Kimberley Diamond Cup
Skateboarding World Championships
VenueKumba Skate Plaza
LocationSouth Africa Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, South Africa kimberleydiamondcup.com
Total prize money$500,000

The Kimberley Diamond Cup was an annual skateboarding event held at the beginning of each Southern Hemisphere Spring in Kimberley, South Africa. The event featured the largest single-event prize purse in skateboarding - $100,000 for first prize in the Street competition - and is the largest skateboarding competition in Africa.[1][2]

The 2015 Kimberley Diamond Cup featured skaters from more than 50 countries.[3] In the Street World Championships final, Nyjah Huston of the U.S. edged out Luan Oliveira of Brazil to capture the $100,000 first prize.[4]

The 2014 Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding World Championships featured skaters from 37 countries.[5] Kelvin Hoefler from Brazil placed first in the Street competition.[6] Fellow competitor Nyjah Huston, generally regarded as "the best contest street skateboarder in the world", won the Street Competition in 2013.[7]

Kimberley Diamond Cup championships were webcast worldwide.[8][9] SuperSport, the leading sports provider in South Africa, broadcasts the event.[10]

The Kimberley Diamond Cup replaced the Maloof Money Cup, a skateboarding event held in South Africa in 2011 and 2012.[2]

Background

In 2013, the Kimberley Diamond Cup World Skateboarding Championships replaced the Maloof Money Cup World Championships, previously held in South Africa in 2011 and 2012.[2][11]

The 2013 skateboarding competition was held from September 27–29 at the Kumba Skate Plaza in Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa.[12][8] The event was named in homage to the Kimberley's history as the location of the first diamond mine in South Africa, and for its reputation as "The Diamond City".[13][14]

World Skateboarding Grand Prix

The 2013 and 2014 Kimberley Diamond Cup championships were produced by World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP) and presented in partnership with the Northern Cape Provincial Government and Kumba Iron Ore, the fourth-largest iron ore producer in the world and the largest in Africa.[13]

WSGP CEO Tim McFerran founded the company in 2013. McFerran previously served as vice president at Maloof Skateboarding and ran the Maloof Money Cup World Championships from 2008 to 2012.[15][16][17] In 2009, McFerran was named one of the "Hot 25 best and brightest business professionals" in the Orange County, California region by OC Metro.[16]

Community outreach

In 2013 and 2014, WSGP conducted skateboarding clinics throughout South Africa, given away hundreds of skateboards, and employed a full-time skateboarding mentor at the Kumba Skate Plaza.[8][18]

Communities located around Kimberley Diamond Cup Sponsor Kumba Iron Ore's mines own a stake in the company and receive twice-yearly dividend payments that are used for community development projects such as clinics, schools, and infrastructure development. Kumba Iron Ore has also a stated commitment to turn South Africa Northern Cape Province into a world-class extreme sport destination.[19]

Economic impact

In 2013, John Block, Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, said “hotels in Kimberley were at capacity and the flights were sold out" during the 2013 Kimberly Diamond Cup.”[20] Patrick Seboko, head of the Northern Cape Province Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said the Kimberley Diamond Cup will help "promote the province as attractive destination for mega events, 'high octane' sports, and adventure tourism."[21]

Mission

WSGP's stated mission is to "help stimulate local economies through tourism and support youth development, especially those in underserved or impoverished communities, through skate clinics, demos, pro tours and more."[22]

Kimberley Diamond Cup competition results

2015 Kimberley Diamond Cup

KDC 2015 Street World Championships - Podium trio: from left, Luan Oliveira, Brazil (2nd), Nyjah Huston, USA (1st) and JS LaPierre, Canada (3rd)

Skaters from more than 50 countries were represented in the 2015 Kimberley Diamond Cup skateboarding competition, which was held October 7–10 at the Kumba Skate Plaza.[3] In the Street World Championships final, twelve finalists from eight countries competed for the world title and $100,000 top prize.[4] Nyjah Huston of the U.S. was the third-place qualifier for the event and first-place winner in 2013.[23] In the final, Huston edged out Luan Oliveira of Brazil to capture first prize.[4][3] In the Vert World Championships, Jimmy Wilkins reclaimed the title he won in 2014 and the $35,000 first place prize.[24]

2015 Events Top Finishers
Skateboarding World Championship Finals[25]
  1.  United States Nyjah Huston
  2.  Brazil Luan Oliveira
  3.  Canada JS Lapierre
Women's Street World Championships[25]
  1.  United States Alexis Sablone
  2.  United States Vanessa Torre
  3.  Brazil Leticia Bufoni
Vert World Championships[25]
  1.  United States Jimmy Wilkins
  2.  United States Mitchie Brusco
  3.  Canada Pierre Luc Gagnon
South African Street Finals[25]
  1.  South Africa Brandon Valjalo
  2.  South Africa Alan Marola
  3.  South Africa Allan Adams
South African Vert Finals[25]
  1.  South Africa Damian Bramley
  2.  South Africa Graham Denoon
  3.  South Africa Dallas Oberholzer
Top Grom South African Championships[25]
  1.  South Africa Tyler Kammies
  2.  South Africa Aya Gericke
  3.  South Africa Jamie de Villiers
South African Women's Street Championships[25]
  1.  South Africa Kelly Murray
  2.  South Africa Boipelo Awuah
  3.  South Africa Natalie Bramley
Rider Cup Team Championships[25]
  1.  South Africa Team AKAM
  2.  South Africa Traes 1 Cup
  3.  South Africa Durban Dirtbags

