Sunday in South Africa: Kimberley Diamond Cup and Tourist Mission

We started Sunday off with an early morning safari before having to get to work. This meerkat is Insta famous now.

He's a household pet at the owner's house that took us out on his land to see giraffes, bush pigs, random varmit, and things with horns.

Over at the Contest, Ryan Clements recycles his old stuff by bringing large, checked baggage full of gear to give out to the kids here. They're so appreciative it's amazing. As I was walking back to the hotel, a group of kids said, "We don't skate, but we want to so bad. Can we have your skateboard?" My heart melted and I gave it to them. Check the footage in my cell phone edit.

Neal Hendrix brought a bunch of extra gear, too. This kid has a nice upgrade on that "center cart in the mall" shirt.

There's a full on festival next to the contest going on all weekend. These dudes are peeling potatoes and making fresh fries.

Neal's passing out the Woodward gear, too. Catch Damn Am Woodward West next week if you're around Tehachapi.

Congrats to Braxton Hane for winning the South African Am Street Contest today.

I caught Felipe in my arms after he caught this frontside flip over the rail.

Micky Papa warming up with a tucked switch ollie.

In the brackets, Nyjah Huston skated nearly his entire four minute Jams with no falls. That's a nollie noseblunt slide.

Matt Berger hooks up the hyped kids. These are some of the most live and excited crowds we've ever seen.

Louie Lopez shocked a lot of people this weekend when they realized how he grew a foot and was skating so much better than he already was. That's a fakie hurricane.

Jeff Pang with Porpe, who announced his first contest this weekend with pros and top ams. He's on his way to becoming a well rounded media personality from shooting photos to entertaining you on the mic.

I don't think Porpe's Monster cup has Monster in it.

Nyjah changed shirts a few times during the Finals.

I had to pause for a photo with the trophy girls.

Jagger and Jett Eaton with the locals.

The media frenzy at the awards.

Congrats Nyjah on a one million Rand payday.

Thanks to the people from Kuba Iron Ore for backing the event.

Right after the awards, we've got an interesting and wacky performance by this doll.

Her Asian backup dancers make it legit.

Afterwards, it's kicking it in the lobby looking sophisticated with James Craig and Mike Anderson.

Ryan Clements, James Hardy, and Peter aka Shak. Years ago when this was a Maloof series and we were in the planning stages of all these events, Shak suggested the head to head format for the Finals. We've been using it ever since and it has produced some amazing skating and very entertaining progress in the Finals for all of us skateboard spectators.

Our big dinner after the Contest is over is at the Kimberley Club, one of the best meals we've had over the years here.

The Kimberley Club has some amazing history to it. Up until fairly recently, women were not allowed in this dudes only chill out zone.

I think they're still excluding women from the pool room these days.

It's manly as hell in here with heads like this all around the walls.

Next door is the smoking room where men retire to have conversation probably about the women not allowed in here.

A nice contraption that allows for easy replacement and/or cleaning of the stair carpeting.

It's got a real fancy feel to it here, but a full dinner with beers and all the extras is no more than about $15. This is one of the few places we travel to that isn't expensive.

Paul Zitzer on the golf course size pool tables.

James Hardy in front of a lot of green before dinner.

Porpe got the deer or something.

The dimly lit dining room was our private room to discuss all things skateboarding. The diversity of the table led to some of the best commentary you'll ever hear. We had business dudes like Clem and I, pros like Mike Anderson and James Hardy, ex pros and skate nerds like Jason Rothmeyer and James Craig, skateboard sophisticates like Paul Zitzer, and even a pro vert skater, Andy MacDonald. Thanks for the good times, ya'll.

Pause for a food fetish.

Happy is our driver and one damn good dude helping us get around in Kimberley year after year here.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Nyjah and his girl are buying everyone shots at the bar.

The replay from the live TV broadcast is on in the bar. That's pretty damn cool to watch the results of your work later that night while you're hanging out with everyone that made it happen.

There's also a pool table in the bar where Jett and Dlamini are getting to know each other.

Paul Zitzer is giving some kind of judging perspective to Greg Lutzka and Marcelo Bastos.

Jared Lucas aka #asstotrick hits the keyboard and the bottles at the same time. Check out his edits of Build Skateboarding on the Ride Channel.

We had a long layover in Johannesburg but they sure make it nice in the lounge with free drinks and captain's chairs like this.

On the morning of the Contest, Mike Anderson, James Hardy, and Silas Baxter-Neal had an opportunity to go skate a ditch spot. They ended up getting stuck there and missed the entire contest. They were all in Heat number nine. So, to take the joke extra far over the top, we've been giving them hell about Heat Nine. Now there's an Insta account called @heat_nine with hashtags like #heat9life. We're in the Delta Skylounge on a really long layover in Johannesburg were Heat Nine is kicking it big timer style. What a weekend. Thanks, everyone!