Sal Masekela

Sal Masekela
Host – Actor – Philanthropist – Athlete

Sal Masekela is quite possibly the most matchless talent of his kind. Currently, Sal is best known for his unique and witty hosting on E! Network’s The Daily 10. He also is very well known for hosting ESPN’s X-Games and participating in a season as one of NBA’s Friday night sideline commentators on ABC. Continuing to emerge as action sports & entertainment’s most sought after and engaging talent, Sal “Sal” Masekela is the consummate voice of action sports; and as a result the voice of Gen Y. In addition, Sal is emerging into the film and television world with projects such as lending his voice as an animated penguin announcer in Sony Pictures Feature Animation’s feature Surf’s Up and is currently producing two documentary films, one loosely based on his life.

A native of New York, Salema “Sal” Masekela honed his love of showmanship from an early age while touring the world with h is father, South African jazz great Hugh Masekela. Becoming an avid surfer, snowboarder and skater himself, Sal began his career answering phones at Transworld Media; the bible of action sports culture, and it was there that he soon found his voice and his niche. At Transworld, Sal not only rose to become the Assistant Producer of Transworld’s Snowboarding Video Magazine series, but also the MC for Board Aid; a music and action sports based AIDS education youth program.

Sal then went on to become the marketing director of Planet Earth, a clothing and skateboard company, and in 1998 helped launch the lifestyle apparel brand “Alphanumeric”. Alphanumeric quickly became the industry’s leading street and sports apparel line.

It wasn’t long before FOX Sports executives discovered Sal’s ability to draw a crowd, and in 1997 hired him to co-host the FOX Sports half-hour action lifestyle show “Board Wild”. MTV soon recognized Sal’s potential to connect sports, music and youth lifestyle culture together, and he quickly became the MTV action sports “go-to” guy. From 1998-2000 he co-hosted the ever-popular MTV Sports and Music Festival as well as MTV’s Board Blast. It was Sal’s debut in the 1998 snowboarding documentary Snow Taxi that attracted ESPN.  Sal was initially hired as a snowboarding sideline reporter for the 1998 and 1999 ESPN Winter X Games, and quickly became known for his ability to make action sports accessible to a more modern audience. He has since then gone on to host both the Winter and Summer X Games for the last two consecutive years, and has also appeared as commentator of such ESPN lifestyle programs as “The Life”, “X Today”, “X In Concert” and “Tony Hawk’s Giant Skatepark Tour 2000/2001.”

In addition to his reoccurring appearances, Sal has been a presenter and host for the following awards shows: Transworld Snowboarding Magazine’s Rider Poll Awards (1998-2001), The Surfrider Foundation’s Waterman’s Ball (2001), Surfer Magazine’s Surfing Video Awards (2001) and ESPN‘s Action Sports and Music Awards (2001-2002).

Sal Masekela also graces the Silver Screen. Besides his voice over role in Surfs Up, he recently appeared in Disney’s Ultimate X, an IMAX film about the Summer X Games released in May 2002. He is also a contributing writer for ESPN’s bi-weekly online lifestyle column EXPN.com, which follows trends in fashion, film and music related to action sports culture. Sal also recently served as executive producer and host of his own bi-monthly action sports and culture television show, “X 2Day”, for ESPN and ESPN 2. In addition, Sal has hosted such shows as E!’s Live Countdown to the Golden Globes , Import Racers , Ballbreakers , and is no stranger to red carpet corresponding.

Through an understanding of alternative cultures and lifestyles, Sal is able to capitalize on his experiences and truly bring a unique perspective to the projects he is involved with. It is his widespread popularity with young audiences, as well as the immense respect from the athletes of action sports, that will allow Sal to continue breaking new ground within this culture and demographic for years to come. Currently, In addition to his hosting, producing, acting, and voice over work, Sal lends his name and time to his charity’s Stoked Mentoring, a non profit action sports organization for “at risk” youth with the mission of developing Successful Teens with Opportunity, Knowledge, Experience, and Determination through the use of action sports, mentoring, and coaching (www.stokedmentoring.org ). Sal’s passion for sport culture has made him a leading expert/host, and he continues to be one of the most sought after in his market. Sal currently resides in Venice, CA where he is close to the street, beach, and snow.

Suggested Reading:

1. Phil Shalala