Riding shotgun with Jean-Marc Johannes

We join worldrecord-breaking professional skateboarder Jean-Marc Johannes in a Land Rover Defender 90 to chat about this homegrown hero’s beginnings and future…

Words: Vann van Staden winewheelsandwatches Photos: Brandon Jacobs snapchangemedia

ollie,Pop Shove-It, Frontside 180, Kickflip, you name it, he can do it! Professional skateboarder and philanthropist Jean-Marc Johannes is a homegrown legend from the Cape Flats. He also holds a world record for the highest number (18) of Backside Big Spins, smashing

American Bob Dyrdek’s record of 12.

Jean-Marc’s passion for skateboarding started when he was 10 years old. Not long after, at 15, he was listed as one of the top 10 skateboarders in South Africa. His successful future was sealed. I got to hang with this skating prodigy and epic human on a day out with the Land Rover

Defender 90.

VANN Back in the day, I tried my hand at the odd Pop Shove-It and Ollie … okay, maybe I haven’t, but, in my defence, I have the balance of a drunk orangutang on the best of days. You, on the other hand, are on fire! How did you get into the sport of skateboarding?

JEAN-MARC I’m sure you can manage a trick or two with the proper guidance. I started skateboarding at the age of 10. I found an old skateboard that used to belong to my mother at our house. So that was pretty cool. And that’s where it all began.

VANN Your mom must be so proud. It’s incredible to see a prized possession handed down from generations. You had some health issues as a laaitie, and still today. How did you deal with that and persevere to become so successful in your sport?

JEAN-MARC I was a very sick child with asthma and didn’t think I would be able to do much on the active front. I set a goal for myself, and with much commitment, practice and determination, I managed to push through and get on top of my health without letting it get on top of me.

VANN No doubt you are arguably the best skateboarder in South Africa. You have taken this sport to the next level. You have broken seven world records! You’ve competed in the US, China, Europe and Indonesia – an incredible feat across the board and an excellent opportunity to travel the world. On top of that, you’re a Guinness World Record holder. What’s that noise about?

JEAN-MARC One of my heroes, American skateboarder Rob Dyrdek held the Guinness World Record for the most amount of consecutive Backside Big Spins. So I decided to aim high and go after his record. I broke his record of over a decade by nailing 18 of these moves. A Backside Big Spin is when the skateboard is rotated 360 degrees in the air, as you’re turning yourself 180 degrees to face the opposite side from where you started. It basically makes it look like you and your board are spinning around. It’s a combination of a Pop Shove-it and a Backside 180 Ollie.

VANN What’s next for you? What lies ahead for the future?

JEAN-MARC I’m very focused on building and growing my brand. I also have my own branded signature skateboarding pro-wheels available worldwide that keep me busy. My partnership with HMD Global as a brand ambassador also has me focused on filming, editing and sharing my skateboarding adventures using my Nokia X10. Loads of exciting content are still to come.

VANN I know you also like to give back and have many plans to support upliftment and community programmes.

JEAN-MARC I started a charity called Fill The Gap. It focuses on helping communities and motivating the youth in underprivileged areas. For me, it’s important to give back and, in addition, give hope to the youth. Inspiring young children and teaching them how to skate can really open their minds to endless opportunities.

We end the chat with him getting behind the wheel of the new Land Rover Defender 90. Smiles all around.

JEAN-MARC I could totally see myself owning one of these one day!

VANN Don’t we all? A

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 D300 X-DYNAMIC HSE AT

Price: R1 557 105 Engine: 3.0 L, 6-cyl, turbodiesel Transmission: 8-spd AT Driven wheels: 4 Power: 221 kW @ 4 000 r/min Torque: 650 Nm @ 1 500-2 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 6.7 seconds Top speed: 191 km/h Fuel consumption: 7.6 L/100 km CO2: 209 g/km

CATCH UP WITH JEAN-MARC'S DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: INSTAGRAM @JEANMARCSKATE