“Kids watching skateboarder – 2” by Phil Gyford is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Skateboarding appeals to individuals of all ages. Whether you are a teenager looking for an adrenaline rush or an adult looking for a creative outlet, the interest of skateboarding is inarguable. More recently, it has been gaining rapid popularity among an even younger audience, with children as young as three or four years old picking up a board and hitting the skatepark. This sudden boom in skateboarding popularity among young people has altered the landscape of what we will see is possible in the future of skateboarding.
The first extremely young skater that made waves on social media is named Rita Ishizuka. Rita has been skating since he could walk. He first gained popularity on Instagram when he was just three years old, and continues to impress his followers today at the age of seven. Rita’s incredible rate of progression illustrates the evolving face of skateboarding, where age is no longer a limiting factor but a demonstration of skateboarding’s inclusive nature.
Nowadays there are a vast number of young skateboarders on the rise. Some other names that are being thrown around on social media are: Rayssa Leal, Momiji Nishiya, Filipe Mota, and Ginwoo Onodera. Each of these skaters were under the age of 15 when they won their first medal in a competition like Street League or the Olympic Games.
These young prodigies are not just making headlines; they are reshaping the competitive landscape of skateboarding. With the ability of these young athletes to pick up new concepts and tricks faster than most adults with the help of their fearless attitudes, They will live to inspire a future generation of skaters who will push the boundaries even further. Their dedication and passion for the sport will continue to entirely redefine what is possible on a skateboard.
I am excited to see what the future holds for both competition skateboarding, and the increasing uniqueness and creativity of street skate parts. With the skaters I have mentioned in this article, the future of skateboarding is looking extremely promising.
