‘Nacho’, the nine-year-old skater girl turning heads in Kimberley

In Kimberley, a fearless nine-year-old skateboarder is capturing attention at the local skate park, not just for her vibrant personality but for the promise she shows on her board.

Meet Kaylin Booysen, though most know her by her cool nickname, Nacho. With just seven months of skateboarding under her belt, this young talent is already being tipped by onlookers and local skate figures as Kimberley’s next potential Olympic skateboarder.

Nacho’s journey began when she stumbled upon a video of local skateboarding sensation Boipelo Awuah, a moment that sparked something inside her. “I want to one day go to the Olympics to go and skate and hopefully come back with a gold medal,” she told the Diamond Fields Advertiser with a confident smile.

And it’s not just a child’s dream; those who’ve seen her in action agree that she’s got that rare spark. Whether she’s dropping in from the top of the deck without hesitation or effortlessly pulling off an Ollie for the DFA team, there’s a natural rhythm to her movements that usually takes skaters years to develop.

The sky's the limit

“She’s got it,” one of the local organisers at the skate park said. “You can see this little girl becoming great in the future. She has everything going for her, and we are all rooting for her. With people like Boipelo Awuah, Keanen Rodgers, and Brad Balie guiding her, the sky’s the limit.”

What stands out the most about Nacho is her fearless attitude. There’s no pause when she steps onto the board. No overthinking. No backing down. She’s not just learning tricks; she’s learning confidence and persistence, skills that go far beyond the park.

“It makes me happy to be at the skate park while making new friends,” Nacho shared. “It is a fun sport, and I like skating as much as possible.”

That enthusiasm is infectious. Watching Nacho skate, one can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. It brings back memories of when Kimberley first met Boipelo Awuah, now a symbol of female skateboarding excellence in the Northern Cape. It's almost as if the city is witnessing the rebirth of that same story, this time starring a little girl who just loves Doritos.

Yes, the nickname “Nacho” has a story of its own. As she tells it, she once saw a nachos meal on a Spur menu and loved the sound of it and the taste even more. Since then, “Nacho” has stuck, and the name has come to represent not just her snack preferences but her bold, fun-loving personality.

At just nine years old, Nacho has a long way to go. There are still many tricks to learn, competitions to conquer, and lessons to absorb. But what she already has is the courage to try, the joy of skating, and a solid support system, and those are the things champions are made of.

Only time will tell how far she’ll go. But if her current path is anything to go by, don’t be surprised if you see her one day representing South Africa at the Olympic Games, proudly dropping into the bowl with that same fearless smile.

For now, she’ll continue to skate every chance she gets, soaking in the joy, the friendships, and the grind of it all. And Kimberley will be right behind her, cheering on their little skater girl with the biggest dreams and the coolest nickname.