As we previously reported, pro skater Nyjah Huston ended up hospitalized again after taking another brutal slam while skating in Washington.
The incident reportedly left Nyjah with a fractured jaw, fractured cheek bone, and a lacerated kidney after getting knocked out during the session.
Photos from the hospital quickly spread online and the skate world instantly started debating the same topic all over again. Helmets.
A lot of noobs have begged Nyjah for years to start wearing one, especially after he previously suffered a fractured skull.
Many people fear that repeated head injuries could eventually lead to long term brain damage or CTE.
Still, Nyjah has never seemed interested in changing the way he skates.
For all the core heads, helmets are still viewed as lame or corny as fuck outside of vert skating.
A huge part of core skate culture has always been about taking heavy slams, getting hurt, and coming back anyway. Sweat, blood, and pain are almost treated like part of the lifestyle itself.
That mentality is exactly why Nyjah’s latest post got so much attention.
After ending up back in the hospital, Nyjah explained that he already knows people think he is crazy for continuing to skate the same way after so many injuries.
But according to him, skateboarding is not about money or proving anything to other people. He says it is simply what makes him feel alive.
Nyjah also talked about growing up skating big rails with his dad while being terrified almost every weekend.
Over time he accepted that getting hurt could always be part of the life he chose. Even after another serious injury, he said he is still thankful he dedicated his life to skating.
The comments online have been completely split.
Some skaters respected Nyjah even more after hearing his mindset.
Others said the mentality makes no sense anymore when helmets exist and could prevent serious injuries.
A lot of people also pointed to pro skater Andy Anderson, who regularly wears a helmet while still doing some of the hardest and most technical skating out there.
Andy has become one of the biggest examples that wearing protective gear does not automatically make someone less respected in skating.
Still, plenty of core street skaters continue to see helmets as awkward or uncool, especially in rail skating and street contests.
At the end of the day, Nyjah does not seem interested in changing for critics anytime soon.
Even after another knockout, broken jaw, and kidney injury, he already says he plans to get back on his board again soon.
Nyjah Posted:
"Was the plan to not end up back here for some time but here we are.. Another knockout, fractured jaw / cheek bone, lacerated kidney. I’m sure there’s tons of people see this happen again and think “damn this dudes an idiot and never learns his lesson” or the classic “ Told ya you shoulda started wearing a helmet.” Those are the people that don’t understand the minds of us skateboarders and how dedicated we can be. We don’t put ourselves thru the torture and pain for money or to prove anything. We do it because it fuels our daily life. One of the reasons I like to say skateboarding is a lifestyle over a sport. Growing up as a little tike I was scared shitless basically every weekend my dad would take my streets skating pushing me to skate big rails. Once I was grown and realized.. damn this actually is what I love and makes me feel the most alive. That’s when I accepted. Accepted that no matter what the outcome is. I’m doing what meant to be doing and this is the life I chose. Even in tough times like this I’m thankful as hell I made that decision because nothing beats life on the board. Back at em soon. We keep pushing. We keep sending 😤Was the plan to not end up back here for some time but here we are.. Another knockout, fractured jaw / cheek bone, lacerated kidney. I’m sure there’s tons of people see this happen again and think “damn this dudes an idiot and never learns his lesson” or the classic “ Told ya you shoulda started wearing a helmet.” Those are the people that don’t understand the minds of us skateboarders and how dedicated we can be. We don’t put ourselves thru the torture and pain for money or to prove anything. We do it because it fuels our daily life. One of the reasons I like to say skateboarding is a lifestyle over a sport. Growing up as a little tike I was scared shitless basically every weekend my dad would take my streets skating pushing me to skate big rails. Once I was grown and realized.. damn this actually is what I love and makes me feel the most alive. That’s when I accepted. Accepted that no matter what the outcome is. I’m doing what meant to be doing and this is the life I chose. Even in tough times like this I’m thankful as hell I made that decision because nothing beats life on the board. Back at em soon. We keep pushing. We keep sending 😤"