Nyjah Huston

Nyjah Imani Huston (born November 30, 1994) is an American professional skateboarder and was the overall champion at competition series in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2019. He is also the highest paid skateboarder in the world.[4] As of May 19, 2013, Huston has won more prize money than any other skateboarder in history.[5]

Nyjah Huston
Huston in 2015
Personal information
Full nameNyjah Imani Huston
Born (1994-11-30) November 30, 1994[1]
Davis, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Weight150 lb (68 kg)[2]
FamilyClay Herbert (brother)
Sport
Country United States
SportSkateboarding

Early life

Huston was born in Davis, California. He has three brothers and one sister. The children were raised in a strict Rastafarian lifestyle by their father Clay Herbert. They were vegans and got schooled at home by their mother Kelle Huston. Huston’s father was a skateboarder and made his sons start skating when Nyjah was only 5 years old. His father was very controlling and wanted Nyjah to skate every day.[6] In 2004 his parents purchased an indoor skate park in Davis where Huston spent his entire time practicing.[7] In 2006 his father abruptly decided to move to Puerto Rico with his family.[8] During this time the distance between Puerto Rico and California caused problems with Huston’s board sponsor Element Skateboards as Nyjah was not able to take part in demos. While in Puerto Rico his parents separated and his mother moved back to California with Nyjah’s siblings while he had to stay with his father Adeyemi as he was his manager and video filmer at that time. Nyjah Huston did not see his mother for one year before Kelle Huston took her husband to court to get divorced. The judge gave her full custody so Nyjah moved back to live with his mother and siblings.[9]

Professional Skateboarding

Huston first garnered attention when he signed a sponsorship deal with the Element company and joined the skateboard team. During his debut era with the company, Huston appeared in numerous Element video productions, such as both volumes of the Elementality series, and competed in high-profile contests, such as the Dew tour and the Vans Downtown Showdown. However, Huston eventually launched his own skateboard deck company "I&I" in the year of 2009[10] after he parted ways with Element in 2008; Huston was an amateur skateboarder at the time of his departure.[11]

I&I was a short-lived company and operated for approximately two years with a team that consisted of Huston, Richard Jefferson, and Anthony Williams. During the period of the company's existence, a number of magazine advertisements were published and an online promotional video that featured the three team members was released. The primary aesthetic influence of the brand was Rastafarianism and the I&I logo incorporated the pan-African colors of red, yellow, and green.[10][12]

Following the closure of I&I, Huston returned to Element and released a solo video production entitled Rise & Shine in 2011—the video was available for purchase on the iTunes website and later received the "Best Video Part" award from the Transworld Skateboarding magazine. During this stage of Huston's career, the skateboarder also joined the DC Shoes company as a team rider, following a significant period of time without a shoe sponsor—an unusual occurrence for a professional skateboarder with the degree of exposure that Huston had attracted. In response to the DC Shoes announcement, Huston explained that "I think it was all a buildup of things over the past year. DC has always been my top choice for a shoe sponsor but I think it took this past year for them to see what I've accomplished and how I did in the contests and my video part and all that for it to finally come through."[13]

Following Huston's decision to skateboard for DC Shoes, other DC team riders expressed their perspectives in online promotional material produced by the shoe company. Long-term DC team rider Josh Kalis stated in the introductory video for Huston (also featuring Mike Mo Capaldi), "And then there's this other dude out there, literally buying shoes from a skate shop. He could get shoes from anybody that he wanted, but he was buying DCs." Capaldi expressed his opinion on Huston in the same video, stating his belief that Huston is "probably the best skateboarder I've ever seen—he does everything in, like, two tries."[14]

After Huston's gold medal victory at the 2013 X Games Street League contest in Barcelona, Spain in mid-May, Transworld SKATEboarding magazine announced that no other skateboarder has won a greater amount of prize money.[5] On the final night of May 2013, the DC Shoes Co. held a launch event for the first signature model skate shoe of Huston's career at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, U.S., with Pete Rock in the role of DJ. The model is named the "Nyjah Huston Signature Shoe" and the promotional advertisement features Huston executing a trick at set of stairs at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, U.S.[15]

An announcement on June 25, 2013, revealed that, due to a rib injury, Huston was unable to compete in the Street League contest at the Munich X Games in late June 2013. Huston's mother Kelle Huston reported that her son "bruised and scraped the right side of his torso" in a skateboarding accident, but an article from the Street League website stated that Huston would be fit to compete in the next contest round in July 2013 in Portland, Oregon.[16] Also in 2013, Huston made a statement to Thrasher Magazine in which he questioned the appropriateness of female skateboarders. He later apologized for his remarks.[17]

