Dallas Oberholzer, a veteran in the skateboarding world, recently reflected on his remarkable journey to the Paris Olympics. His path was one of sheer determination, self-motivation, and unwavering belief in his abilities.
“I could always see that I could make it to the Paris Olympics, so I made it happen,”.
he shared
Despite the lack of sponsors and financial contributions, Oberholzer found a way to fund his journey, relying on his work building skate parks.
“I was basically self-motivated and funded,”.
he added, underscoring his relentless pursuit of his Olympic dream
“nothing easily attainable in life is truly rewarding.”
Oberholzer’s journey is a testament to his philosophy that
He has never believed in limits, a mindset that has propelled him through numerous challenges, including his first trip to France in 2001 for the Marseille Bowlriders. That experience was a significant milestone in his career, though it was far from easy.
“I knew no one and just threw myself in the deep end,”.
Despite the difficulties, he made it to the semifinals, a moment of pride that was quickly tempered by the reality of his wild campsite with gypsies and being robbed as he left France.
Oberholzer recalled, describing the intense and chaotic jam sessions he faced
Now, 23 years later, Oberholzer returned to France not to prove himself against others, but to be the best version of himself.
“I did this to try to be the best version of myself and I simply needed a goal to work towards,”.
he explained
For Oberholzer, the journey to the Olympics was about more than just competition.
“When the circus is over there’s no real reward for most of us, so I think it best for each of us to realize what we’ve gained through this journey.”
Acknowledging that this may have been his last contest run, Oberholzer reflected on the advice he’s received about life being easier without the pressures of competition. Yet, he cherishes the experience of being surrounded by amazing skateboarders, noting that there was no sense of rivalry—just mutual support.
“Everyone there wanted the best for me just as I wanted every success for every other skater there,”.
he said, emphasizing the camaraderie that defines the skateboarding community
Looking back on his journey, Oberholzer sees the Olympics as a reward for his years of dedication.
“I almost feel I did it for survival once I committed to being a lifer,”.
he mused
The experience has also given him valuable insights into how African skaters can secure funding, knowledge he plans to share when he returns to City Bowl Park in Cape Town. Oberholzer hopes to inspire the next generation of skaters, potentially with the help of friends he met along the way.
Oberholzer’s Olympic journey reached a personal peak when he looked up at the audience during his third run and saw his mother and sister cheering him on.
“Before my 3rd run just looking up at my family made me so stoked, we were all enjoying skateboarding,”.
he recounted
That moment, filled with love and support from both his family and the audience, led to his personal best score.
“It was one of the best moments for me.”
As he expressed his gratitude to Paris and his skateboarding community, Oberholzer also took a moment to thank VEHEMENCE Skateboarding for their support. His journey to the Paris Olympics may have been challenging, but for Oberholzer, it was ultimately about love, passion, and the joy of skateboarding.
