WATCH: On Her Grind, Hijabi Skater Dominates Bowls & Puts Sk8er Bois To Shame

By Ameera Rosli  •  23 Jun 2021 in News

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Avril Lavigne sang about the eponymous sk8er bois rockin’ up MTV but she forgot to mention the just-as-cool skater girls who are dominating the bowls now more than ever.

Serving hijabi representation to the skater world, 21-year-old Nurdiyana Athirah Kamarul Ariffin has been on her grind since she was 15 but she only started taking the sport seriously after she graduated high school.

She would take her skateboard to her neighbourhood skate park where her tricks would attract many onlookers.

Despite the arguably male-dominated sport, Nurdiyana is unafraid to flaunt her skills no matter the tough competition.

 

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Even though she’s climbing the ladder to the top, Nurdiyana is known for her ability to jump off 7 steps on her skateboard, which is a trick that needs impeccable core and knee strength. Her skills have so far rewarded her with numerous awards.

Nurdiyana, who goes by the IG username @diyanahh has been touted as one of the coolest girls in the game, landing her an endorsement by local T-shirt embroidering company, Fluffy Spikey and several trips to other states through the Girls Skate Community sponsorship.

 

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Speaking to Harian Metro, Nurdiyana reveals that her inspiration to skate sparked from watching countless YouTube videos at night as a means to prepare her body for the strenuous activity. After a few months, she decided it was time she got on the board herself.

Every skater knows that the sport is bound to lead to some injuries. The 21-year-old is no exception, for she’s sprained her ankle before after attempting to jump 4 steps. But as mentioned before, we all know she’s overcome that hurdle with her head held high.

 

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Now, there are more girls at the skate park and Nurdiyana is happy to see the shift take place. According to her, when she first started out, her family was worried she might be alienated due to her love for the sport.

“Times have changed and now I see so many women involved in skating thus changing the perception of the sport in general in the eyes of the public,” she told Harian Metro.

One of her proudest moments apart from winning competitions was when she received a full skateboard set and shoes from legendary Malaysian skater, Pa’din Musa. This helped boost her confidence even further, driving her to continue her passion.

When asked about her plans for the future, Nurdiyana expressed her enthusiasm to become the poster child for all women who are interested in skating.

 

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She plans to take her skills overseas and we have no doubt that she will one day succeed since she’s already the Malaysian representative for a global Muslim female-led skate crew called Skater Uktis, based in London, U.K.

To keep up with Nurdiyana, follow her Instagram.