skater

Earlier this summer, 8-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown became the youngest girl to skate in the Vans U.S. Open Pro Series.

She's from Miyazaki, Japan, and she's being called a "pint-size skate prodigy," competing with people more than twice her age.

As someone who's never been able to so much as keep my balance on a skateboard while it sits perfectly still, I was blown away by the athleticism, agility, and just general badassery on full display in the videos posted to Instagram and YouTube.

GIF from AWSMKIDS/YouTube.

Looks like skating runs in the family.

Sky started skating at just 3 years old (she surfs as well), learning the tricks of the trade from her dad, Stu. Her 5-year-old brother, Ocean, can also hold his own on the board.

It's just cool seeing people pursue their passions and excel in life, especially at such a young age.

The world is filled with people proving you can be amazing at any age. Maybe that means changing careers at 85 years old, or maybe it means trying something really bold when you're over 60. the point is that age is nothing more than a number, a challenge in life.

To me, that's what makes Sky's accomplishment so cool. Watching her skate makes me want to go out and try something new, to find a new challenge, and to just put myself on the line. No, I'm unlikely to ever try to become a pro skater, but maybe I'll take a class or pick up a new sport or take up an instrument.

Does Sky's skating inspire you?

You can watch a video of Sky practicing below, but be sure to check out the YouTube page for even more rad skating videos.