FINAL TEAM SEARCH RESULTS AND INTERVIEWS

Name: Thalente Biyela
Hometown: Durban
Age: 17
Years skating: 8
Sponsors: Cliché

How do you feel about being 1 of the 5 Team Search winners?
Probably one of the greatest things that have happened to me. Thanks to Brophy for recognising me. It came as a real shock.

Who is your favorite international pro on Cliché and why?
Andrew Brophy because he’s got pop and style.

Who are some of your other favorite skateboarders of all time?
TNT, Tony Hawk and Alex Charmers.

What are your favorite spots to skate and why?
Beach park because its my home and the mannie pad at Gateway as well as the snake run.

Which skate vid do you think was the best this year and why?
Hallelujah! Tory Pudwell had the best part. Talk about pop.

What do you get up to when you’re not skating?
Just chill out with friends on the beach and talk shiz!

What you looking forward to for 2011?
For the end of this year my goal is to win Bowl Riders I am aiming at getting my passport and going on an overseas trip. Also just to try get to more comps around South Africa. Crossing my fingers for all of this.

Name: Michael Bervoets
Hometown: Durban! but I live in Joburg now.
Age: 17
Years skating: I’ve been skating for three years goin’ on four next year.
Sponsors: Well now ENJOI haha.

How do you feel about being 1 of the 5 Team Search winners?
I’m definitely excited to have been chosen! I can’t wait to see what happens with this.

Who is your favorite international pro on Enjoi and why?
Wieger Van Wageningen and I dunno why, I guess I just think some of the stuff he does is MAD.

Who are some of your other favorite skateboarders of all time?
Shane O’Neill!!!, Lucas Puig, Gilbert Crockett, Flo Mirtian, Manolo Robles!, Ryan Decenzo.

What are your favorite spots to skate and why?
1. Ellis park… that floor is so smooth.
2. ICC …the floors amazing, the benches grind and slide well and theres a lot to skate – handrails, stairs, ledges, fun pop over things.
3. LBGs was sick when you could skate it!… and the vibe there was cool! Not a bust etc…
4. I wanna skate some of those Cape Town spots and the stadium spots in Durban soon! They look Amazing!

Which skate vid do you think was the best this year and why?
This year?… I dunno whats come out this year but Cliche “Live and Unplugged” and their promo, Lakai “Fully Flared”, Fallen “Ride the Sky”, Mystery “Black & White”, Nike SB “Debacle” and pretty much anything with Shane O’Neill in it is MAD!

What do you get up to when you’re not skating?
Partyin’, chillin’ with friends (usually Mitch, Mirry, Gary, the old “monte crew” and the rest of the”Poes!” people haha), School, TV… that sorta stuff.

What you looking forward to for 2011?
Matric’s gonna suck but i’m lookin’ forward to skating and filming as well as seeing how this sponsor thing turns out.
PEACE!

Name: Will Twala
Hometown: Germiston
Age: 24
Years skating: 10 Years
Sponsors: Darkstar, Dope Ind

How do you feel about being 1 of the 5 Team Search winners?
I feel great, makes me wanna ride harder!

Who is your favorite international pro on Blind and why?
Greg Lutzka, P.L.G, all of them.

Who are some of your other favorite skateboarders of all time?
All of us cats, we all representing.

What are your favorite spots to skate and why?
Germiston Lake, H-Street, Museum.

Which skate vid do you think was the best this year and why?
Plankie and Emerica “Stay Gold”.

What do you get up to when you’re not skating?
Partying, blazin’ and bullshit I guess.

What you looking forward to for 2011?
Skating always, having fun, life is too short, thanks to all.

Name: Dean Marais
Hometown: Edenvale
Age: 21
Years skating: 9 Years
Sponsors: Blind, Osiris, Ironfist Clothing

How do you feel about being 1 of the 5 Team Search winners?
I’m really excited! It’s a huge opportunity for me, never expected to be chosen. The other Team Search guys are really good but I’m grateful for being chosen, its something I’ve always wanted and skated for – the feelings really overwhelming.

Who is your favorite international pro on Blind and why?
Ronnie Creager for sure! He’s got so much talent and style with a unique bag of tricks that really make you want to go shred on your board!

Who are some of your other favorite skateboarders of all time?
Ryan Decenzo, P Rod, Matt Miller, Alex Musiruv and P.J Ladd.

What are your favorite spots to skate and why?
Don’t really have a specific favourite spot as long as I skate new places to get myself into skatemode. I usually roll at Vale Park, they have good things to skate and create as well as Festival Mall Skate Park.

Which skate vid do you think was the best this year and why?
Well D.C, Roll Forever I rate… Matt Miller and Greg Myers amp me up – they’ve got mad skills and style!

What do you get up to when you’re not skating?
When I’m not skating??? Ha Ha! Working, being with friends and my girl, generally just living the life, attending parties or social gatherings.

What you looking forward to for 2011?
I’m looking forward to skating and representing Blind and my other sponsors, got a good feeling about skating next year. Would like to travel in September if the cash flow works, also looking forward to a fresh start and new year with lots of exciting stuff ahead! Besides that, just all round happy, positive living and learning!!! HAPPY SKATEBOARDING!

Name: Jean-marc Johannes
Hometown: Cape Town
Age: 19
Years skating: 9 years
Sponsors: Almost, DVS, Sport Unlimited, Volcom and Red Bull.

How do you feel about being 1 of the 5 Team Search winners?
I feel very very lucky, every one that has skated with me knows that this is a dream come true. Being a part of the team search events has been very motivational for me. I’m very very excited and I look forward to the future, representing Almost.

Who is your favorite international pro on Almost and why?
Chris Haslam, for me his ideas and trick combinations are just brilliant. Even if he does something that you have never seen before, his natural style makes the trick look like their is no other way to do it. Skateboarding is about having fun and in every video part I’ve seen of him, it shows that he is having fun, no matter what he is skating.

Who are some of your other favorite skateboarders of all time?
Guy Mariano, Luan de Oliviera, Alex Mizurov, Bastien Salabanzi, David Gonzales and Curren Caples.

What are your favorite spots to skate and why?
H-street in Cape Town, marble ledges of all sizes just lined up in a row. It’s good for filming, pics and just going out to have a good time. Skaters rock up by the dozen on weekends and everybody is just having fun either skating, chilling, filming or progressing. It’s the place to be in Cape Town.

Which skate vid do you think was the best this year and why?
For me, I would have to say Emerica “Stay Gold”, I was just very amped to see new footage of those guys especially Templeton. The team is still super good and stylish and always will be. God bless Emerica.

What do you get up to when you’re not skating?
Song writing, band practise, gigs, chillin’ with my girlfriend and friends, Xbox and hanging out at skate spots with all my friends.

What you looking forward to for 2011?
For skating, I’m looking forward to representing Almost in the new year. I was given a spot in this year and next years DAM AM contest but I was looking at entering next years one so I’m very excited about going there and skating that contest. Also looking forward to Maloof in SA. Myself along with my band The Plague are also looking at releasing more tracks next year with a music video, we just released a track on the compilation album “Hammer The Masses”. My mind has opened up more with regards to music, so many new ideas will be put to in to play with my music and skateboarding.

Check out more photos HERE.