WOW! That is the first word that comes to my mind. Not to long ago, I did an entry about Tosh Townend’s leave from Element Skateboards. And now, another Element elite rider is bouncing on the free market. If there was ever one other person I could associated with Element instantly, with a mention of their name, it would have to have been Nyjah. It’s almost too weird that he won’t be on Element skateboards team anymore. He has been a part of the team since its early “Twigs” team program. Which was a separate division of mini decks for little skateboarders.

I don’t want to say this is the reason for his leave, but it might be due to the fact that he never got a pro deck or that they never turned him “pro”. We all know his board would have done really well, especially with all the young guns turning pro nowadays it would have seemed fit. His performance at the Maloof Money Cup was enough for me that if I was Element, I would’ve confirmed his professional status. But maybe it was the age issue?

Where will he be moving to next? From countless message boards and ties he has, I’ve heard everything from him moving to Organika to being the newest member on the Plan B team. Maybe he will come out of nowhere and shock everyone by starting his own board company or jumping on some unknown roster. Whatever he chooses to do he is still going to be the craziest damn little skateboarder in the industry. I have seen him skate in person countless times. He skates like a grown ass man, doing tricks we wish we could do at least once in our lifetime. Nyjah Huston is a beast, a child skateboarding prodigy who is sure to be around the industry for a very long time. Also don’t be surprised to see him knighted with instant “pro” status on whichever new team he rides for. It’s inevitable, and we know it.

After a good while without a board sponsor, Tosh Townend finally has a home on Pocket Pistols skateboards. Pretty random choice, but cool none the less.

Pocket Pistols gave him a “guest” model deck, which I basically consider a pro deck without the same term, I guess. It’s almost hard to think of Tosh not on Element anymore. The dude basically embodied a lot of the company’s spirit. When I would think Element, I would almost instantly think Tosh. But I guess things happen and you got to move on.

In many ways though, I actually dig the new Tosh Townend better. He’s doing more things for himself and taking charge of his skate career. Such as his Winnebago project tour recently. Which happens to be out on DVD as we speak, if I am not mistaken. The entire trip was headed and brainstormed by none other than Tosh himself and takes place at various stops throughout the United States. Its one of those kinds of trips that we would all like to take with our skate homies. Hop in a van and skate across the country.

Another factor I’d like to comment on, is the fact that since Tosh isn’t with Element anymore he also lost his pro shoe with them. I happened to think his shoe was the best on the line but I guess his feet will be sinking into yet another new sponsor in no time.