South African professional skateboarder Jean-Marc Johannes recently returned from the International Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where he shared his expertise with participants in a masterclass. The festival, part of the New Generation Programme, brought together innovators from various fields, including science, medicine, engineering, business, and technology. Johannes, who has spent years perfecting his craft, aimed to teach participants how to approach challenges that frightened them. With an estimated 7,000 attendees, the festival provided Johannes with a platform to network with global innovators.
Johannes' masterclass involved breaking down familiar tricks and teaching participants to understand why a trick they already knew could suddenly seem impossible in a new context. He used an ollie as an example, demonstrating the technique before asking participants to imagine performing the same movement over a car. On the ramp, he worked with the skaters gradually, starting halfway up and moving toward the top. Johannes asked them to identify what changed as they progressed, and they realised that the core technique remained identical.
Johannes admitted that he, too, had faced doubts about his abilities and had often dismissed tricks as impossible before the gruelling learning process proved him wrong. However, his experience at the festival made him question how often he had allowed fear to hold him back from his own ideas. He realised that he had been filtering his own potential, worrying about obstacles instead of giving himself a chance to start. This experience prompted him to revisit plans he had shelved for years.
During the festival, Johannes had the opportunity to engage with innovators from diverse fields and was struck by their conviction and confidence. He was captivated by the projects and the creators' certainty, which contrasted with his own self-doubt. A conversation with a delegate in the energy sector left a lasting impression on Johannes, who was inspired by their absolute certainty. He began to see that with big ideas, fear can be a major obstacle.
Johannes' experience at the festival has inspired him to make a positive impact on skateboarding in South Africa. He is already strategising how to apply the insights he gained to create better opportunities for local skateboarders and elevate their visibility. He took meticulous notes on how other sports were organised, how platforms were built, and how projects outside his field were marketed. Johannes is determined to contribute beyond his own time on the board.
After the festival, Johannes headed straight to Vladivostok for the KARDO World Series Finals, which took place from September 16 to 20. With limited time for practice, he had to adapt quickly to a new course and conditions. Despite the challenges, Johannes was eager to apply the lessons he learned at the festival to his skateboarding career. He is now focused on implementing these insights in South Africa.
Johannes' participation in the International Youth Festival has given him a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to make a positive impact on skateboarding in South Africa. He hopes to share his experience and insights with others, providing advice and guidance where possible. With his newfound vision, Johannes is poised to take South African skateboarding to the next level.
Key points
- Jean-Marc Johannes participated in the International Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where he shared his expertise with participants in a masterclass.
- The festival provided Johannes with a platform to network with global innovators from various fields.
- Johannes' experience at the festival has inspired him to make a positive impact on skateboarding in South Africa.
