When Cape Town’s streets transform into a living skatepark, something electric happens. On 9 November, Red Bull Spot Check brought its celebrated street-skate format to South Africa for the first time, and the Mother City rose to meet it with raw energy and homegrown talent that left even the international pros in awe.
From City Bowl Park through The Company’s Garden and Thibault Square, dedicated local skaters and hundreds of fans followed the action spot to spot, building toward the final, unforgettable Tricks For Cash session at the Civic Centre. When the dust settled, it was a local name written in the winner’s circle: Ethan Cairns.
Skating with consistency and style across every location on the ‘tricks for cash’ jam format, Cairns balanced power with finesse to claim the overall South African win—and with it, a golden ticket to compete at an international Red Bull skate event in 2026.
“I honestly didn’t expect it at all,” Cairns admitted after the final session. “I just tried to skate every spot the best I could and have fun with my friends—that’s what it’s all about. Getting to skate with all the international pros was amazing and really inspiring. The energy was crazy from start to finish.”
The international roster read like a who’s who of modern skateboarding: Ryan Sheckler, Jamie Foy, Zion Wright, CJ Collins, Chloe Covell, Gavin Bottger, and South Africa’s own Brandon Valjalo. Together, they turned Cape Town into a live masterclass, each stop revealing new dimensions of what street skating can be.
At City Bowl Park, Sheckler—the youngest X Games gold medallist in history—wasted no time setting the tone. He launched off the rooftop straight into the bowl’s transition, a line he’d been visualising since the crew first touched down in Cape Town.
“I had that one in my mind from the moment I got here,” he said. “It was the first thing I saw, and I knew I had to try it. When you’ve got that many people who love skateboarding in one place, the energy is infectious—you almost feel unstoppable.”
That energy carried through every session, building toward a defining moment at the Civic Centre. Local skater Byron Rhode lined up an ollie over the towering double stair set, the crowd holding its collective breath. Sheckler stood alongside him, hyping the crowd, embodying the spirit of the day: pros and locals, side by side.
After ten determined attempts, Rhode landed it clean to a roar of approval. Moments later, Sheckler stepped up and landed his own trick first try—a perfect convergence of pro precision and local pride that became one of the event’s most electric moments.
Jamie Foy, known for his fearless handrail mastery, was struck by what he witnessed. “The South African energy was top-notch,” he said. “Everyone was giving it their all at every spot, and you could tell how hyped people were that we were here. The kids were killing it—it was just good vibes all around.”
For Brandon Valjalo, the experience carried a deeper resonance. Skating alongside his international teammates on home soil, in front of his people, he’d expected a strong turnout—but not the sea of humanity that packed every stop.
“This was on another level,” he said. “It’s probably one of the biggest street skate events we’ve ever seen here. Seeing the whole community come together—fans from back in the 2000s watching Ryan Sheckler live, seeing Jamie Foy, Zion Wright—all these role models in one place—it was iconic.”
But Valjalo sees beyond the spectacle. For him, Red Bull Spot Check represents something more fundamental: visibility, opportunity, and proof that South African skaters belong on the world stage.
“Having something like this in South Africa gives local skaters a chance to be seen by international pros and even earn a spot at global events,” he explained. “That’s how we bridge the local and international scenes. I want young skaters here to know that skateboarding can be a real career path. If you dream it, you can make it happen.”
Red Bull Spot Check Cape Town was more than a demonstration of technical skill—it was a celebration of community. From the DIY creativity vibe of City Bowl Park to the monumental finale at the Civic Centre, the event illuminated what makes South African skateboarding special: resilient, expressive, and hungry for connection with the global scene.
As the sun set over Cape Town, pros and locals alike celebrated together—a perfect encapsulation of what Red Bull Spot Check stands for: progression through shared passion, and the power of skateboarding to unite people across cultures, continents, and skill levels.
For Ethan Cairns and the hundreds who witnessed history that day, 9 November 2025 marked the moment South African street skating stepped firmly into the international spotlight. And judging by the energy in the streets, this is only the beginning.
Red Bull Spot Check is a global skate event that brings together top skateboarders at iconic public spots chosen by the community. It’s a celebration of creativity, freedom, and progression; showcasing the culture and energy that make street skateboarding one of the world’s most expressive sports.
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