The tour stars Mark Appleyard and Chris Haslam, two of the top professional skateboarders in the world, who are both sponsored by tour partner Globe, a major skate footwear company in the U.S.  Skate fans will enjoy live skate demos, street skating with professional U.S. skateboarders and meet and greets throughout the series of stops.

The Globe Pro Tour is part of the “Skateboarding for Hope,” a 10-month tour and outreach program across the Provinces of South Africa, which was established to promote skateboarding as a positive, active lifestyle for youth, contribute to education and build healthy communities.

“When we decided on Kimberley over several other cities to host the first ever international Maloof Money Cup event, we wanted to give back even more than we do in the U.S.” said Joe Maloof, Maloof Skateboarding founder. “The Skateboarding for Hope tour is an important part of our global initiative to benefit the communities we touch and promote skateboarding as a healthy, positive activity for kids around the world.”

Supported by the Northern Cape Province as one of its corporate governance initiatives, the Maloof Money Cup will play an important role in positioning the province as the premier adventure sports destination in the country.  According to CEO of Northern Cape Tourism Authority Sharron Lewis, the event will also support youth development, skills transfer, job creation and have a significant economic impact on local communities.

“Although the event will turn the global media spotlight on the Northern Cape, it will also leave a lasting legacy for the youth of the country through its Skateboarding for Hope initiative.  Over the next couple of months, this outreach program will be going places and reach across the provinces of South Africa to offer the younger generation an alternative lifestyle that is an accessible and cost-effective leisure activity,” said Lewis.

GLOBAL PRO TOUR Schedule of Events

SATURDAY APRIL 23, 12AM - Sport Unlimited Ramp Demo, South Palms Centre, Tokai
SUNDAY APRIL 24, 11AM - Signing at Boogaloos, Century City
SUNDAY APRIL 24, 2PM – Skate Demo at Stellenbosch Son Skatepark, Stellenbosch
TUESDAY APRIL 26, 1PM - Signing at Revolution Shop, Street Skate at H-Street, Cape Town
WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 1PM –Skate Demo at Durbanville Skatepark, Durbanville
SATURDAY APRIL 30- Skate Demo at Festival Mall Skatepark, Johannesburg

“Globe is excited to be involved in the promotion of skateboarding in South Africa,” said Steve Black, skate marketing manager for Globe International Ltd. “The South African skate scene is healthy and thriving and with the Maloof Money Cup putting on their first international event there, it’s only going to get stronger.”

About Maloof Skateboarding

Maloof Skateboarding (www.maloofskateboarding.com) produces the Maloof Money Cup.  Presented by Vans, the Maloof Money Cup is the world’s greatest skateboarding event and the premiere showcase for amateur and professional skateboarding. The Maloof Money Cup hosted two events last year, one in Orange County, Calif. and expanded to Queens, New York, building a world-class skate park that was donated to the community after the contest.  In 2011, the Maloof Money Cup hosts three U.S. contests, returning to Queens, NY June 4-5 and Orange County, Calif. plus a new host city, Washington, D.C., on Labor Day weekend, September 3-4.  In addition to the U.S. contests, for the first time, the Maloof Money Cup expands internationally with the first ever Maloof Money Cup World Skateboarding Championships in Kimberley, South Africa, September 30 – Oct 2.  Join our online community to share the competition experience with a global audience and be the first to know about exciting upcoming MMC announcements. Go to www.southafrica.maloofmoneycup.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter:  @MMC_SAfrica.