World Skateboarding Grand Prix

World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSPG) is a skateboarding event management company that was founded by CEO Tim McFerran in 2013. WSGP is based in Sacramento, California.{{cite web|title=About WSGP|url=http://www.worldskateboarding.com/home/wsgp/|publisher=World Skateboarding Grand Prix|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

McFerran previously served as Vice President at Maloof Skateboarding and ran the Maloof Money Cup World Championships from 2008 to 2012.{{cite web|title=Tim McFerran from World Skateboarding|url=http://theboardr.com/photo/Tim_McFerran_from_World_Skateboarding|publisher=The Boardr|accessdate=7 February 2014}}{{cite news|last=Eliot|first=Ashley|title=Tim McFerran|url=http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Cover_Hot25_13Tim_McFerran_1109.aspx|accessdate=7 February 2014|newspaper=OC Metro|date=November 1, 2009}}{{cite web|last1=Sorich|first1=Sonya|title=Tim McFerran, CEO, World Skateboarding Grand Prix|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2014/11/14/tim-mcferran-ceo-world-skateboarding-grand-prix.html|publisher=Sacramento Business Journal|accessdate=16 December 2014}} In 2009, McFerran was named one of the “Hot 25” “best and brightest business professionals” in the Orange County, California region by OC METRO.

File:KDC 2015 street.jpg

The 2013, 2014 and 2015 Kimberley Diamond Cup World Skateboarding Championships were produced by World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP) and presented in partnership with the Northern Cape Provincial Government and Kumba Iron Ore, the fourth-largest iron ore producer in the world and the largest in Africa.{{cite web|title=Over 40 Countries to Vie for Skateboarding's Most Prestigious Title|date=7 October 2015 |url=http://www.kimberley.org.za/skateboarding-world-champions-now-kdc/|publisher=The City of Kimberley|accessdate=9 November 2016}}{{cite web|last=Staniforth|first=Ralph|title=Kimberley Diamond Cup brings hope to the Northern Cape youth|url=http://www.leadershipinsport.co.za/articles/Kimberley-Diamond-Cup-brings-hope-to-the-Northern-Cape-youth-8959.html|publisher=Leadership in Sport|accessdate=7 February 2014}} The open skateboarding competitions were held at the Kumba Skate Plaza in Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa.{{cite web|last=Kanights|first=Bryce|title=Kimberley Diamond Cup This Weekend|url=http://skatedaily.net/2013/09/25/kimberley-diamond-cup-this-weekend/|publisher=SKATEDAILY.net|accessdate=7 February 2014}}{{cite news|last=Gedye|first=Lloyd|title=Skating on thin air|url=http://www.citypress.co.za/features/skating-thin-air/|accessdate=7 February 2014|newspaper=City Press|date=October 8, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Kimberley Diamond Cup Live Broadcast|url=http://www.kimberleydiamondcup.com/live-webcast/|publisher=kimberleydiamondcup.com|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

The Kimberley Diamond Cup replaced the Maloof Money Cup World Championships, held in 2011 and 2012.{{cite news|last=du Plessis|first=Hettie|title=New International Skateboarding Competition to Replace Maloof Money Cup|url=http://kathugazette.com/articles/2013/08/29/new-international-skateboarding-competition-replace-maloof-money-cup|accessdate=7 February 2014|newspaper=Kathu Gazette|date=August 29, 2013}} The event was named in homage to Kimberley’s history as the location of the first diamond mine in South Africa, and for its reputation as "The Diamond City."{{cite web|last=Luphahla|first=Zandisile|title=Kimberley Diamond Cup a thriller|url=http://thenewage.co.za/108267-1015-53-Kimberley_Diamond_Cup_a_thriller|publisher=The New Age|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

Prize money for the Kimberley Diamond Cup World Skateboarding Championships was $250,000 and the total prize purse was $500,000, the largest single-event purse in skateboarding.{{cite web|title=Kimberley Diamond Cup|url=http://www.redbull.com/us/en/skateboarding/events/1331611528666/kimberley-diamond-cup|publisher=RedBull.com|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