2014 Kimberley Diamond Cup

The 2014 Kimberley Diamond Cup was held from October 2–5 at the Kumba Skate Plaza.[26] Skaters from 37 countries participated.[27]

Kelvin Hoefler from Brazil placed first in the Street competition and took home first prize, which came with $100,000.[28] Hoefler performed a switch-frontside blunt down the rail and 360 flip lipslide down the rail.[29] Nyjah Huston, 2013 winner in the Street event, was the top qualifier but he was eliminated in the final rounds of the head-to-head Street competition.[28][30]

In the Mini MegaBig Air World Championships, 14-year-old Alana Smith of the U.S. became the first female to successfully perform a backflip in competition.[31][32][30]

Eight 4-man teams of skateboarders, including several teams from South Africa, competed in the Rider Cup Team Championships during Kimberley Diamond Cup. The South African team 4 Staxx took the Rider Cup Team Championship 2014 title.[33]

2014 Events Top Finishers
Skateboarding World Championship Finals[32]
  1.  Brazil Kelvin Hoefler
  2.  Australia Tommy Fynn
  3.  United States Louie Lopez
Women's Street World Championships[34]
  1.  United States Samarria Brevard
  2.  United States Alexis Sablone
  3.  Brazil Pamela Rosa
Vert World Championship[35]
  1.  United States Jimmy Wilkins
  2.  Brazil Sandro Dias
  3.  United States Elliot Sloan
South African Vert Finals
Street Skateboarding Championships[35]
  1.  South Africa Jacques Allison
  2.  South Africa Werner du Plessis
  3.  South Africa Graham Denoon
Big Air World Championships[31][36]
  1.  United States Jono Schwan
  2.  United States Elliot Sloan
  3.  United States Clay Kreiner
South African Am Street & Youth Championships[37]
  1.  South Africa Brandon Valjalo
  2.  South Africa Alan Marola
  3.  South Africa Stefan Jacobs
Rider Cup Team Championships[38]
  1.  South Africa 4 Staxx
  2.  South Africa Get It Get It!
  3.  South Africa Clean Team

2013 Kimberley Diamond Cup

The total prize purse at the 2013 Kimberley Diamond Cup was R5,000,000, approximately $500,000 in US dollars at the time, and was the largest single-event prize purse in skateboarding that year.[8][9]

During the summer of 2013, professional skateboarders Ryan Decenzo and Adam Dyet joined the WSGP's Skateboarding for Hope tour in the Northern Cape province and participated in skateboarding clinics and demonstrations in Kathu, Kuruman, Postmasburg and Kimberley.[39][40]

American professional street skateboarder Nyjah Huston won the Pro Street Contest at the Kimberley Diamond Cup, and $100,000 in prize money.[41][42] Huston's highlights included a nollie heelflip backlip, switch frontside blunt, fakie five-o on high flat bar.[41] Huston has been called "the best contest street skateboarder in the world" and is a 4-time X Games gold medalist.[7][43] During practice, Huston was filmed performing a 270-degree "kickflip lipslide" on a rail, a difficult skateboarding trick that had never been on a full-sized handrail.[44]

"Vert legend" Andy MacDonald won the Vert/BigAir Overall (combined results from 50% Vert and 50% Big Air competition scores).[45][46] MacDonald holds the record for the most X Games medals in vert skateboarding and was crowned as skateboarding's World Champion nine times in the World Cup Skateboard Series.[47]

2013 Events Top Finishers
Skateboarding World Championship Finals[48]
  1.  United States Nyjah Huston
  2.  Brazil Felipe Gustavo
  3.  United States Louie Lopez
Vert World Championship[48]
  1.  United States Andy MacDonald
  2.  Canada Pierre-Luc Gagnon
  3.  United States Jono Schwan
South African Amateur
Street Skateboarding Championships[49]
  1.  South Africa Braxton Haine
  2.  South Africa Khule Ngubane
  3.  South Africa Mitchell Rice
Girl's Street[50]
  1.  South Africa Kelly Murray
  2.  South Africa Melissa Williams
  3.  South Africa Natalie Bramley
Vert/BigAir Overall – Combined results from
50% Vert and 50% Big Air scores[48]
  1.  United States Andy MacDonald
  2.  United States Jono Schwan
  3.  Canada Pierre-Luc Gagnon
Big Air[48]
  1.  United States Jono Schwan
  2.  United States Andy MacDonald
  3.  United States Jagger Eaton
Big Air Best Trick[51]
  1.  United States Jagger Eaton
  2.  United States Jono Schwan
  3.  United States Andy MacDonald

