Skateboarding Brings Hope & Purpose to Rural South Africa

"We are skateboarders because we want to live a life that is cool and awesome."

This statement could have been overheard at one of Southern California's many skate parks, and it could have been spoken by a young little grommet who splits his time between skating and surfing. What makes this statement unique, however, is that a young South African boy from rural Durban said it. 

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Action sports' ability to connect and empower is often overlooked or underplayed. Never is this power more on display and evident than in "Valley of Thousand Hills", an immensely powerful short film from Jess Colquhoun. In it, she explores what skateboarding has meant to a group of friends in this rural community. It has given them a culture, a language, but most importantly hope and purpose in a community where these are severely lacking.