The Kimberley Diamond Cup events were webcast in 120 countries. SuperSport, the leading sports provider in South Africa, also broadcast the competitions.{{cite web|title=SuperSport remains top SA brand|url=http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Advertising/SuperSport-remains-top-SA-brand-20130709|publisher=fin24.com|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

During the summer of 2013, professional skateboarders Ryan Decenzo and Adam Dyet joined the WSGP’s Skateboarding for Hope tour in the Northern Cape Province and participated in skateboarding clinics and demonstrations in Kathu, Kuruman, Postmasburg and Kimberley.{{cite news|last=Paulsen|first=Christoline|title=Top Pro Skateboarders Join 'Skateboarding for Hope' Tour|url=http://kathugazette.co.za/articles/2013/09/26/top-pro-skateboarders-join-skateboarding-hope-tour|accessdate=7 February 2014|newspaper=Kathu Gazette|date=September 26, 2013}}{{cite web|title=SKATE for HOPE TOUR Dates|url=http://www.africaskate.com/2013/07/skate-for-hope-tour-dates/|publisher=Africa Skate|accessdate=7 February 2014}}

WSGP also conducted coaching clinics throughout South Africa, gave away skateboards, and employed a full-time skateboarding coach at the Kumba Skate Plaza.

WSGP partnered with a South African project management company to deliver the Kimberley Diamond Cup.

In 2014, WSGP produced the Rider Cup NYC team skateboarding competition in New York City.{{cite web|title=Event Recap: Rider Cup NYC Finals Contest|date=18 August 2014 |url=http://www.nyskateboarding.com/2014/08/event-recap-rider-cup-nyc-finals-contest-part-1-2014/|publisher=NY Skateboarding|accessdate=16 December 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Simons|first1=Rachel|title=World Skateboarding Rider Cup New York Is Coming To All Five Boroughs|date=15 July 2014 |url=http://www.newyorkfamily.com/world-skateboarding-rider-cup-new-york-is-coming-to-all-five-boroughs/|publisher=New York Family Magazine|accessdate=16 December 2014}} Contests were held in New York’s five boroughs and finals were conducted at Lower East Side (LES) Coleman Skatepark. Winning teams from each borough (12 total) competed to win $10k plus an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa to compete in the Rider Cup World Championships at the 2014 Kimberly Diamond Cup.{{cite web|title=Skate Battle In The Boroughs :: Rider Cup NYC Finals|date=27 August 2014 |url=http://thehundreds.com/skate-battle-in-the-boroughs-rider-cup-nyc-finals/|publisher=The Hundreds|accessdate=16 December 2014}}

1. Soul Team (Brooklyn)
2. LES Bomb Squad (Manhattan)
3. Team Belief (Queens)

In October 2014, eight international 4-man teams of skateboarders competed in the Rider Cup Team Championship at KDC.{{cite web|title=2014 Rider Cup Team Championships At KDC|url=http://www.worldskateboarding.com/2014-rider-cup-team-championships-kdc/|publisher=World Skateboarding Grand Prix|accessdate=16 December 2014}} The South African team 4 Staxx won the $4000 prize purse.

1. {{flagicon|South Africa}} 4 Staxx, South Africa
2. {{flagicon|South Africa}} Get It Get It!, South Africa
3. {{flagicon|South Africa}} Clean Team, South Africa

In August 2014, WSGP announced plans to produce a Grand Slam series of skateboarding competitions in Turkey in 2015.{{cite web|title=Turkish Skateboarding Championships Coming May 2015|url=http://www.worldskateboarding.com/|publisher=World Skateboarding Grand Prix|accessdate=16 December 2014}} The events culminated in the inaugural Turkish Skateboarding Championships in Istanbul on May 31, 2015.{{cite web|title=World Skateboarding Grand Prix Announces Turkey Skateboarding Championships|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/world-skateboarding-grand-prix-announces-turkey-skateboarding-championships-1936165.htm|publisher=Marketwire|accessdate=16 December 2014}}

• [http://www.worldskateboarding.com World Skateboarding Grand Prix]
• [http://www.kimberleydiamondcup.com Kimberley Diamond Cup]

Category:Skateboarding competitions