Action Sports with Leigh Roche

The 2014 Skateboarding World Championships at The Kimberley Diamond Cup went down October 2-5, 2014 in Kimberley, South Africa, with more than 100 skaters from over 37 countries on hand to shred and spread the love of the board.

Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) edged out Aussie Tommy Fynn for the win in the Men’s Street Contest. The second round had Nassim Guammaz taking out last year’s winner, Nyjah Huston by one point. Huston was a favorite to win, but there was very tough competition from the roster of international skaters in which the top 12 included skaters from seven countries. Guammaz lost to Hoefler in the third round. Hoefler said, "I can’t find the words; this is so great! The first time I came to South Africa I made it to the final twelve and I promised myself that I would make it to the podium this year. I never expected to win and am very happy and excited. This was amazing!”

In the Men’s Vert, American Jimmy Wilkins bested fellow American Elliot Sloan, sealing the deal in his third run that included a kickflip lien melon, huge frontside ollie and all kinds of crazy 540s.

Another major event at the contest was  Alana Smith, age 13,  the only female to compete  in the Men’s Mini Mega Best Trick, taking first place. She went for a backflip over the mini mega gap several times before dialing it in with only minutes left in the session, becoming the first female skateboarder to land a backflip over a mini mega gap.

World Skateboarding Championships Vert Results

1. Jimmy Wilkins (USA)
2. Sandro Dias (BRA)
3. Elliot Sloan  (USA)

World Skateboarding Championships Big Air  Results

1. Jono Schwan (USA)
2. Elliot Sloan (USA)
3. Clay Kreiner (USA)

World Skateboarding Championships Women’s Street Results

1. Samarria Brevard (USA)
2. Alexis Sablone (USA)
3. Pamela Rosa (BRA)

World Skateboarding Championships Men’s Street Results

1. Kelvin Hoefler (BRA)
2. Tommy Fynn (AUS)
3. Louie Lopez (USA)

Kimberley Diamond Cup South African Vert Championships Results

1. Jacques Allison
2. Werner du Plessis
3. Graham Denoon

South African Youth Street Championships Title- Brandon Valjalo

South African Street Championships Title-  Brandon Valjalo

Tim McFerran, CEO of World Skateboarding Grand Prix, said, “The extent of the international participation in this event has made history around the world. We had an incredible level of talent with so many countries represented. It will certainly go down in the record books as one of the best contests of all time.”

Kimberley Diamond Cup World Skateboarding Championships is possible because of sponsorship from Kumba Iron Ore, Northern Cape, World Skateboarding Grand Prix, Boogaloos, EQL Skateboards, an Monster.

About Kimberley Diamond Cup

The annual Kimberley Diamond Cup World Skateboarding Championships is partnership between South Africa’s Northern Cape Provincial Government, World Skateboarding Grand Prix, and Kumba Iron Ore. Located 300 miles southwest of Johannesburg, Kimberley was the site of South Africa’s first diamond mine, thus its nickname, the Diamond City.

About World Skateboarding Grand Prix

World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP) is an international skateboarding event-management company. WSGP hosts world class skateboarding events with a commitment to stimulate local economies through tourism and supporting youth development, especially those in under-served and impoverished communities with skate clinics, demos, pro tours, and more.