After skating nearly 5 900km across Africa, Los Angeles-born skateboarder Jason Vanporppal rolled into Cape Town on Monday, May 25, as part of a journey to help build Uganda’s first permanent skatepark.
The 26-year-old began his expedition in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, travelling south through multiple African countries to raise awareness and funds for Uganda’s growing skateboarding community, where many young skaters still lack access to dedicated facilities and safe public spaces to practise the sport.
The final stop was at the City Bowl Skatepark in Cape Town, where local skaters and supporters welcomed him following months on the road.
The campaign is aimed at helping establish Uganda’s first permanent public skatepark - a project the skaters say could create opportunities for youth development, creative expression, and safer recreational spaces in their communities.
Along the way, Vanporppal relied on support from local communities, fellow skateboarders, and supporters across the continent, documenting their experiences and encounters during the cross-country journey.
The skater said the initiative was about more than just sport. Through skateboarding, he hopes to inspire young Africans to pursue alternative creative cultures while building connections between communities across borders.
In a video shared on TikTok by Vanporppal, Jason was welcomed by scores of children and adults as he passed through Laingsburg on Wednesday, May 21, with residents running alongside him and cheering from the roadside. Passing motorists hooted in support as the Ugandan skater continued his 5 900km journey to Cape Town.
“This is so beautiful, I’m speechless,” he said in the video. “This is the most I’ve ever seen so many people coming out to support me. It represented more than me pushing through the town- it represented South Africa, love, and what people can do to support.”
Cape Town, home to one of Africa’s most visible skateboarding scenes, marks the final destination of the expedition. Their arrival is expected to bring together members of the local skating community in solidarity with the Ugandan initiative.
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