Huston, 11, Is Skating With Big Boys, and Could Make Big Bucks

Nyjah Huston won’t be old enough to drive for five years, but when that time comes he might be able to afford a Ferrari, and a big house to go with it.

Huston, 11, is a skateboarder; the sport’s youngest professional, already banking considerable winnings through contests and endorsements.

Although he finished eighth in a field of 10 during Friday’s X Games street competition at Home Depot Center, he was brilliant enough at times to cause his elders -- once again -- to drop their collective jaws in awe.

“The level he’s performing at, at 11 years old, doesn’t even make sense,” says Sal Masekela, X Games commentator since 1999. “I would not have the nerve at 18 to play on the same stage as the best guys in the world, and he does it with a beautiful flare, and the guys love having him there.”

He is a wisp of a kid -- he stands 4 feet 8 and weighs 79 pounds -- though he could use a haircut, something he says he has never had.

And can he ever skate, dreadlocks and all, able to flip his board underfoot while in midair; to leap onto rails and grind the length of them on either the nose or the tail, standing backside or front-side.

“He grew up watching videos of today’s best skateboarders and in the videos they make the tricks every time, so that’s the standard they set for him,” says Tony Hawk, 38, the sport’s most famous personality, who turned pro at 14.

Huston is being compared to San Clemente’s Ryan Sheckler, who turned pro at 13 and won the X Games gold the same year -- becoming the event’s youngest champion.

Sheckler, who won the silver medal Friday, is 16 now, the reigning Dew Action Sports Tour champion, and wealthy enough to purchase a fleet of cars based on last year’s winnings alone.

Huston, of Davis, finished second at a recent Dew Tour event, beating many of the world’s best.

Wade Martin, Dew Tour general manager, called Huston “an extraordinary talent” and said, “It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch him develop over the next few years.”

Some are skeptical, however. Jake Phelps, editor of Thrasher magazine, called Huston a prodigy but added, “I’ve seen a lot of them come and go.”

Phelps added, “If he’s hot today, it doesn’t mean he’s going to be hot tomorrow.”

Perhaps, but Huston isn’t planning on cooling down any time soon. “It was amazing just to be out there,” he said. “I feel so thankful to be able to skate with all these big kids.”