Pro- Skater | Lesego Gareth

Meet Lesego, the Industrial Engineering student by day and skateboarding powerhouse by... well, also by day. Hailing from the Northern Cape but raised in Pretoria, Lesego has turned his passion for skateboarding into a movement. As the founder of LES Skate Pretoria, he's on a mission to spread the culture and create opportunities for skaters everywhere.

When he's not hitting the streets or organizing events, he's hustling to build his own businesses. With a contagious energy and a drive that's impossible to ignore, Lesego is one to watch.

Words Khaya Mnisi

I’m originally from the Northern Cape, but I grew up in Pretoria, so that’s really where my story and my journey with skating started. I’d say I’m a pretty ambitious person — I’m currently studying Industrial Engineering at the University of TT, but outside of school I’m a skateboarder, event organizer, and entrepreneur. I just try to stay grounded, grateful, and keep pushing to build something meaningful for the culture and the community around me.

Going back, what was your childhood like? Were you always into skating?

My childhood was soft and innocent — I was exposed to PlayStation from a really young age, so I used to spend hours playing FIFA with my older brother. But even with that, I was always the type of kid who wanted to be outside, moving around, exploring. That’s actually how I got introduced to skateboarding — just being out there, seeing people skate, and getting curious enough to try it myself.

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Who are your influences in life? Who inspires you?

Definitely my mom — she’s been my biggest influence. She’s the one who taught me to go after what I want and to never let my circumstances stop me or break my focus. Beyond that, I draw a lot of inspiration from people who are passionate about what they do. Sometimes I’ll see someone online who’s completely locked in on their craft, and that kind of energy pushes me to go even harder in what I do.

When did you launch LES Skate Pretoria?

We actually got started in 2020, but we didn’t officially call it LES Skate Pretoria until 2021. Back in 2020, we were just celebrating Go Skate Day, and the energy was amazing — people really connected with how we organized everything and the vibe we created. That response is what sparked the idea to turn it into something more official, and that’s how LES Skate was born.

How would you describe the current state of skate parks in Pretoria?

I actually love where skateboarding in Pretoria is right now. These days, I can’t drive anywhere without seeing someone holding a skateboard or doing a trick — and that’s really inspiring for me. It’s become normal to be a skater here, and that’s something I’m really proud of. It shows how far the culture has come and how much it continues to grow.

What has the skateboarding community done for you that you’re grateful for?

Bro, definitely — the skateboarding community has shown me a lot of love. When I was coming up, I always wanted to belong, to have purpose, and to be part of something that really mattered. Once I found that through skateboarding, everything started making sense. The community gave me support, strength, and motivation to keep pushing and creating. Honestly, skateboarding turned my childhood dreams into reality.

You're hosting the first-ever Skateboarding Market in Pretoria, which is more than just an event - “it's part of a bigger movement to advocate for a public skatepark in the capital city. With that goal in mind, and with the usual funding challenges in mind, what other ways are you planning to explore if plan A doesn’t work?

Definitely. Like I said, skateboarding has grown rapidly here in the capital city, and our next step is to introduce it as a sport that can be part of school programs — something kids can do as an extracurricular activity. We’ve started approaching schools to see how we can bring skating into their spaces, giving learners something active and creative to do even after school.

By building those smaller skate spots within schools, we’re also creating a network of safe places to skate — and over time, that can attract support and resources. Eventually, that approach can help us raise enough to build our own skatepark, instead of relying entirely on corporate sponsors or government funding.

What is the future outlook for LES Skate as a brand?

LES Skate is definitely not just for Pretoria. The goal has always been to expand and have LES represented across South Africa — and eventually across Africa. We want to connect with cities and communities that welcome the culture and give us space to grow.

We also want to host events that bring international skaters and advocates to the capital city, creating exchanges that inspire both sides. Long term, the dream is to travel across Africa, share the LES Skate energy everywhere we go, and keep inspiring people through what we do.

Outside of LES Skate, what are you focused on?

Outside of LES Skate, my plans are focused on establishing myself as an entrepreneur and businessman. Skateboarding has given me a lot of freedom — I’m not confined to a building or a schedule, and I really value that independence. I want to sustain that lifestyle by building my own businesses.

Right now, I’m running my own hair salon and a tech shop, and in the future, I’d love to expand into rentals and other ventures. The goal is to establish myself and build a name for myself beyond LES Skate, creating a foundation I can continue to grow and innovate from.

You’re skating for the whole day — what shoes are you wearing, and what album are you listening to?

Of course, I’m skating in Converse — that’s my go-to for every session. And if I’m skating the whole day, I’m definitely listening to Tyler, The Creator. I really connect with his music because it inspires me to be creative and to express myself without limits — just like skateboarding does.

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