In honour of Go Skateboarding Day, which officially takes place on 21 June, South Africa’s own Olympic skateboarder and Red Bull athlete Brandon Valjalo led a vibrant pre-celebration this past weekend at the Pimville DIY Skatepark in Soweto. The event, held on Friday the 13th of June 2025, brought together skaters of all ages and skill levels for a day of skating, giveaways, community-building, and pure stoke.
Since its inception in 2004, Go Skateboarding Day has grown into a global celebration aimed not just at die-hard skaters, but also at nurturing community, visibility, and participation in the sport. Valjalo’s Soweto event captured this spirit perfectly.
“It’s all about bringing people together. Build the community, be able to skate, give back some product where we can. Make sure the kids’ setups are good so that they can keep skating throughout the winter.”
said Valjalo
The day was made possible in partnership with Red Bull Skateboarding, with support from key figures in the local scene including Sam Khumalo, who shared,
“We’re here with all the kids – they’ve been making money today. We’re still going to give out more cash. The kids have been killing it! We gave out some shoes and jackets – they’re definitely set for winter.”
Skaters competed across junior, senior, and female categories with top performers walking away with cash and product prizes. But beyond the competition, the focus was firmly on community: giving back, elevating the next generation, and celebrating skate culture.
Valjalo, who heads to India on Sunday, 15 June, noted that his next mission will be skate community outreach and workshops abroad, echoing the same grassroots energy.
“I’ll be doing a whole bunch of grocery tours, skating, building the community, helping kids skate,”.
he shared
With music, food, and a contagious sense of unity in the air, the event reminded everyone that skateboarding is more than a sport — it’s a lifestyle, a support system, and a movement.
#GoSkateboardingDay #BrandonValjalo #RedBullSkateboarding #PimvilleDIY #SowetoSkateboarding #ESA
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