A Unique Joburg Tour: Skateboarding Marshalltown
It’s never too late to learn something new, right? Well, that’s what I told myself and my two friends who I convinced to join me on a downtown Joburg city skateboarding tour.
Millennials will fondly remember Avril Lavigne singing “He was a skater boy. She said to him, “Later, boy.” And trust me, you’ll feel like a skater boy after a skateboarding lesson with City Skate Tours. I sure did. All I needed was 200% more eyeliner and baggy pants for my transformation to be complete.
Say hi to my friends Bridgete and Joyce!
The Basics
- R350
- 2 hours
- Book the Marshalltown Tour online
- Ayanda runs City Skate Tours and he is so much fun to hang out with!
Safety with City Skate Tours
There were only a few cars on the road the Saturday morning we did our tour. All the cars were patient with us, and no one honked. The roads we went on were wide and smooth. I especially liked the roads with a slight downhill that gave me momentum to skate.
City Skate Tour provides knee pads, elbow pads, and fingerless gloves. I felt protected!
My favorite road on the tour beccause it was one-way, wide, and empty.
Who is skateboarding for?
Literally anyone. Even people with bad balance (like me) will find it fun. Ayanda assured me that there have rarely been any falls on the tour. Even if you feel like you’ll fall, you probably catch yourself before you land on the ground. I felt like I was going to fall three separate times but all was fine.
Learn how to skateboard
Ayanda wants to make skateboarding relatable to everyone; you don’t need to be doing tricks in a skatepark. Instead, adventurers will learn on the streets of Joburg because that’s real life. And it makes sense! As you skate, you will occassionally be with cars and people on the road, so you just gotta be aware of this from the beginning.
Ayanda and Mike are so incredibly patient. Both have worked with kids, teaching them how to skateboard with the organization Skateistan. If you didn’t know (like me), Stakeistan is a “state-of-the-art concrete skatepark and three-story education centre, with flexible office and classroom space. Programs run five days a week in the afternoon for children to attend after they have been to public school.”
Honestly, we were probably slower than kids—they are usually fearless. I felt too high off the ground.
Getting started on the streets of Marshalltown.
Say hi to Mike and Ayanda! If you’re really slow (like us), Mike may amuse you by doing some cool skateboarding tricks!
The Marshalltown Skate Tour
The Marshalltown Skate tour is a 2-hour experience that starts across from the popular restaurant and bar, Town Treasure, on Gandhi Square.
There is some street parking right by Town Treasure, but I always find it best to Uber to this area. Your Uber may get lost if they aren’t familiar with the one way streeets downtown. It’s easiest to pull up the Google Maps on your phone and help direct at the end.
You’ll spend at least 20 minutes learning how to maneuver on your skateboard before heading down the street to start your Marshalltown Joburg tour.
Ayanda and Mike will guide you from Town Treasure to the Rand Club, Beyers Naude Square, and the Johannesburg Central Magistrate’s Court—you’ll stop along the way at several other points of interest. Even though I’ve been around these areas before, I learned so much not only about the history of the buildings and historical figures, but also quirky facts about them.
Be sure to ask what entrance number 97 means at the Rand Club… You’ll have to go on the tour to find out.
Although our Marshalltown Joburg tour was technically only supposed to be 2 hours, we were slow and luckily Ayanda and Mike had time to extend. The tour was a lot of fun. I never thought I would ever skateboard in my life but I’m so glad that I tried something new. There is no pressure or self-consciousness as you learn because you’ll be too busy laughing and trying to concentrate on the board at the same time.
Town Treasure
Get lunch and a drink at Town Treasure after your skateboarding Joburg tour. Town Treasure has incredible food and is set in an old bank vault. It’s one of the most unique dining spots in Joburg.
Other Joburg Tours with City Skate Tours
There are lots of interesting street art areas and buildings as you skateboard around.
Did I convince you to go skateboarding? I hope so! Let me know of any other questions in the comments.