Tony Hawk turned pro at the age of 14. At 13, Ryan Sheckler burst onto the scene and everybody thought that was as young as pro skateboarder could go. Now all eyes are on Nyjah Houston. Nyjah turned pro last year and is claiming his place among the best in skateboarding. Oh, and he's 11 years-old.
Getting started and making his mark
Nyjah began skateboarding at the age of five. He had plenty of guidance. His dad Adeyemi and two older brothers are also skaters. Nyjah quickly became a regular fixture on the amateur circuit edging out guys twice his age. Going pro was a natural progression, even for an 11 year-old.
Since turning pro Nyjah has consistently placed at the top of the pack for the Park competition. He placed 2nd at the Global Assault in Melbourne in February 2006. He is currently in the middle of his debut Dew Action Sports Tour where he placed 2nd at the first two stops.
So much at such a young age
With all of the attention on him, because of his skating as well as his age, one may wonder about the impact on him. Skateboarding is no longer just a sport. With corporate sponsorship even the youngest competitors now have full-fledged careers and earn 6-7 figure salaries. Nyjah claims Element Wood and Thread and eS Footwear among his sponsors. The attention and money don't seem to have changed this home-schooled sixth grader though. Most people still describe Nyjah as humble and modest. Nyjah himself seems to prefer to talk about the enjoyment he gets from skateboarding than talking about rivalries.
All eyes are sure to remain on Nyjah for years to come as he strives to prove that he is here to stay and worthy of the accolades he has already received.
