Surfing the Quicksilver Pro Sun, Mar 6, 2011

Sunday is a day of strong currents and challenging conditions at Snapper Rocks at the southern end of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Surfing 16 year old, Matt Banting, from Port Macquarie NSW is the youngest surfer to ever receive a wildcard into the Quiksilver Pro. He is excited to compete against his idols - Kelly Slater, Parko (Joel Parkinson) and Jordy (Jordy Smith.
Banting won the under 16 World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand and the Quiksilver King of The Groms title in France in 2010. Good luck Matt.


Surfers at Mavericks photographed by Steve Jurvetson, USA

Skateboarding's youngest professional

Basic Bio:
•Name: Nyjah Houston
•Gender: Male
•Height: 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
•Weight: 155 pounds (70 kg)
•Hometown: Davis, California
•Date of Birth: November 30, 1994
•Occupation: Pro Skateboarder, Student (home schooled)
•Started Skating: 1999
•Turned Pro: 2005
•Favored Discipline: grinding, often using stairs and rails
•Sponsors: I&I Skateboards - founded by Nyjah Huston in 1999,(previously element) 2011 back on Element–this time around with a pro board, Silver Trucks, FKD Bearings, Diamond Hardware, eS Footwear
•Stance: goofy

His favorite skaters of all time are Karl Watson, Rodrigo Tx. and P-Rod.





Skateboarding Style and Strengths:
As the youngest pro skateboarder on the circuit, Nyjah has blown away the crowds with his coolness and seemingly effortless street style.

Skateboarding Tricks:
switch heelflip 13
switch heelflip the 16 on maloof
14 stairs nollie heelflip - when he was 13
double kickflip big gap
Kickflip Back Lip
Kickflip Back Tail To Fakie Switch



Skateboarding Highlights:
2005 Goofy vs Regular: 1st (street) [2]
Tampa Am: 1st (street) [2]
Vans Downtown Showdown: 2nd (big 6) [2]
2006 Dew Tour, Denver: 2nd (park) [2]
Dew Tour, Louisville: 2nd (park) [2]
Global Assault: 2nd (street) [2]
Vans Downtown Showdown: 2nd (best trick - stair) [2]
X-Games, California: 2nd (street)
Legend of the ledges: 2nd Open
Cheapskates Nationals: 8th Open and 1st Under 16s
2009 X-Games: 2nd place
2010 Tampa Pro: 2nd
Maloof Money Cup 2010 OC: 2nd (street)
Street League Skateboarding 1st Stop (Glendale, Arizona): 1st (street)
Street League Skateboarding 1st Series: 1st (street)
Summer X Games: 2nd (street)

Other claims to fame: youngest skateboarder ever to start up their own skateboard company.