Huston was added to the competition lineup for the 2013 Kimberley Diamond Cup in South Africa, held from September 28 to 29.[18][19] Huston won the Kimberley Diamond Cup and the one million rand cash prize.[20]

Sponsorship

As of December 2019, Huston is sponsored by Nike SB, Diamond Supply Co., Element Skateboards, Ricta Wheels, Monster Energy, Social CBD, Doritos, Mob Grip, Mountain Dew, flatbread Neapolitan pizzeria, and Adapt Technology. As of January 2021 Nyjah Huston stated via social media that he is no longer with Element Skateboards.[21]

Awards

Huston won the inaugural "Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Award for Action Sports" in 2006.[22]

At Transworld SKATEboarding magazine's 2012 awards event, Huston's performance was given the headline "Nyjah Huston Cleans Up at Annual Transworld Skate Awards" by the Yahoo! Sports website. Huston won three awards at the event: "Best Video Part" (for Huston's Rise & Shine video release), "New Era Readers' Choice" (the only award chosen solely by the readers of the magazine and Transworld website), and "Best Street".[23][24]

Huston was nominated several times for Thrasher Magazine’s prestigious "Skater Of The Year" (SOTY) award but as of 2020 never won this award.

Video game appearances

Huston is a featured character in the video games Tony Hawk's Project 8,[25] Tony Hawk's Proving Ground,[26] Tony Hawk: Ride,[27] Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD,[28] and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5.[29]

Huston also appears in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 which is a remake of both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 games by studio Vicarious Visions, released in September 2020.

Let It Flow

Together with his mother Kelle Huston, Huston founded the charity organization "Let It Flow" in 2008 with the aim of providing clean, safe, and accessible water to communities in need. Following their personal experiences in Puerto Rico, the pair started by selling reusable water bottles at a local farmers market and, as of December 2012, the organization builds clean-water wells, fixes wells that are inoperable, and builds sanitation stations for people in urgent need of clean water. Let It Flow built its first sanitation station in Ethiopia.[30]

Personal life

Following his return to Element, Huston revealed that his father's controlling behavior had led to estrangement, further explaining that his father refused to return video footage of Huston’s skateboarding following the separation. He no longer adheres to a strict Rastafarian lifestyle, cut off his dreadlocks and has identified hip hop as his favorite musical style to listen to.[31]

As of December 2019, Huston resides in a home in Laguna Beach, California, U.S.[32]

Contest history

2004

  • Volcom Damn Am: 4th (street)[33]
  • Volcom Damn Am: Best Trick Small Rail (street)[33]
  • Volcom Damn Am: Best Trick Big Rail (street)[33]

2005

  • Tampa Am: 1st (street)[33][34]
  • K.R.3.A.M. AM 2005 (street): 1st[33][35]
  • West 49 Canadian Open (street): 4th[33][36]
  • Global Assault 2005 (street): 2nd[33]

2006

  • Dew Action Sports Tour Right Guard Open, Denver (park): 2nd[33]
  • Dew Action Sports Tour Panasonic Open (park): 2nd[33][37]
  • Dew Tour, overall standings: 4th (park)[2]
  • Dew Action Sports Tour Vans Invitational, Portland (street): 4th[33]
  • X-Games 12 Street Finals: 8th[33]
  • Global Assault: 2nd (street)[2][38]
  • Vans Downtown Showdown: 2nd (best trick - stair)[2]

2007

  • eS Game of SKATE Pro: 2nd[33][39]
  • etnies Goofy vs Regular (Goofy Team): 2nd[33][40]

2008

  • Maloof Money Cup (street): 2nd[2][41]

2009

2010

2011

  • Tampa Pro: 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding 2nd Series, 1st Stop (Seattle, WA): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 2nd Series, 2nd Stop (Kansas City, MO): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 2nd Series, 3rd Stop (Glendale, AZ): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 2nd Series, 4th Stop (Newark, NJ): 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding 2nd Series Overall: 2nd place[45]
  • X Games XVII: 1st place (street)[46]

2012

  • Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series, 1st Stop (Kansas City, MO): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series, 2nd Stop (Ontario, CA): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series, 3rd Stop (Glendale, AZ): 4th
  • Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series, 4th Stop (New Jersey): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series Overall: 1st place