References

  1. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup". Kimberley City Portal. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Kimberley Diamond Cup world skateboarding grand prix is back in SA…R5 million prize pool". lifeissavage.com. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Skateboarding talent take over Kimberley". www.southafrica.net. SouthAfrica.net. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Kimberley Diamond Cup 2015". TransWorld Skateboarding. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Full throttle skateboarding action at Kimberley Diamond Cup". DO IT NOW Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding World Championships Finals". The Boardr. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 O'Neil, Devon. "Don't Call It A Comeback". ESPN. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Gedye, Lloyd (8 October 2013). "Skating on thin air". City Press. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Kimberley Diamond Cup". RedBull.com. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Staniforth, Ralph. "Kimberley Diamond Cup brings hope to the Northern Cape youth". Leadership in Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  11. ↑ du Plessis, Hettie (29 August 2013). "New International Skateboarding Competition to Replace Maloof Money Cup". Kathu Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  12. ↑ Kanights, Bryce. "Kimberley Diamond Cup This Weekend". SkateDaily.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  13. 1 2 Luphahla, Zandisile. "Kimberley Diamond Cup a thriller". The New Age. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup". RedBull.com. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Tim McFerran from World Skateboarding". The Boardr. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Hot 25: Tim McFerran". OC Metro. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  17. ↑ Sorich, Sonya. "Tim McFerran, CEO, World Skateboarding Grand Prix". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Skate Clinic for Eastern Cape Students at Kumba Skate Plaza". kimberlydiamondcup.com. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Kumba Iron Ore". kimberleydiamondcup.com. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Skateboarding Journeys catalyst for tourism boost". Travel And Tour World America. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  21. ↑ Gird, James. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Grand Slam Skateboarding Events". www.kimberley.org.za/. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Establishing a positive tradition that empowers the next generation". World Skateboarding Grand Prix. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  23. ↑ Kohlman, Mark. "Huston back on top at Kimberley Diamond Cup". ESPN. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "Vert World Championships 2015 Recap". Kimberley Diamond Cup. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "KDC Skateboarding World Championships 2015 Results". Extreme Sports Action. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup". Kimberley Diamond Cup. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "37 Countries Represented at Kimberley Diamond Cup". Revolution Daily. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  28. 1 2 Kanights, Bryce. "Kimberley Diamond Cup 2014 Results". Skateboarding News Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup – Day 3 Press Release". Revolution Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  30. 1 2 Bane, Colin. "Upsets Abound at Kimberley Diamond Cup". ESPN X Games. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  31. 1 2 "2014 KDC – Kimberley Diamond Cup: results & video". Skate Agenda. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Alana Smith's Backflip on the Mini Mega". The Boardr. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  33. ↑ "KDC 2014 Rider Cup Team Championships Results". Revolution Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  34. ↑ "Women's Street World Championships". The Boardr. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  35. 1 2 "Vert World Championship Finals". The Boardr. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "Mini Mega World Championships". The Boardr. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "Diamond Cup concludes on a high". iAfrica.com. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  38. ↑ "2014 Rider Cup Team Championships At KDC". World Skateboarding Grand Prix. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  39. ↑ Paulsen, Christoline (26 September 2013). "Top Pro Skateboarders Join 'Skateboarding for Hope' Tour". Kathu Gazette. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  40. ↑ "Skate for Hope Tour Dates". Africa Skate. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  41. 1 2 Kohlman, Mark. "Huston Back on Top at Kimberlery Diamond Cup". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup COMPLETE Pro Street Finals". YouTube.com. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  43. ↑ O'Neil, Devon. "Don't call it a comeback". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Nyjah's 270 Kickflip Lipslide In South Africa - TransWorld SKATEboarding". YouTube.com. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  45. ↑ [2013 http://www.africaskate.com/2013/09/andy-macdonald-wins-kdc-big-air-and-vert-world-skateboarding-championships/ "ANDY MACDONALD Wins KDC BIG AIR and Vert World Skateboarding Championships"]. Africa Skate. Retrieved 29 January 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  46. ↑ "Andy MacDonald Wins Vert Championships". World Skateboarding Grand Prix. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Andy Macdonald". Positiv Skateboards. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  48. 1 2 3 4 Kanights, Bryce. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Results". SKATEDAILY.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  49. ↑ Roche, Leigh. "Kimberley Diamond Cup Results". international.to. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  50. ↑ "Results: Kimberley Diamond Cup Girls Street". The Boardr. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  51. ↑ "Kimberley Diamond Cup Big Air Best Trick". Revolution Daily. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
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