Durban Point Waterfront Canals, right through uShaka Marine World and onto Durban’s iconic beachfront pools. The duo creatively make use of their natural surroundings, adding obstacles like ramps or kickers to perform a host of tricks.  One would normally expect to see these on a lake or public cable park, yet this time in a much trickier and unique setting. 

 

Growing South African wakeskate

In South Africa, wakeskating is still very much a growing sport with a lot of potential and young talent continually raising through. “It is important for us as athletes who have spent a number of years building up the sport to continue to find creative ways to share our stories and to also put the sport of wakeskating in front of new, larger audiences,” concludes Buys.

Watch the Video

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Skateboarding Madagascar – Expect the unexpected Part 1

As a surfer Madagascar has been on the map for many years, but its definitely not the first place to pop in your head for a skate tour. But it seems that there is a skate culture growing there, so Red Bull took a crew of international skaters to go explore the land of the lemurs…

Madagascar sounds a bit like something from the pages of a fantasy novel. Everyone knows that this place exists, but it’s so remote that it is almost like a myth. The island resides on Africa’s west side and is a rare destination for outsiders, isolated by both sea and distance.

A crew of skaters including Barney Page, Denny Pham, Nestor Judkins, Wilko Grüning, Brian Dolle, and Gosha Konyshev saw this as a challenge. Without knowing what any of the terrain would be like, the guys booked their flights and shipped out to the island to go find out for themselves….if only they knew what they were in for. Check out part 1 from their skateventure.

Shred in peace, Wilko Grüning.
Our utmost condolences go out to Wilko, his family, and the entire skateboard community.

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RISE – Caleb Tennant back in the hunt for MX glory

The kid has always been good, but he has been plagued by injuries. So it is appropriate that his new video edit is called, Rise. Caleb will be back at Zone 7 tomorrow to compete in the Mx1 class and judging by the riding in the video, he could just be on top of the podium.

Caleb Tennant hasn’t been seen on the race scene since he finished 3rd in the the MX2 class in 2013. In 2014 Caleb was forced to turn in the towel due to financial setbacks and went to go work full time for his father while saving up to get back on a bike. He missed riding so must that he started making calls to Laren van der Westhuizen, current trainer John Wakefield, Shaun Pautz and Cecil Penny Racing with the help of TLB Monster Energy Yamaha they organised him a ride.
In January 2015 while preparing for the season ahead riding at his home track Zone 7 Caleb suffered a bad crash, with his front wheel collapsing on a table top, cracking ribs and breaking his collar bone putting him out of action for over 2 months. Mid way through March Caleb got back on his bike and started preparing for the 2nd round of the South African Motocross Nationals which is being held in Cape Town. “Id like to thank all my sponsors, mechanic Shaun Pautz, trainer John Wakefield but a special has to go out to Laren van der Westhuizen who pushed me to get back on my bike again. I look forward to racing against the countries best again on Saturday.”

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#ExtremeWCW Elena Hight – Snowboarding Superstar

This week I start a new weekly piece where I add a twist to the current trend of posting your #WCW (Woman crush Wednesday for the old people). I am in action sports and cover extreme athletes and there happen to be many very, very good looking ladies, who are also some of the best athletes on the planet. These ladies are deserving of our attention and respect!

What better way to start with one of the best snowboarders in the world, Elena Hight. At 13-years-old, Elena became the first female to land a 900 in competition; and in 2013, she became the first snowboarder, male or female, to land a double backside alley-oop rodeo at the Winter X Games Superpipe finals in Aspen, Colorado.She has also posed in the ESPN Naked issue, twice and by the looks of things loves hamburgers and a Braai (Ok its a gas barbecue, but us South Africans can respect a lady that cooks on flames!) Pretty good choice for a #wcw if I do say so myself.

Check out her website – http://elenahight.com/

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Insane Urban MTB POV – Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo

Every year footage comes out of this insane Mountain Bike event, as nutters on 2 wheels throw themselves down the narrow city streets of this 3rd World enclave. Each year I think, well I have seen it before, how nuts can it be? Well the answer is, it still blows my mind each year. How these guys don’t write themselves off is anyone’s guess. Enjoy the madness once again as the Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo gives us another year and another incredible MTB POV…

Once again, the hills of Valparaiso tested the gnarliest urban DH mountain bikers with an insanely technical DH course through Chilean streets. Take a point-of-view look at what it’s like to charge through one of the sketchiest urban MTB courses in the world.

