Skating, surfing, shredding Sky Brown, youngest pro skater

September 15, 2016 12:20 PM

8 year old Sky and her 4 year old brother Ocean skate, surf, slide and shred, as seen on Instagram and YouTube. Even more impressive, Sky is the youngest girl on the Vans US Open Pro Series. One word to she uses to describe herself: funny. Grind TV has links to other young lady boarders who are under 10 year old.
posted by filthy light thief (22 comments total)

8 year old Sky and her 4 year old brother Ocean

If they get a sister or brother down the line, will the child be named Land?
or perhaps 'Cliff' if a boy, 'Hilly' if a girl...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2016

Yeah, these kids sound cool, but I hate their parents.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:43 PM on September 15, 2016

Yeah, these kids sound cool, but I hate their parents.

Living in a bastion of hippy freaks, these names seemed perfectly normal to me. I sometimes forget the rest of the world is a completely different place.
posted by humboldt32 at 1:10 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]

Oh wow, Sky's Vans US Open run - if you don't skate, it might be hard tell how difficult that frontside axle to fakie is in all it's simplicity, especially on a giant ramp like that. The announcers are hyped on it for a reason, no one throws that in their set even on a mini ramp - backside axle to fakie or backside 50-50 to fakie is a lot more popular, it tends to be a lot easier and looks just as smooth. When you do it frontside though you're essentially re-winding into the ramp and dropping in switch with your back facing the transition - scary as hell. She's fearless.
posted by windbox at 1:20 PM on September 15, 2016 [9 favorites]

but I hate their parents.

I love their parents. They appear to be raising confident capable kids who aren't afraid to try new things and who are willing to keep trying again and again in a effort to master a new skill. Love these parents.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 1:23 PM on September 15, 2016 [11 favorites]

When you do it frontside though you're essentially re-winding into the ramp and dropping in switch with your back facing the transition - scary as hell. She's fearless.

Lower centre of gravity, flexible bones, even teeth that will replace themselves - she's like some sort of mutant designed for skateboarding!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 1:26 PM on September 15, 2016 [15 favorites]

Holy crap, they're awesome! Re: names, there's nothing as cool to a kid their age as having a unique name. When I was 12 I had a friend named Sky and I was so jealous of her name that I named the protagonist of my novel after her.
posted by capricorn at 1:50 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm betting you have a normal name where you could always get it on a mug at the gift shop? Having a unique name sucks in lots of ways as a kid.
posted by Mitheral at 1:54 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

Love their parents. Hate hating on wierdos.
posted by latkes at 2:12 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

For the record, I wasn't hating on anyone. I just couldn't resist the cheap joke.
(and I made myself laugh with "Cliff" and "Hilly")
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:20 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

I like to slash/grind and rock and roll as well, unfortunately I can only do the latter with any proficiency as slash/grinding for me now would likely put me in the hospital for pulling something, stitches, or a cast. But yeah, I like this kid. She has a great attitude.
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:43 PM on September 15, 2016

if you don't skate, it might be hard tell how difficult that frontside axle to fakie is in all it's simplicity, especially on a giant ramp like that

And this is why I love Metafilter. Thanks for that. I pretty much still have no idea what any of that means, but now I know it's a big deal and I am even more impressed than I would have been otherwise.
posted by biscotti at 3:47 PM on September 15, 2016

Having a unique name sucks in lots of ways as a kid.

It really depends on the kid and the name. I loved having a unique name, even if I had to spell it to everyone I met.

I knew a girl named "Muffin" though, and that really seemed like it could be problematic.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:32 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

I Love the way the parents don't spotlight themselves or showboat the kids. It's only...look at their talent and judge for yourself. Let Sky discover and reach for herself...fame or not she likes it and is having a blast.
posted by Benway at 5:01 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

There is a nine year old and a four (now five I guess) year old skateboarding without helmet or pads. Their parents are assholes.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:28 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

I Love the way the parents don't spotlight themselves or showboat the kids.

Who is running that Instagram account and setting up all the sponsorships?
posted by Literaryhero at 5:33 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

What Literaryhero said - my "omg awesome love" went to "no no no" when I realized NO HELMETS UGH.

(other then that? very cool; thanks for sharing)
posted by soakimbo at 6:59 PM on September 15, 2016

Snarking on names seems...low.

My kid is seven and has been begging for a board for a few months. She's not the most coordinated of kids so we've got a bargain going about if she can master her scooter by Christmas she gets a board. I'm lucky enough to have a friend who skates (including helmetless, in her office gear, if the opportunity strikes) so I've gotten a bunch of advice. I am loving these vids.
posted by geek anachronism at 8:27 PM on September 15, 2016

This is probably some kind of parent Rorschach, but for whatever reason I am judging the parents for promoting these kids on Instagram etc, but not judging them for the no helmet thing (or their names, which are awesome).
posted by latkes at 8:45 PM on September 15, 2016

Tone is so difficult to convey in writing, so you have to trust me when I say there is not an ounce of judgement in this question:

Is it in these kids' best interest to engage in this activity without the basic safety gear I usually see others wear?
posted by she's not there at 10:39 PM on September 15, 2016

As someone who stayed on a board until after college, I applaud this little girl. As to helmets, she's wearing one for competition and learning new tricks. Many, many, many skateboarders do not wear helmets when not learning something new. Most exhibitions feature skaters without helmets. She's not doing 20 foot drops into a pipe. She's fine, save the pearl clutching for when she tries really stupid suit in a couple of years. Like dating skateboarders.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:04 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Like dating skateboarders.

I don't understand how a helmet would help in that context...
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:10 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]