Online mortgage firm Habito has signed an 11-year-old skateboard champion as its first brand ambassador.

It has partnered with Roxana Howlett, who is the 2020 and 2021 Skateboarding National Champion in the street discipline. 

The business says the moves comes ahead of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Friday (23 July), which will see skateboarding added to the games for the first time.

Habito says its six-month agreement with Roxana will see her mentor an up-and-coming skater in her native Devon, where she will also “spend her time passing on her knowledge and skills to the local skating community”.

Roxana began skating at her local skatepark in Newton Abbot, Devon, when she was six years old. 

She has gone on to win several competitions, including her two consecutive wins at the Skateboarding National Championships.

During the 2020 Championships, which were held remotely due to the pandemic, her family remodelled its back garden to create a homemade half-pipe to enable Roxana to compete.

Roxana says: “Hyped to announce I will now be working alongside Habito on this exciting project with them this year. 

“It is such an important year for skateboarding and Habito is a great supporter of the sport as they sponsored the nationals which I won earlier this year. 

“I’m excited to be their ambassador for the next six months and mentor another new young skater.” 

Habito chief marketing officer Abba Newbery says: “We’re so proud to be adding even more fuel to the skateboarding fire, in what is shaping up to be a massive year for the sport. 

“Rox is a powerhouse of talent, energy and community spirit and her future is incredibly bright. 

“I’m delighted that we can play a part in shining a spotlight on this amazing sport, help Rox on her stellar trajectory and kick-start her mentorship of the next generation of skateboarders.” 

James Hope-Gill, chief executive of the UK sports governing body SkateboardGB, says: “Skateboarding is an incredibly diverse and inclusive sport and its far-reaching appeal and popularity, particularly in the last 18 months, really pay tribute to that. 

“Roxana is an extraordinary young skateboarder and has already won various competitions at just 11 years old. Knowing Habito’s values and Roxana’s passion for the sport, I have no doubt their partnership will help build a legacy of accessibility and community spirit within skateboarding.”