The Kimberley Diamond Cup has produced three champions who will now trade the familiar streets of Kimberley for an international stage in Russia.
Brad Balie, Kacey Hendricks and DJ Jiggy IV emerged as the respective winners in skateboarding, graffiti and DJing at the KDC & KARDO South Africa qualifier, earning the opportunity to represent their country at the KARDO international competition.
The winners are set to compete against talent from more than 140 countries, turning a local South African competition into a potential launchpad for global recognition.
Brad Balie Owns His Home Turf
For Balie, the skateboarding victory carried an extra layer of significance.
The Kimberley Skate Plaza became his stage, and the homegrown favourite delivered what organisers described as an “absolute masterclass” during his winning run.
Winning on familiar terrain can bring pressure as much as advantage. Expectations rise when the crowd knows the rider, while every trick becomes an opportunity to make a statement.
Balie handled that pressure to claim the Men’s Open title and secure his place on the road to Russia.
His victory also capped a strong competitive showing across the skating categories, with young riders and established competitors battling through multiple divisions.
A New Generation Makes Its Mark
The event wasn’t only about the Men’s Open.
The skating programme highlighted the depth of talent developing across South Africa, with Nacho taking the Girls Under-16 title and Ayanda winning the Boys Under-16 division.
Boipelo topped the Ladies Open category, while Balie claimed the Men’s Open crown.
The event’s Best Trick honours also added another layer of competition, with Aurelia, Ayanda, Boipelo and Khaya taking the respective division awards.
Those results point to a scene that is not simply producing individual standouts, but developing talent across different ages and categories.
Graffiti Takes Its Place on the World Stage
Kacey Hendricks will carry the graffiti flag after taking the discipline’s top honour.
The competition showcased a high level of artistic skill, with organisers praising the quality of work produced throughout the event.
For graffiti artists, a platform such as KDC & KARDO offers something different from a conventional sporting contest. Style, technical control, originality and visual storytelling all become part of the performance.
Hendricks’ victory now opens a route from Kimberley to an international creative stage in Russia.
DJ Culture Gets Its Champion
The competition extended beyond wheels and walls, with DJ Jiggy IV emerging as the winning DJ.
The DJ competition was supported by technical workshops featuring Grandmaster Ready D and DJ Azuhl, giving participants an opportunity to work on the fundamentals of mixing and scratching while learning from experienced figures in the culture.
That combination of competition and education helped make the event about more than finding winners. It created a space where emerging talent could sharpen its craft and engage directly with established names.
Jiggy IV now gets the chance to take those skills into an international environment.
Kimberley Becomes the Launchpad
The significance of the KDC & KARDO qualifier is ultimately bigger than three trophies.
Three South African winners now have an opportunity to test themselves against international talent from more than 140 countries.
For Balie, Hendricks and Jiggy IV, the next challenge will be adapting to a completely different competitive environment while carrying the expectations that come with representing South Africa.
But before Russia, there is one achievement worth celebrating: they conquered their respective disciplines at home.
From the Skate Plaza to the international stage, the journey has officially begun.
