Tony Hawk Presents New ‘Half-Pipe’ To South African Children

Dozens of children from KwaZulu-Natal will have the thrill of experiencing skateboarding for the first time, after Laureus World Sports Academy Member and US skateboard legend Tony Hawk presented a brand new portable Half-Pipe to the Indigo Youth Movement in Isithumba, a rural village near Durban. Also present was former South African cricket captain, Shaun Pollock, now a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme.

Multi-skateboard world champion Hawk handed over the Half-Pipe, which Laureus has made available to Indigo, that will allow more children in the region to access the sport and benefit from the advantages of taking part in the Laureus-supported project.

The new portable, easy to set up Half-Pipe will allow the Indigo project to visit various locations around the region where people currently do not have access to skateboarding.

During his 20-year skateboarding career, Hawk defied gravity with his amazing tricks and became a role model to millions of young people around the world. After seeing the Half-Pipe set up in the Zulu village for youngsters to try out, Hawk said it was a very emotional moment.

He said: “I first came to Indigo last year and I was amazed what I saw. This is one of the most remarkable skateboard sites in the world. And now I am excited to come back with a new ramp for the kids to enjoy. They are progressing at a rapid rate and I know this new structure will help them push their limits even more. Being able to watch these young people from difficult backgrounds test their skills on this new halfpipe is something that will stay with me forever. I am honored that we are able to provide such a great facility for these kids. It could truly change their lives.”
Established in the heart of Isithumba, a rural Zulu village on the outskirts of Durban, the project has introduced young people to skateboarding and created an opportunity for the beneficiaries to be introduced to tourism, life skills and entrepreneurialism.
The main objectives of the project have been to introduce the sport to young rural village participants and to invite international guests to the village to learn more about Zulu culture. This has led to the rural participants learning how to skate and becoming more confident individuals.