Kyalami resident Brando Valjalo is a master on a skateboard
KYALAMI – At only 21-years-old, Brandon Valjalo from Kyalami is the highest-ranking African skateboarder in the Olympic world rankings and will most likely compete at the Tokyo games.
At only three-years-old, Brandon Valjalo first stepped onto an old skateboard he found in the family garage. Now aged 21, he will most likely be representing South Africa in the sport at the upcoming Olympics in Japan.
The Kyalami resident, who also attended Dainfern College for a time during his school years, is currently ranked 50th overall in the Olympic world skateboard rankings, which means if he remains at his current ranking (or climbs higher) in the qualifying rounds he will compete at the renowned competition due to take place in Tokyo in July and August.
This is the first year in the history of the games that skateboarding will be an official event.
“My dad and brother used to skate, so I picked it up as a hobby,” he told the Fourways Review. “I started enjoying it more and more and first placed on the podium at competition when I was about nine or 10.
“I began taking it more seriously when I won the South African Championships in 2014, and I started thinking about the next step.”
Still a teenager, Valjaro competed in America before winning the last-ever South African Championships in 2016. In 2017 he was named the African champion and also took on the European skating circuit. Over the years, he has come to realise that far from a hobby or cultural activity, skating is an extremely demanding sport that requires discipline and commitment.
He added, “Skating definitely has a huge
impact on the body, complete with many injuries and scars. It’s important to stretch, stay fit, and eat healthy so your body is in good shape. A single bad injury can end your career right at its prime.
“I train for about seven or eight hours a day. I’ll go to a local skate park and work on tricks by just doing them over and over again. If out of every 10 attempts I get seven or eight right, I’ll know I’m probably ready for competition. But if it’s less than that, I’ll just keep doing it until I get it right.”
Valjalo is excited that skating will soon be included in the Olympics.
“I’m excited to see the sport enter the mainstream. I think it being in the Olympics this year means that it’s finally starting to breakthrough.
“I would like people to be more open to it. Skating is a great spectator sport and very entertaining to watch, and over the years I’ve seen a huge rise in the sport.”
Although Valjalo is excited to compete in the Olympics, he’s determined not to only walk away from the games with a participation medal.
“I’m a little overwhelmed and excited but also determined to reach the highest level I can possibly reach. I want the gold, and as they say, go big or go home,” he concluded.
Details: www.valjalo.co.za
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