Pro-skater makes history with river leap
PRO-SKATER Jean-marc Johannes, known for his groundbreaking stunt repertoire, showed Cape Town what it is to #LIVEWITHHEART this week when he made SA skateboarding history by successfully completing the biggest skate stunt of his career – across the Liesbeek River.
Jean-marc was selected as a member of the Red Heart Crew earlier this year, alongside other top South African talent – Kwesta, Breyton Paulse, Falko One and Fixin Diaries. Jean-marc’s jump is his bold response to a challenge posed by the brand to #LIVEWITHHEART by trying something new.
“My challenge was to try something for the very first time, therefore I chose Liesbeek River, a spot in Cape Town completely unfit for skating, and brought it to life by attempting the impossible and making it possible,” says Jean-marc.
Combining difficulty with originality through a range of back-toback tricks, he launched himself off a ramp, perfectly, sticking a kickflip on to a 5m-high bridge, landing on an area less than 1m wide.
“This was by far the most difficult stunt I’ve attempted, but this is what living with heart is to me – pushing limits, overcoming fears and bridging the gap in my own perceived capabilities,” says Jeanmarc.
Together, he and the Red Heart team opened a woodwork shop, sourced materials, drew up plans and constructed two ramps which were transported to the location and placed on opposite sides of the river.
The ramp has since been donated to The Shred, a community skatepark in Paarden Eiland, to remind the community what it is to #LIVEWITHHEART.
“This was the first time anyone has attempted a project of this nature in SA – Jean-marc has turned an everyday object into a platform of progression for skateboarding. We salute him for being bold enough to push the limits!” says marketing manager: Rums Portfolio, Triya Govender.
Jean-marc has also challenged South Africans to #LIVEWITHHEART: “Try something, anything, for the first time and tell us about it by tagging @RedHeartRum and #LIVEWITHHEART to win a custom skateboard from me,” he says.