Their Money’s On Shiva

Shiva Carey had Edgewood Skate Park to himself as he mounted his World Industries skateboard on the bank of the half pipe, dropped in, and raced up and down the concrete, graffiti-covered walls.

On quiet mornings like this one, Shiva, age 9, does his best work as his father watches.

To beat the crowds, they set out as early as possible. Donning a helmet and protective kneepads, Carey diligently hones his skill not only out of love for the sport but for another reason as well: He is reputedly the youngest semi-professional skateboarder in the country.

This month, Shiva was ​“sponsored” by local skate shop Enclave, which ​“provides him with skateboards and equipment in exchange for him being a good representative of the store and the community,” said Karen Brown, marketing director for the company (which also owns Trailblazer and Denali). He has no immediate plans to enter competitions, but when he finally does, he will represent Enclave as their sole sponsored skateboarder.

At home and in the skatepark, Shiva is the consummate fast learner. Homeschooled by his mother, he started skating when he was 5, and has managed to earn his black belt in Taekwondo in the meantime. His favorite subjects are mathematics and science, and he aspires to a career in film acting: The YouTube videos he makes with his dad, performance artist Brainard Carey, provide detailed instructions for peers hoping to gleam the tricks of Shiva’s trade.

In interviews, Shiva is shy. According to his dad, Shiva likes to dwell on what he sees as potential connections between skateboarding and feature film: ​“He told me that he wants to direct a film about a skateboarder with superpowers: How cool would it be to see somebody ollie over a giant building?”

In an ​“ollie,” a skateboarder simultaneously lifts his body and his skateboard into the air. It also happens to be next up on Shiva’s list of tricks to master.

After learning that Enclave wanted to sponsor Carey, his father did a little research. What he found surprised him, and he immediately forwarded the results to City Hall. Soon thereafter, the mayor issued a ​“Proclamation Of the City Of New Haven”: Shiva is the youngest skateboarder in the United States to be officially sponsored, ever.

But whether or not the Guinness Book of World records should come running remains somewhat of a mystery, said the elder Carey. Nine is the youngest age ever recorded for someone to earn a skateboarding sponsorship, although 20-year-old professional skateboarder Ryan Schekler was sponsored ​“by the time he was 10”. (Efforts by the Independent to confirm Shekler’s age of sponsorship with his agent have been unsuccessful.)

The Westville skatepark where Shiva (pictured) practices is an inspiration to son and father alike. (Click on the video at the top of the story to watch.) Graffiti may cover the ramps and ​“boxes”, but the two agree that it is wrong for people to think of skateboarding as a crime. ​“How much more of a healthy activity could you have? It should be encourage in all the towns,” said Brainard Carey, who himself was an avid skateboarder in his younger days.

Looking to the future, Brown said, ​“Shiva, so far, is our only skateboarder, but we would also love to sponsor some others that are a little older and advanced at the sport.” Prospective pro-skaters should stay on their grind at Edgewood Skate Park and send their demo tapes to Enclave.