2013

2014

  • Tampa Pro (Tampa, FL): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding Pro Open (Los Angeles): 1st
  • X Games Austin 2014 Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street: 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding (Chicago): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding (Los Angeles): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (New Jersey): 1st

2015

  • Tampa Pro (Tampa, FL): 2nd
  • Street League Pro Open (Barcelona): 1st
  • X Games Skateboard Street (Austin): Gold
  • Street League Skateboarding (Los Angeles): 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding (New Jersey): 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (Chicago): 2nd
  • Kimberley Diamond Cup (South Africa): 1st place (street)[20]

2016

  • Tampa Pro 2016: 4th
  • X Games Skateboard Street (Oslo): 1st
  • Red Bull Hart Lines Contest (Detroit): 1st
  • Street League Pro Open (Barcelona): 2nd
  • X Games Austin 2016 Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street: 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding (Munich): 3rd
  • Street League Skateboarding (Newark): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (Los Angeles): 2nd

2017

  • Tampa Pro 2017: 5th
  • Red Bull Hart Lines Contest (Detroit): 1st
  • Street League Pro Open (Barcelona): 1st
  • Dew Tour (California): 2nd
  • Street League Skateboarding (Munich): 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding (Chicago) 4th
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (Los Angeles): 1st
  • X Games (Minneapolis): 3rd

2018

  • Street League Skateboarding (London) : Injured
  • Street League Skateboarding (Los Angeles) : 4th
  • Street League Skateboarding ( Hungington Beach) : 7th
  • X Games Men's skateboard street (Minneapolis) 2018: 1st
  • X Games Men's skateboard street (Sydney) 2018: 1st
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (Rio de Janeiro): 1st

2019

  • X Games Skateboard Street (Shanghai): 1st[50]
  • Dew Tour (California): 7th[51]
  • Street League Skateboarding (Los Angeles): 8th[52]
  • X Games Skateboard Street (Minneapolis): 2nd [53]
  • Street League Skateboarding (London): 1st
  • X Games Skateboard Street Best Trick (Minneapolis): 1st [54]
  • Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (Sao Paolo): 1st

Videography

  • Element Kids: Tricks (2005)
  • Element: Elementality Volume 1 (2005)
  • Element: Brent Atchley Pro Debut Video (2006)
  • Globe: The Global Assault (2006)
  • Element: Elementality Volume 2 (2006)
  • eS: eSpecial (2007)
  • Element: This Is My Element (2007)
  • Silver: Silver In Barcelona (2008)
  • Thrasher: Double Rock (2009)
  • Element: Rise & Shine (2011)[55]
  • Rap Video by The Game (featuring Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne): Celebration (2012)[56]
  • Cameo Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown - Show Me (2014)
  • DC Shoes: Nyjah - Fade to Black (2014)
  • Nike : Til Death (2018)

