BUCKiT® #13-Sal Masekela: Voice of Action Sports

Selema “Sal” Masekela is the voice of action sports. He is best known for his work presenting NBC’s Red Bull Signature Series and ESPN’s Summer and Winter X Games as well as working as a National Geographic correspondent. Sal is also a journalist, producer, and musician. He is the son of the late great Jazz icon Hugh Ramapolo Masekela, who’s entire life was the definition of activism and resistance. Hugh Masekela stood for justice, freedom, and equality for all. It was Hugh Masekela’s deep seeded beliefs that lead to one of the greatest adventures of Sal’s life – going on the road for 3 months as a roadie, during a controversial trip to South Africa in the midst of Apartheid for the Paul Simon Graceland Tour. Sal has broken many stereotypes throughout his life and career and through it all, he remains true to himself. Standing up on a surfboard in the whitewash close to shore for the very first time may not sound like a life changing moment for a man known as the voice of action sports, but for this X Games host, it was as extreme for him as anything he had ever covered on television. Sal tossed aside preconceived notions about who belongs where, what boundaries and stereotypes might exist in action sports, and he pursued his new passion with reckless abandon. His goal is to inspire teens, who are the most vulnerable, to believe in themselves through action sports. In this humorous and insightful interview, Sal shares the lessons he learned from his parents and how he believes that by staying true to himself, he was able to open doors he never thought possible.