biography:
You’re a random piece of garbage–a discarded paper cup, more precisely–laying at the bottom of a large, concrete staircase on a junior high school campus. Through a hazy field of random dust and debris, you spy a faint object rapidly approaching from the distance. As it gets closer, you realize it’s a tiny human figure on a big skateboard, barreling toward you at warp speed.
The roar of skateboard wheels as they charge across the ground, clicking and clacking across sidewalk crackings, soon overwhelms you. Simply popping a wooden plank, the little man effortlessly levitates three feet into the air and precisely pilots a lofty nollie heel back lip down the tall, dark and intimidating handrail that dominates the beautiful 12 stair scenery. A spot-on bolts landing literally blows you away. You’re just a cup, after all. I’d like to introduce you to Nyjah Huston.
As the whole skateboarding world quickly learned throughout 2005, Nyjah is a glue-foot, pint-sized powerhouse with a bottomless bag of bangers. This 11-year-old child prodigy–flying his trademark mile-long dreadlocks and rasta colorways–eats, sleeps and breathes skateboarding. Casually chucking an impressive amount of video parts, magazine coverage and contest wins into an ever-growing pile, the future looks brighter than white hot for this youngest of ripsters. Beware: the next generation of skateboarding has arrived.
Interview 2006
How and when did you start skating?
I started skating when I was, like, five. I was just into it because skating was going on around our house.
Who were you skating with at first?
I was skating with my brothers, Ahbi and Jahmai, and my pop.
What terrain were you riding at first?
I was skating a small mini-ramp.
Who were some early influences on your skating?
My pop influenced me early, because he was skating the most.
Do you enjoy skating in contests?
Contests are cool. I get to travel and skate new cities. I get to meet new people and skate different courses.
What do you think of skate videos?
I think skate videos are tight. Everyone looks forward to seeing the new videos. They are a good way to keep up with what’s new in skating.
Which are your favorites?
Some of my favorites are TransWorld Skateboarding’s In Bloom, éS Footwear’s Menikmati and Girls’ Yeah Right.
Do you enjoy shooting video parts?
When I go out and film, I don’t really think of it as shooting for a video part, I’m just going out and challenging myself.
Do you skate small stuff like curbs and parking bumps much?
Not really. I usually skate little ledges and rails around my house.
Do you skate vert ramps?
I like to, but there’s not many vert ramps in my area.
Do you ever session backyard pools?
I’ve skated a couple of pools. I think one of them was Vagabond.
What do you think of skateparks?
The thing that I like most about skateparks is that you can skate there without getting kicked out. You can learn tricks at the local park, and then take them out to the streets.
Should skateparks copy real street spots like Love Park and EMB?
That would be cool, just like Dyrdek’s Skate Plaza.
How did you get on éS?
I sent in a video with my brother when I was like eight or nine, and a few months later, we got a call from the old éS Team Manager. That’s when I got hooked up.
What do you like about éS?
I really like the shoes, and the people over at éS are cool.
What are your favorite éS shoes?
Right now, I’m feeling the Accel Plus.
Who do you skate with now?
I skate with my brothers and whoever we hook up with.
Who are your favorite skaters of all time?
My favorites are Karl Watson, Rodrigo Tx. and P-Rod.
What have been the highlights of your skateboarding career so far?
My best highlights have been traveling around the world, skating new spots, meeting new people and just seeing how life is in other places.
What do you enjoy besides skating?
When I’m not skating, I’m chilling with my family, playing my PSP and healing.
What are your future goals?
My goals are to keep staying hyped on skating, keep progressing and enjoying life.
Stats
Date of Birth: November 30, 1994
Hometown: Davis, California
Present home: Davis, California
Sponsors: éS Footwear, Element Skateboards, Silver Trucks, FKD Bearings, Sambazon
Video Coverage
Element Elementality, last part
Forecast
Forthcoming: éS Footwear YéS!
Magazine Coverage
Various Mags, early 2005: two-page Element Elementality ad
Thrasher January 2005: eight-page interview
Skateboarder February 2005: one-page photo in Extra article
The Skateboard Mag May 2005: one-page photo in Crops article
Slap September 2005: one-page photo
Slap October 2005: one-page Element ad
TransWorld Skateboarding October 2005: one-page Zumiez ad
Slap November 2005: cover and 16-page 10 Days with a 10-Year-Old article
TransWorld Skateboarding December 2005: two-page Silver Trucks ad
Skateboarder February 2006: one-page photo in Applied Elementology article and one-page Skateboarder.com ad
The Skateboard Mag March 2006: two pages in Killer Kids article
The Skateboard Mag April 2006: one-page photo in Callin’ Shenanigans article
Slap May 2006: three pages of photos in Supermodel Incentive article
TransWorld Skateboarding July 2006: eight-page 29 Hours With Nyjah Huston article
The Skateboard Mag January 2007: eight-page interview
Internet Coverage
Rob Brink
Element Skateboards
éS Footwear
Manitoba Harvest
Silver Trucks
Skatepark of Tampa
Slap
TransWorld Skateboarding
YouTube
Contests
2005 Tampa Am, 1st place
2005 Am Getting Paid, 1st place
2005 Goofy vs. Regular, 1st place (Goofy team)
2006 Global Assault, 2nd place
2006 Panasonic Open, 2nd place
2006 Right Guard Open, 2nd place
Favorites
People: Open-minded.
Food: Whole Foods.
Music: Conscious.
Movies: Skate.
TV shows: Skate.
Books: Traveling.
Magazines: Skate.
Websites: Skate.
Art: Photos
Dinosaurs: Herbivores.
Cities: Skateable.
Colors: Green, gold and red, of course!
Holidays: The ones good for skating that special spot.