References

  1. Nyjah Huston (November 29, 2012). "Nyjah Huston's Campaign for Charity". Indiegogo. Indiegogo, Inc. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  2. "Nyjah Huston Pro Skater". ESPN Action Sports. ESPN Internet Ventures. 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  3. "Nyjah Huston's X Games Medal Count". Xgames.com. X Games. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  4. StreetLeague.com (August 26, 2012). "Nyjah Huston is the 2012 Street League Champion! Full Results". StreetLeague.com. Street League, Inc. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  5. TWS (May 19, 2013). "NYJAH HUSTON WINS STREET LEAGUE BARCELONA". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOi0OaAkJ04
  7. Hendrikx, Eric; Hendrikx, Eric (October 1, 2015). "The Impossible Rise of Nyjah Huston". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  8. Hendrikx, Eric; Hendrikx, Eric (October 1, 2015). "The Impossible Rise of Nyjah Huston". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqmjl5NxhH0
  10. "I&I Skateboards". Skately. Skately, LLC. 2013. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  11. Ruben 'Studdard' Najera (December 8, 2008). "Nyjah Huston Off Element". 5ones. 5ones. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  12. TheFluidSkater (February 5, 2010). "I&I Skateboards Team" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  13. Chris Nieratko (January 13, 2012). "Nyjah Huston discusses move to DC". ESPN Action Sports. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  14. DCshoesFILM (December 31, 2011). "DC SHOES: REDISCOVER DC - TEAM 2012" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  15. DCshoesFILM (May 31, 2013). "DC SHOES: NYJAH HUSTON SIGNATURE SHOE - WITH IMPACT G TECHNOLOGY" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  16. "BREAKING NEWS: NYJAH INJURED". Street League Skateboarding. Street League Skateboarding. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  17. "Nyjah Huston says girls shouldn't skate". Salty Peaks. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  18. TWS (September 25, 2013). "NYJAH, SILAS ADDED TO KIMBERLEY DIAMOND CUP SOUTH AFRICA". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia, Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  19. Blair Alley (September 27, 2013). "NYJAH'S 270 KICKFLIP LIPSLIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia, Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  20. Blair Alley (September 29, 2013). "Congrats Nyjah, Felipe, and Louie!". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia, Inc. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  21. "Who Will Nyjah Skate for Now That He's Off Element?". skatenewswire.com. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  22. "NYJAH'S UNBRIDLED SPIRIT". AST Dew Tour. Dew Tour. 2006. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  23. Killeen Gonzalez (February 17, 2012). "Nyjah Huston Cleans Up at Annual TransWorld Skate Awards". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! - ABC News Network. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  24. Blair Alley (February 17, 2012). "14th Annual TransWorld SKATEboarding Awards Presented By New Era, Winners Announced". Transworld Skateboarding. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  25. "Nyjah Huston 0:00" (Video upload). IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. October 9, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  26. BroadbandGames (February 19, 2011). "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Teaser". Dailymotion. Dailymotion. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  27. TheFluidskater (April 8, 2010). "Nyjah Huston: Tony Hawk Ride Interview" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  28. "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD - Nyjah Huston Gameplay" (Video upload). Gamereactor UK. Gamez Publishing A/S. July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  29. "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5". Missing or empty |url= (help)
  30. Rob Brink (December 6, 2012). "Nyjah Huston's 'Let It Flow'". ESPN X Games. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  31. Officialbeatsbydrdre (December 8, 2012). "Nyjah Houston On Discovering Music" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJaXjItxL6w&t=42s
  33. "Nyjah Huston Skater Profile". Skatepark of Tampa. Skatepark of Tampa. October 25, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  34. WhosSexier (October 17, 2010). "Nyjah Huston Tampa Am 2005" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  35. Rob Meronek (July 17, 2005). "K.R.3.A.M. AM IN PUERTO RICO - NYJAH HUSTON WINS". SPoT Skate Shop. Skatepark of Tampa. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  36. simplejules (April 19, 2007). "West49 Canadian Open 2005 - Toronto" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  37. TheFluidSkater (April 8, 2010). "Nyjah Huston - Dew Tour 2006 Panosonic Open (INTERVIEW)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  38. TheFluidskater (February 28, 2010). "Nyjah Huston Global Assault Finals 2006" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  39. Hatch86filmer (September 16, 2007). "éS Game of SKATE 07' Finals (Chris Cole, Nyjah Huston, Mike Mo)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  40. joboloba (October 11, 2007). "nyjah gvr regular vs goofy" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  41. "Nyjah Huston 2008 Maloof Money Cup Highlights" (Video upload). AlliSports. Alli, Alliance of Action Sports, LLC. 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  42. wojtekmullen (August 3, 2009). "Summer X Games 15: Skate Street 2nd Nyjah Huston" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  43. "2009 Pro World Street Points Race". World Cup Skateboarding. World Cup Skateboarding. 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  44. "Nyjah Huston beats out a five-way battle on the final trick in Stop One of the Street League DC Pro Tour Fueled by Monster Energy | Street League DC Pro Tour fueled by Monster Energy". March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  45. "Malto Stops Huston's Winning Streak and Becomes 2011 Street League Champion | Street League DC Pro Tour fueled by Monster Energy". March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  46. Colin Bane (July 31, 2011). "HUSTON WINS SKATEBOARD STREET". ESPN X Games. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  47. EXPNVM (March 24, 2013). "tampa pro 2013 nyjah huston 2nd place winning runs and highlights" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  48. "TAMPA PRO 2013 BEST TRICK" (Video upload). TransWorld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. March 24, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  49. TWS (June 9, 2013). "NYJAH HUSTON WINS STREET LEAGUE KANSAS CITY". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  50. "Nyjah Huston wins Skateboard Street gold". X Games. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  51. "Results". Dew Tour. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  52. "SLS Los Angeles Final Results". SLS - Street League Skateboarding. July 30, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  53. "Minneapolis 2019 mens-skateboard-street". X Games. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  54. "Minneapolis 2019 skateboard-best-trick". X Games. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  55. "Nyjah Huston skate videos". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  56. The Game. "Celebration". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Shaun White
Best Male Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award
2013, 2014
Succeeded by
Ryan Dungey
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