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Contest caps are on the shelf for the moment as the Adams brothers along with TJ Rogers and Mikey Mendoza are road tripping to Cape Town after KDC. From Bloem they’re hitting the Gariep Dam, on to Graaff Reinet, PE and down to the Mother City taking in George and Mossel Bay. A week of ‘culture’ and skating for skating’s sake. We caught up with 18-year-old Aussie Mendoza as he sat down to a post session braai in Bloem.
Have you been to SA before?
No, this is my first trip to South Africa. I didn’t quite know what to expect and even through the long haul flight – 14 hours – kept wondering what it would be like. I always try to keen an open mind, I try not to build things up too much and then disappoint myself. That obviously hasn’t happened here though! I kind of feel like travelling with an open mind creates more of a positive experience.
Is it a bit tricky to understand our brand of English here?
I’ve heard a lot of the accents before because I’ve had friends from South Africa who I studied with at school, so it’s been cool.
So far, how’s it been?
I thought it would be kind of a safari really, with wild animals everywhere. No really…haha! In terms of the countryside however, it’s very similar to Australia in terms of the landscape. I’ve said that about 1000 times to Moses and Allan – the red dirt, the terrain, everything is very similar. Except that dryness, that’s killing me slowly – I’m struggling to deal with that.
What are you most looking forward to?
Ah, the new skate spots and meeting new people for sure. That has already proven successful after just one day on the this trip. The shark cage diving and bungy jumping is just going to blow my mind. Also, Cape Town is definitely going to be a place I want to see. I’ve seen photos and nearly lost my mind – it looks like every part of a city you’d want to have: beautiful mountains, lush ocean…very much different to Kimberly and Bloem-how-do-you-pronounce-it…
What’s it like travelling with Moses and Allan?
They’re super good! I swear Moses is woken me up most mornings, already dressed, probably busted out seven tricks and filmed them all. They’re very good people and are looking after me. Where Moses is the beast and won’t stand down for anything, Allan is more quiet and reserved but strong for sure. I think that’s awesome.
Who’s the laziest on the trip?
Most probably me…haha! No, I’m not going to point fingers, everyone is amped on the trip!
Who’s the most hyperactive on the trip?
Definitely TJ. But in the best way possible – that hype he carries definitely rubs off on the rest of the crew and gets everyone super amped. He just has this amazing kind stoke whenever we rock up to a new spot and it just gets everyone going – the filmers, photographers, everyone… You need that guy on a trip!
Are people making fun of your accent?
Definitely! As soon as I tell people that I’m from Australia they go ‘ah, well duh. Of course you are.’ It’s cool though, makes me a bit different and the trip just a bit more of a challenge. I’m trying to pick up a bit of Afrikaans though. My accent is making it near impossible to speak it…
Anything you’d like to add?
Ah man, I’m just so stoked to be in South Africa! And to be skating along side guys of such a high level. And guys who have already made it big, like TJ. I’m proud of where I’m at and just want to work towards having a long career and inspiring as many people as I can, both on this trip and in the future.
Follow the Red Bull Grassroots skate tour here.
Words and photos: Tyrone Bradley/ Red Bull Content Pool
