Skater Bro Highlight: Jean-Marc Johannes, The South African Nollie Heelflip World Record Breaker

Jean-Marc Johannes skating near a Western Cape market. Photo credit: Jean-Marc Johannes Facebook page, September 2017

Jean-Marc Johannes, 27 year-old professional skateboarder and native to Cape Town, South Africa, recently broke the Guinness World Record for the most nollie heelflips in under one minute. With over a decade of skateboarding under his belt, Johannes beat the previous record of 8 nollie heelflips with an impressive 14. Any skateboarder knows, that a nollie heelflip is a very technical trick, you have to kick the board away from your heel, allow the board to flip and cleanly land. Just landing one is a feat, but landing 14 in a row is amazing! So we're officially dubbing Jean-Mark "

Fundi (fundi means expert in zulu)  of Skate “Attempting to break the nollie heelflip record was one of the most fun and challenging things I’ve ever tried to do.” he said after breaking the record (Independent Media, 2017).

Check out Jean-Marc Breaking the Nollie Heelflip World Record

Early Beginnings and Motherly Boards 

Another interesting aspect of Jean-Marc's skateboarding beginnings is that it flourished with his mother.  His mother actually gave him an old skateboard she used in the past, when he wanted one for his 10th birthday. Now 16 years later,  Jean-Marc has accomplished a lot of "firsts" in his skateboarding career. He is the first South African to win a gold medal at an international skateboarding event- FISE (Festival International des Sports Extrêmes) World Series in China- and the first South African to be featured on Tony Hawk's RIDE Channel.

Jean-Marc and Youth Empowerment 

Jean-Marc on an outreach day with his charity. Photo credit: Fill The Gap Facebook page, September 2017

Jean-Marc was also motivated to break the Nollie Heelflip World Record for the representation of South Africa skateboarding and encouraging youth, “I attempted to break this record for South African skateboarding...When kids see this I hope it invokes a sense of confidence in them, so that they believe they can do anything. That was my ultimate goal,” he said (Independent Media, 2017). Jean is working to achieve this ultimate goal by being an advocate for marginalized youth through his charity, Fill The Gap.

Fill The Gap "focuses on helping communities and motivating the youth in underprivileged areas, through skateboarding and youth empowerment programs." So far, the organization has facilitated pop-up skate events and skateboarding demos for kids.

Jean-Marc's Skating Compilation 2017

Currently, Jean-Marc's sponsors include Globe footwear, Volcom, Nixon, Red Bull, Almost Skateboards, to name a few. Check out a selection of his sick moves in this short skating compilation,  it surely affirms that he is a "Fundi at Skate." 

Follow Jean

Big up to the Cape Town massive! Stay updated on Jean-Marc's developments on the concrete and in youth empowerment at the following:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmarcskate/ 

Twitter: @jeanmarcskate

Instagram: @jeanmarcskate

BLACK SKATER CHICK's Top 5 Snow Day Movie Picks

Hey BSC Family, I know a lot of you on the East Coast are enjoying the blizzard. Here's some skating, snowboarding and surfing movies to check out over the weekend snow day.

1. Getting Nowhere Faster (2004)- The ultimate classic all girl skateboarding movie and one my favorites.  

Featuring: Amy Caron, Vanessa Torres,Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, Alex White, Kenna Gallagher, Faye Jaime, Lauren Mollica, Van Nguyen, Elizabeth Nitu, Nugget, Stefanie Thomas,Patiane Frietas & Lauren Perkins

2.  White Wash (2011)- The documentary discusses the intersection of surfing, race and identity through the experiences of black surfers from the  continental US, Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica. Available for only $1.99 on AmazonVideo. 

Featuring: Many surfers including, Andrea Kabwasa and Sal Masekela 

3. 12 Miles North: The Nick Gabaldon Story- Another documentary about surfing and race, 12 miles North describes the life of Nick Gabaldon, the first documented surfer African-American and Mexican descent.

4. Too Hard (2012)- The sickest women in snowboarding shred it out on the mountains. 

Featuring: Gabby Maiden (the first African-American woman of competitive snowboarding), Danyale Patterson, Fancy Rutherford, Darrah Reid-McClean, Desiree Melancon, Joanie Robichaud,Madison Blackley, Merry Raid, Taylor Elliot, Alice Gorton, Alexa McCarty, Marie-Andree Racine, Joelle “JJ” Juchli,  Marie Hucal, Gillian Andrewshenko, Vanessa Moore, Sara Berdayes, Luci Imbach, and Jesse Huege.

5. Faces of Africa : Surfers Not Street Children (2015)- The documentary follows the life of Ntando Msibi, 18, who through the charity, Surfers Not Street Children, becomes a surfing star while overcoming the negative issues of growing up as kid living on the streets of South Africa. 

South African Skateboarding Short 'Dropping In' Premieres at Sundance Film Festival

Dropping In, 2015

The skateboarding oriented short Dropping In was selected among five winners for the coveted title of 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winner, out of over 1,000 submissions. Inspired by true events, Dropping In follows the coming-of-age journey of Sam (Sam Masuku), an informal settlement dwelling youth in South Africa who is taken under the wing of a skateboard park owner, Marcus (Damiane van Reenen). Marcus soon becomes Sam’s skating coach and mentor.

The film was inspired by the story of a Jeffreys Bay (the heart of South Africa surfing) surfer who conquered the vices of drugs through finding his calling in surfing. Following this unorthodox path, the surfer changed the lives of locals and helped pave the careers of current South African surfers. In Between 10and5, Willem van den Heever (Dropping In writer, producer, editor and director) said this man, “didn’t only teach tourists and holiday goers how to surf, but also some of the kids on the street. His aim was to help them invest their energy into something positive. And this is how some of the street kids have winded up as professional surfers, surfing for South Africa today”(Between 10and5, 2015). the film, Sam too goes through the process of overcoming his troubles through skateboarding. 

Watch the full short Dropping In *contains strong language*

In a RYOT Interview, van den Heever said, “as a young South African coming out of school, you only have a few choices because I think South Africa is a bit conservative when it comes to your job and what you’re going to study..so things like studying art, or film or anything alternative except for the norm like science or economics, is really way out” (RYOT, 2015). 

How many of you chose/are choosing to go against the norm in your studies or careers? How was it influences by action sports? Or the arts...etc?

Let’s weigh in BSC readers!

Follow @Willemdafilm on Twitter to let him know your thoughts on Dropping In
Remember to Follow @BLACKSK8ERCHICK on Twitter.

Check Out the 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winners Here

Welcome to BLACK SKATER CHICK!

BLACK SKATER CHICK is a project designed to connect individuals to learning about women of African descent in skateboarding and extreme sports.

The combination of the words Black, Skater & Chick (female, girl…etc) are peculiar to the masses. Therefore, at BLACK SKATER CHICK we seek to increase knowledge and extinguish ignorance surrounding women of African descent in the skateboarding and overall action sports, through highlighting their achievements and lifestyle through interviews, daily news, music and art.

This is in no way created to cause division in the female action sports community. I am thankful for the ladies and organizations that inspired me to skateboard and become more involved in action sports: The Alliance, Villa Villa Cola, All Girls Skate Jam, TheSideProject, Girls Learn to Ride and Check it Out Magazine.

I hope to start interviewing some females in skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX and other extreme sports who are of African descent from all over the world. and as well as my other sisters of underrepresented communities. Plus, I would also like to feature some males of African descent in action sports.

Thanks for visiting BLACK SKATER CHICK – Richie P. (Learn More About Richie P.)

Check out the Best Skater Female Vid Ever Made!!!