X Games Athletes Get Real About Diversity in Action Sports

Diversity continues to grow in action sports.

Meet Nyjah Huston - Twenty years ago, skateboarding and BMX bike racing were not disciplines with many Black faces. But today, Black action-sports stars have a presence in the scene. Nyjah Huston is one of the breakout stars. This year, he took bronze in the X Games street course and gold in the Real Street video competition on Sunday. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Going for Gold - The 17-year-old Nyjah Huston has been competing professionally since he was 11, and took the gold in the street competition last year (and silver in 2010 and 2009) among dozens of other national and international appearances. He has endorsement deals with Element skateboards, DC shoes and Monster energy drinks, to name a few.  (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Breaking Boundaries - Huston, who is of Japanese and African heritage, says he embraces how the face of skateboarding evolved since the sport became popularized in the suburbs of Southern California in the 1960s and ’70s. Now it's commonplace to see both girls and guys flipping ollies everywhere from the streets of Brazil to predominately Black neighborhoods of America.  As for feeling pressure to represent minorities in sports that traditionally had few Black superstars, he takes it all in stride. He says, "I'm definitely thankful to be part of the group [of athletes representing] people of mixed ethnicities, to bring that into the sport. I think it's cool to see all different types of skaters out there." (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Terry Kennedy - One skateboarder Huston gives credit for paving the way is professional skater and business mogul Terry Kennedy. The 27-year-old began skating at age 14 to escape gang violence in South Central Los Angeles, where Black kids and skateboards weren't a popular mix. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)Down to Business - When he's not on his board carving up the streets of Long Beach, California, Kennedy runs a successful street-wear brand, Fly Society, and even appears in music videos with famous friends including Snoop Dogg and Drama. You may also remember taking a peek into his whirlwind life when he starred in BET's reality series Being Terry Kennedy. He was formerly captain of Pharrell Williams' Ice Cream Skate Team. (Photo: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

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Going for Gold - The 17-year-old Nyjah Huston has been competing professionally since he was 11, and took the gold in the street competition last year (and silver in 2010 and 2009) among dozens of other national and international appearances. He has endorsement deals with Element skateboards, DC shoes and Monster energy drinks, to name a few.  (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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