Watch as Tony Hawk skates into Germiston

It was anything but a quiet Sunday at Germiston Lake as skateboarders and enthusiasts flocked to the Germiston Bowl to catch a glimpse of Tony Hawk.

Word of his visit to South Africa spread like wild-fire across social media after Hawk tweeted his involvement in a local project on Wednesday.

The legendary skater has partnered with non-profit organisation Skateistan and WeChat.

Hawk was part of the ground-breaking launch of the Skateistan South Africa skate school in Johannesburg.

The school will offer free after school education programmes mixed with skateboarding classes and caters for children from five to 17 years old.

The local community has responded well to the school which officially opened on Saturday, with more than 200 students already registered.

Hawk arrived to a roar of applause from fans.

Before heading to the Germiston Bowl half-pipe, where he was joined by Shawn Hale, David Loy and Thalente Biyela, Hawk took time to greet fans and sign a few autographs.

The crowd, both young and old, were treated to an hour-long display in which Hawk showcased his signature skills and injured his shin in the process.

(Below video taken by Peter Carson)

“Thanks to all the supporters for making skateboarding and education for youth empowerment a reality here in South Africa,” said Hawk.