Red Bull Manny Mania - Meet SA Skater, Jean-Marc Johannes

Manny mania gets underway here in South Africa on Saturday. I will be at the Cape event with camera in hand. Joining me for the day as your liason to the event, will be Cape Town skater and Red Bull team rider, Jean-Marc Johannes - or Johnny as he likes to be called. So meet the man and get inside his head...

Resides: Cape Town, South Africa
Sponsors: Red Bull, Almost Skateboards, DVS footwear, Volcom Clothing, Sport Unlimited Stores and TuneBug

Recent achievements:
- Placed top-three in Ultimate X Games and PRO X Games in 2010.
- Placed 1st in the Advanced Category in Spring Tide contests (2007-2010).
- Given a spot in 2010 and 2011 from DAMB AM Costa Mesa to compete in DAMB AM contests.
- Placed 1st at the Street Cred 2010 contest.
- Placed top-5 and 1st in Best Trick at the NSA Buck Tour 2005, at the age of 15.

This is huge. Wonder if he landed Manual?

Jean-Marc got into skating at a very young age. He was exposed to extreme sports as he grew up alongside BMX rider Buddy Chellan, but wasn’t sure what direction to take. Eventually his neighbourhood friends all started skating, and a fire was ignited. After almost a decade competing, Jean-Marc has risen to the top.

Johnny is from the streets of Cape Town.

“Skateboarding has given me many things,” reckons Jean-Marc, looking back. “It has made me realize that being happy is the most important thing in life. Skateboarding has given me a sense of direction, and a focus in life. It has helped me realize who I am.”
Jean-Marc is well known for thinking up new and crazy tricks, and more often than not, pulling them off. He explores concepts and ideas, and puts them into action; to the amazement of spectators and other skaters. Best Trick awards come his way, as well as accolades whenever he does something out of the ordinary.
Jean-Marc likes to compete against some of the best skateboarders; not just to be victorious, but to also learn so that he can to take his skateboarding to new heights.
The best thing about skateboarding, according to Jean-Marc, is the joy that it brings when he lands a new trick that, until that moment, has only been a visual in his mind.
Jean-Marc is also highly skilled in the forgotten art of switch, mastering most moves either regular or switch. He has a motto, ‘think fast, but move slow,’ which many people believe is the very reason why he hasn’t broken bones going for the massive moves he does. Also a skilled musician, when he’s not skating, Jean-Marc is on his guitar.

For more check out Craig Kolesky's Youtube