A Cape Flats skateboarder is flying the South African flag high after he was named the top skater at the Kemenpora International Video Challenge last week.
After breaking his fourth Guinness World Record in three years, pro skateboarder Jean-Marc Johannes, 29, from Penlyn Estate shows no signs of slowing down.
He beat more than 200 entrants in the virtual challenge to claim the top spot in the Pro-Open Class category.
Jean-Marc first competed in the competition hosted by the Ministry of Sport Affairs of Indonesia two years ago, but travel restrictions due to Covid-19 saw it go online.
Entrants were required to submit a one-minute video clip showing off their best skills for judging by an international panel.
For the ambitious young man, this was his toughest competition yet.
“I used my cellphone to film the clip at the The Shred Skate Park in Paarden Eiland and chose various tricks showing different levels of difficulty and skill,” says Jean Marc.
“For me this was the hardest competition yet because you don’t see any of the other competitors.
“Also as the competition is online, it does not require people to actually be there, that means more people can enter.”
Out of more than 300 entrants, Jean-Marc was named the top skateboarder in his category and was among just five skaters from around the world to make the official podium finish.
“With the virtual competition, there are no semifinals or finals so that was also a challenge, but I am very happy with the outcome.”
Jean-Marc’s passion for skateboarding started 18 years ago when he tried out various sports at school, but failed to make any teams.
When he was 11, he entered a skate competition in Claremont and got a skrik when he won.
He has been competing professionally ever since and at just 15 years old, he was rated among the top 10 skateboarders in South Africa.
Earlier this year he claimed his fourth victory by achieving 21 nollies in just 30 seconds for the Guinness World Record, kicking American skateboarder Ivan Sebastian Cordova off the top spot.