Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
STREET-SKATING culture has made little palpable strides in Zimbabwe despite the sports popularity all over the world.
As the skateboarding is associated with juveniles and adolescents, those who partake on it are usually scorned by society. Wayne Klinkenberg an avid skatter who has been on the board for over twenty said skateboarding is a clean sport that should be embraced by anyone.
“A lot of skaters have trouble with guards chasing them away for no reason a lot of the time, or simply not being understanding. This is simply because some part of the society has this idea that skateboarding is this thing that rebellious kids, teenagers, destitute adults and in general mischievous people do. What they don’t realize is that skateboarding taps into the creativity people have.
“It’s a means to stay clear of a lot of the negative things a lot of unguided and unspirited folks get up to. Be it house parties, bad habits, drug abuse and criminal activities of all sorts.” Said Wayne Klinkenberg.
Despite the Zimskate Foundation launching the country’s first skatepark in Chimanimani, skateboarding in Zimbabwe still lacks infrastructural development to be prosperous in the mainstream and this hinders the growth of the sport. Klinkenberg who is one of the founders of Skate Zimbabwe (SZ) alongside Mukudzei Nyamhamba, Plot Mhako, Lesley Cash and his mentor Nigel Peters, said the sport is yet to to be fully accepted in the mainstream of sports codes in the country and is undervalued.
“The society seems not to approve of our chosen sport. Currently in Zimbabwe, there is no funding I know of that is helping skaters get ahead in life through skateboarding, except occasional features in some form of media which is often grossly undervalued. The economic climate in the country particularly makes it difficult to be a skater as you have to constantly be working or hustling to make ends meet. This leaves you with no real time to skate and get better at it. Some skaters are making millions out there, because they can invest their time into the sport. Locally, is still a dream for the future.” He added.
Launched in 2018, the SZ is an affiliate of Jibilika and is set to be the curator for the sport on wheels.
“We started pushing to make an official association to represent skateboarding in Zimbabwe so we could use that to spring board and allow the culture to explode. Skate parks, trips and even funding for careers in skateboarding was our goal…Through it we ran skate clinics, participated and exhibited during other events, having weekly sessions, networking with artists and other people out there to bring it to the spotlight as more than just a bunch of hooligans and troublesome kids.” Said the twenty-eight year old Harare born skater.
He said the skate culture has produced its own distinct language and genre as it connects with music, fashion and art which creates a unique community