Olympic skateboarder has stories for Africa
Durban skateboarder wows Olympic media with colourful stories
Dallas Oberholzer is proof that you can do anything you set your mind to — even if it takes 35 years.
The Durban skateboarder is a member of the first South African team to take the country to the Olympic Games in the newly added sport.
At 46 he’s also the oldest member of Team SA — but only the second-oldest (by a few months, after Rune Glifberg of Denmark, 46,) to take part in the men’s park skateboard competition.
On Thursday he ended 20th with a score of 24.08. Australia’s Keegan Palmer, 18, took the gold with a near-perfect score of 95.83.
Oberholzer was part of a four-member skateboarding team representing SA. The youngest, 15-year-old star skateboarder Boipelo Awuah, returned to SA last week after suffering a pelvic fracture that forced her to withdraw from the games. Melissa Williams, 35, was eliminated after finishing 20th in the women’s park qualifiers, and Brandon Valjalo, 23, competed with a broken wrist, coming 18th in the men’s street competition last Sunday.
Despite his humble showing, Oberholzer has wowed overseas media at the Olympics, with colourful anecdotes about taking on a jaguar in the Amazon and chauffeuring Janet Jackson.
He has a good story to tell, especially when it comes to his Indigo skate camp in a rural village between Durban and Pietermarizburg.
But despite his flamboyance, his humility shines through. “I’ve always wanted to represent Africa. I think I did us proud. Everyone is just showing me so much love, it’s awesome.
“I would say to people looking at me: never set limitations. I never thought this would happen … I just enjoy the moment skateboarding every day, there was never an end goal.
“These moments are cherished. To peak at the Olympics, to be the oldest guy in the South African team participating in the youngest sport and the newest sporting activity — it’s really unbelievable and I’m so stoked.”
Oberholzer prepared for the games at his favourite quarantine spot — his skate camp in the village of Isithumba, where 20 years ago he founded the Indigo Youth Movement. The NGO works to create skate parks around SA to keep vulnerable children away from gangs and drugs.
He does this through his Indigo skate park construction company and crowdfunding. The Indigo Youth Movement also works with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation to motivate school children in the Western Cape towards sports and away from crime.
Their most recent project is a skate park in downtown Cape Town, where an old swimming pool in the city bowl opposite the Mount Nelson Hotel is being converted into a skate ramp. In 2015 Indigo completed its biggest project with a mega skate park in Soweto — “and that’s going to be the training ground for the next Olympians”, Oberholzer said.
Another project the skateboarding community is working towards is the consolidation of a skateboarding federation. Currently the sport is represented by the roller sports federation.
“I’m looking at the other teams [at the Olympics] and the support they had — each skate team had a physio, a coach, a six- to eight-person support crew. [We] can offer a lot to the next generation by making sure they are well supported.
“But it all starts with facilities — building skate parks. Australian Keegan Palmer, who won [the gold], grew up in a country that has the highest percentage of skate parks in the world. Every municipality has a skate park. So I’m glad he won because that’s proof that the more skate parks, the more chance there is of developing a gold winner.
“Now our government needs to step up and support. Skateboarding is the most integrated sport. I know, I’ve helped [the sport get] to where it is.
“I’m very happy with the outcome. I mean, I came last but it was great to come last. I don’t mind, I came last with a big smile on my face.”
Our government needs to step up … Skateboarding is the most integrated sport