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[ODDS and EVENS] Taiga Hasegawa, the Snowboarder to Watch

Taiga Hasegawa, the defending world champion in the men's big air event, collected his second FIS Snowboard World Cup win of the 2024-25 season on January 5.

by
Ed Odeven
January 10, 2025

Snowboarder Taiga Hasegawa is an accomplished, elite-level athlete at age 19. In fact, he's been at that level for a few years.

The 2024-25 FIS Snowboard World Cup season provides multiple reminders that the Aichi Prefecture native is one of the sport's rising stars.

It started with a season-opening victory for Hasegawa on October 19, 2024, in his specialized event in Chur, Switzerland, a performance in which he earned 177.25 points. New Zealand's Rocco Jamieson was the runner-up (163.50).

Hasegawa produced similar results in 2025's first World Cup event on Sunday, January 5 in Klagenfurt, Austria. He topped the scoreboard with 179.75 points and Italian Ian Matteoli finished in second place (175.25).

Displaying exceptional command of his techniques and aerial maneuvers, Hasegawa and his sporting partner ― his snowboard ― were brilliant on Sunday. And it reminded this author that a pianist needs the accompanying instrument to perform music.

"It's a good start to 2025," Hasegawa said after the competition, according to Kyodo News. "I was able to concentrate on my runs without thinking about unnecessary things."

He added, "I'll try not to let my guard down as I head into the next event."

The next stop on the FIS Snowboard World Cup tour is Kreischberg, Austria. A field of 51 men, including Hasegawa's compatriots Hiroto Ogiwara and Kira Kimura, will vie for the title on Saturday, January 11.

Among men's big air participants, Hasegawa is No 1 in the World Cup standings (229.00 points), followed by Matteoli (210.00) and Ogiwara (140.00).

Success for Taiga Hasegawa on the Global Stage

As a 16-year-old, Hasegawa was crowned world champion in the men's big air competition at the biennial extravaganza in March 2023 in Bakuriani, Georgia.

After his dynamic victory, Hasegawa shared thoughts on his approach to the marquee event.

"I entered this event, trying to think it would be just a regular competition and it would be all right if I could do what I usually do," Hasegawa was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

He then said, "It was good to rack up points from the first two runs, [and] I knew I could manage a podium finish."

A Mastery of Snowboarding Skills

The complexity of Hasegawa's tricks is an essential part of his success as a snowboarder.

In many sports, numerous elite athletes reach their prime in their 20s or begin to master the most difficult aspects of their sport years after reaching adulthood.

Hasegawa, on the other hand, is already an advanced practitioner of his chosen sport.

Exhibit A: His mastery of balance has produced historic results. In October 2021, he raised the bar for himself and his rivals, becoming the first snowboarder to land 1,800-degree spins in all four directions.

Pause for a moment to marinate on that defiance of gravity ― ignited by otherworldly balance!

And then remember this: Hasegawa raised his game in September 2023 with an even more difficult feat, landing 1,980-degree spins in all four directions, doing so at the Junior World Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand.

A Talent to Follow

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) put Hasegawa's record-breaking feat in perspective in Cardrona. Its online report stated, "Taiga Hasegawa achieved what many believed was near impossible. In a breathtaking display of skill and audacity, Hasegawa stomped all four 1,980 spins, equivalent to a dizzying 5.5 rotations. This monumental feat not only marked a first in snowboarding history but also solidified Hasegawa's position as a force to be reckoned with in the sport."

Keep an eye on Taiga Hasegawa as you familiarize yourself with the names and faces of potential medalists at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.