MANSFIELD skateboarder, Olympian and Australia's 2024 Skateboarder of the year, Hayley Wilson has officially turned pro for REAL skateboards.

This milestone marks a significant achievement in her already impressive career.

Her career started in Mansfield where she first stepped on a skateboard aged eight years.

Her natural talent quickly became apparent as she dominated national competitions.

Wilson's skills earned her four consecutive national champion titles.

Wilson's prowess extended beyond Australian shores, catching the attention of the global skateboarding community in 2019 where she claimed silver in X Games China and Silver in Street League World Championships in London.

The inclusion of skateboarding in the Tokyo Olympics provided Wilson another platform to showcase her talents.

Her board sponsor REAL Skateboards, known for its commitment to authentic skateboarding, has welcomed Hayley to turn pro at a surprise announcement on Saturday, November 9 in Melbourne.

The announcement was witnessed by over 120 family and friends who had travelled from the USA, Adelaide, Queensland, Sydney, Mansfield and parts of Melbourne and regional Victoria where they were sworn to secrecy about the surprise.

Hayley's Mum, Catriona Wilson, said keeping it a secret from Hayley for a number of weeks was by no means easy.

"Hayley was only eight years old when she said she would one day like to turn pro," she said.

"After many years of dedication, commitment and loyalty to her sponsors and followers her dream became a reality.

"We are immensely proud of Hayley and for REAL to release her own pro board which is on sale world wide is a huge honour."

The Wilson family are often asked what is the difference between being a "professional skateboarder" and "turning pro".

Catriona explained that a professional skateboarder is anyone who makes money from skateboarding usually from competition winnings and sponsorship deals.

“Hayley started her professional skateboarding aged 14 from competition earnings and became a full-time professional skateboarder after signing on with her major sponsors," she said.

“Turning pro is the highest honour in the skateboarding industry and very few people in the world have earnt this honour.

“It is when a board company rewards a skateboarder after years of dedication, loyalty and commitment to skateboarding and they are presented with their own custom skateboard which is then sold in leading skate shops and online right around the world."