Skateboarding star Jean-Marc Johannes uplifts Kimberley’s youth through passion and purpose

The heartbeat of Kimberley’s skating scene is growing stronger, and evidence of this can be seen in the fact that Jean-Marc Johannes, a global icon in street skateboarding, is now using his platform to build up the next generation of South African skaters right here in our city.

Hailing from Cape Town, Johannes is no stranger to international recognition. He’s South Africa’s first 10-time international medallist in street skateboarding at the World Series level, a five-time Guinness World Record holder, and the recent recipient of the 2025 Rising Star Award from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Men of Influence.

Yet, despite his packed competitive calendar and growing international profile, Johannes has made time to travel to Kimberley, where he and other skaters, including Kimberley's own Boipelo Awuah, hold training sessions and workshops for aspiring local skaters.

“I hope it may be of motivation to others in some way to inspire them to believe in their dreams and push the limits,” he told the DFA in a recent interview, reflecting on what it means to reach his 10th international podium. “To have made my tenth international podium was more than a dream come true.”

Johannes’ efforts in Kimberley form part of a broader commitment to giving back to the sport that shaped him. The workshops he leads go beyong being just skateboarding tutorials as they are presented as opportunities to build confidence, discipline, and dreams in a province with comparitively limited sporting infrastructure for action sports like skateboarding.

A Global Competitor with Local Roots

Having recently qualified as the only African skateboarder for the 2025 Kardo World Street Skateboarding Finals and the FISE World Series Freestyle Tour, Johannes has become a symbol of what’s possible for African athletes in non-traditional sports.

“I’m so happy to have made it this far for the event,” Johannes shared. “Even though every event final comes with a certain amount of pressure, making the podium in this event before in 2023 definitely helps me mentally because I know it's possible; I just need to stay consistent and improve.”

That mindset of consistency, adaptability, and self-belief is something he tries to instil in the young skaters he now mentors. Many of the skateboarders in Kimberley are experiencing structured coaching for the first time, thanks to Johannes and other local skaters.

In 2023, he became the first South African to make a podium at the World Series’ largest event in Montpellier, France, just months after making African history at the World Series Open event in La Clusaz in 2022. He then followed it up with a bronze at the Global Finals of the Kardo Games in Stavropol and a silver at the World Series Open in France in July 2024.

“These events were some of the biggest events and crowds I’ve ever competed in front of. Staying consistent is one of the most important parts,” Johannes said. “I’ve learned that being willing to adapt during the finals, even changing a trick at the last second because of a score, can make all the difference.

"In the end, it all comes down to preparation and belief.”

Overcoming Barriers, Breaking Records

As one could expect, the path to international success hasn’t been easy. Like many African athletes in niche sports, Johannes has had to navigate obstacles that go beyond training and competition.

“I’ve had challenges in terms of funding because travel expenses can be expensive,” he said. “Previously, sponsors have assisted me, and in other cases, I’ve had to self-fund.”

Despite these challenges, Johannes kept pushing. Inspired by a childhood dream of being in the Guinness World Records book. Then, surprise, surprise, he made that fantasy a reality, setting five records, the first being the most nollie heelflips in one minute.

“That moment, seeing my name in the book after dreaming about it since reading it in a school library, is one I will never forget,” he recalled. “It’s a reminder to dream big.”

His wife Roxanne, along with close friends and family, continues to be his anchor.

“What drives me to keep pushing my own limits comes from all the motivation from my wife, Roxane, who believed in me since the beginning. It also stems from previously believing I couldn't push my limits and proving myself wrong over time.”

Championing the Growth of Skateboarding in SA

Johannes isn’t alone in paving the way, as he credits fellow South African skateboarders like Moses Adams and Boipelo Awuah for also growing the scene. But his impact is undeniable, not just in his medal count or records, but in helping skateboarding gain mainstream recognition in South Africa.

He was recently named a finalist in the Best of the Cape Awards, a major achievement as the first skateboarder to be nominated in the Best Sportsperson category.

“That was a moment where I saw skateboarding being recognised in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s a clear indication that the sport is growing to new heights,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

And that future starts in places like Kimberley, where kids are now picking up skateboards instead of falling into hopelessness.

“To the young skaters out there who feel limited by lack of opportunity, I want to say that it’s OK to dream big,” he advised. “Even if you are the only one who can see the goal, you owe it to yourself to see where the journey takes you and how much you’ll grow along the way. Always believe in yourself.”

A Role Model Beyond the Board

Johannes’ efforts are not only building better skaters; they are shaping resilient young people with the courage to dream. In every workshop, every demonstration, and every conversation with a local skater in Kimberley, he passes on something greater than tricks: belief.

As the only skater from Africa competing at the Kardo World Street Finals and a rising global ambassador for the sport, Jean-Marc Johannes is no longer just skating for himself. He’s skating for the continent. He’s skating for change.

And in Kimberley, that change is already being felt when you go and watch the new skaters at the Kimberley skate plaza, with growing confidence, skating to new heights.