Some unusual skateboarding history from 1970’s South Africa. The Mother of all kicktails. Thanks to Mark Tulleken for the pics.

Longtime Skate and Annoy readers might remember Dallas Oberholzer from the 2005 interview we published on the South African skate scene. While we’re officially ambivalent about skateboarding in the Olympics, it’s our pleasure to see him going there. Dallas gets around. We first ran into him in 2004 at the Oregon Trifecta contest series. Source: 947 – Photo @dallasaffrica

Eden Village Bike & Bordercross track located in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Looks super fun, although I wonder whether chose asphalt instead of concrete. Price, most likely. Images and photos after the jump. [Source: Longboardism] – Via Michael Brooke

It’s a weird, weird world we live in, where Mercedes Benz thinks it advantageous to make “a beautifully filmed video pitting man against machine these unlikely four-wheeled allies tango at high-speed on the majestic Franschhoek Pass in the Western Cape.” Are they targeting the desire of older rich males to be associated with speed, youth and danger? It was filmed for Mercedes Benz South Africa, which might explain why there’s no “Do not try this” warning at the bottom of the screen for dumb Americans. There is a “filmed under controlled conditions” message at the end. The rider is Decio Lourenco, and you can read more on Mercedes Benz Life. Because apparently owning a Mercedes Benz is a lifestyle, and not a sport. – Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.

The Maloof Money Cup is leaving permanent skate structures on each stop of their tour. This facility is scheduled to be built in South Africa by California Ramp Works. The mini mega ramp isn’t going to stay, but the vert ramp and street course will remain. Interestingly enough, I recently heard from a contract employee of the Maloof Money Cup that they let a bunch of people go due to an alleged… money shortage. True or not, this is some good news for the South African scene. Between skatepark donations and alternative construction methods, this is like the arms race of arena skatepark extravaganzas.

Die Antwoord is not a German hip hop tribute to Adam Ant, rather a freaky hip hop crew from Cape Town, South Africa. A liitle bit Flava Flav and a lot of Gummo. These guys make some crazy videos. Sure they try too hard, but it’s still riveting. The video for Evil Boy features a sculptural figure on a skateboard and a lot of phalluses. Guest African rapper tackles the ritual of forced circumcision that many tribal adolescents have to go through to become “men” in the eyes of their tribe. [See discussion here] These guys are kind of a train wreck, but it’s fascinating. Lead male vocalist Ninja sometimes looks like Joe Strummers’ long lost hillbilly brother. Still, I prefer the Stiv Bators song Evil Boy. – Thanks to MC for the tip. Yeah, he’s that hip.

This week’s Shot of the Week is an excuse to link to Michael Goetz’ gallery of skate photos from his ongoing residence in South Africa. He’s been there for about five months. Aside from visiting family, he’s working on planning the first bowl in Cape Town. Check out his South Africa gallery, or head on down to the Shot of the Week.

It’s old news, but it’s good news. Tony Hawk was in South Africa skating with the locals, and I mean the Zulu locals, which was coincidentally an early name for the Ramp Locals in a working version of the Thrashin’ script. Tony was there in conjunction with Laureus World Sports Academy in order to attend a launch for an Indigo Youth Movement project, whose goal is to “to help young people in rural communities develop life skills and confidence through skateboarding.” Who started the IYM? Why, our old friend Dallas Oberholzer. This isn’t Tony’s first involvement with youth skateboarding in Africa. Birdhouse and the Tony Hawk Foundation have sent boxes of product to the Uganda Skateboard Union, including skateboards and shoes. It’s true. I’ve seen the pictures on the Interwebs™. I just can’t find them. [Photo: Patrick Royal for Laureus]