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Snowboarding Game changes at the Burton US Open

Wow! I mean wow! Did you watch the Burton US Open and did you see with your own eyes how the game was changed forever? First off we had Taku Hiraoka and the rest of the Halfpipe squad going absolutely mental. But the big show had to go to the new phenom, Yuki Kadono in the Slopestyle event. Marc McMorris was his usual incredible self, but even he could not stop Yuki from winning, when the kid was dropping back to back 1620’s. Watch his run and realise that Pro Snowboarding has just gone up a level once again. Then watch the finals highlights from both the Halfpipe and Slopestyle and be amazed by the level across both the women’s and men’s events. Simply blows my mind!

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The Dream Bmx Yard 2 – Featuring Pat Casey

Considering it is the Night Harvest thise eve, it is pretty great that Monster Energy posted this insane video today. Teh body varials are just nuts!

Nope, unfortunately this is not your backyard paradise – but it is Monster Energy rider Pat Casey’s…and this magical setup is arguably the best private park in the world.
Pat moved into his dream home in 2013, building his backyard ramp to perfection just six months later. The trails, his newest collaboration with Monster Energy were designed and built by one of the most prolific trail builders in the world, Adam Aloise.
In this new edit, Pat christens his amazing new features with an onslaught of stylish tricks mixed with straight up bangers. No one in BMX rides like Pat, and Dream Yard 2 is a testament to that fact!

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Monster Energy Night Harvest Tonight in Hout Bay – Mtb and Bmx

This event is fast turning into Africa’s most prestigious dirt jump event with a host of international Bmx and Mtb riders coming to the sleepy village of Hout Bay to compete at the Potato Trails. They wont have it all their way though as a strong local contingent, spearheaded by Mo Peters and Greg Illingworth, fight to defend SA honors. The event gets underway at 7pm, but get there early for the best seats. Catch myself and US MC, Catfish on the mic.

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Congrats Makua Rothman – Big Wave World Champion

The Big Wave World Tour did not have the best season with many of the “Jewel” events not running, but there were some crazy events and there must be a World Champion. With solid performances in the contests that did run and with one of the craziest drops in competition history, Hawaiian, Makua Rothman was named the Big Wave World Champion for 2014/15.

“We take our sport seriously and we want to be at that elite level,” says Makuakai Rothman about the world’s perception of surfers. We’re not beach bums. We train. We want to win.

And this year Makuakia Rothman wanted to win the WSL’s Big Wave Tour.

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Win Ultimate X 2015 Tickets & Hamper worth R1750

WIN a hamper worth a total of R1,750 complete with 2 weekend passes, a complete skateboard setup and rad merchandise from SkullCandy/NEFF, Sprite, Sessions and Red Bull!

So the big event is on this weekend and has moved from a full day daylight event at the Waterfront, to a 2 night action extravaganza at Grand West Casino. For the first time ever the Grand West Arena will ring with the braap braap of 4 Stroke engines and the whir of BMX wheels and Skateboards. Each night starting at 7pm will see a 3 hour show incorporating FMX, BMX and Skateboarding, hosted by myself. The KDC Grand Slam for Skateboarding means the countries best have shown up to compete, with some international guests in the mix and in the BMX a whole host of international guys have made the trek across to Africa. This means you are guaranteed to see the best action sports event in Africa!

Winning is not to complicated! Just follow the easy steps below and I will choose my winner on my radio show on 2 Oceans Vibe Radio on Thursday morning btw 10-11am. (My decision is final!) So you have just over 2 days to bang in those entries!

To win, simply ensure you ‘like’ the Ultimate X FB Page and my Captain Kais World FB Page then share this post on Facebook telling your friends why you wanna go to Ultimate X. Remember to ‘Tag’ my page, Captain Kais World FB Page, in your post. It is that easy!

Check out the highlights from 2014 and get those entries in!