Ed Odeven 
Taiga Hasegawa celebrates on the podium after winning the FIS Snowboard World Cup men's big air event on January 5 in Klagenfurt, Austria. (@fisparkandpipe/via KYODO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [ODDS and EVENS] Taiga Hasegawa, the Snowboarder to Watch
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."
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
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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.
