Riki Nakano

Riki Nakano is a Japanese inline skater and one of the world's leading practitioners of trick slalom — a discipline born in Japan that blends acrobatic creativity, style, and technical mastery on inline skates. Born on July 2, 2002, and raised in Tokyo, Riki has been skating since the age of five. His passion for the sport was ignited by his family: his uncle was the first to put on skates, inspiring both Riki's father and older brother to follow. Watching his uncle and brother excel in trick slalom, Riki was driven to push himself and develop his own identity on wheels. Trick slalom is a distinct discipline from freestyle slalom: 15 larger soft cones are set at 150mm intervals, and skaters navigate them with a focus on creativity and visual impact rather than a strict technical scoring system. Style and originality reign supreme — a simple trick executed with flair is valued more highly than a complex move performed without personality. Riki has taken this philosophy to heart, constantly seeking out movements and combinations that no one else has performed before. His approach to training is unconventional: he skates with friends, films content, and lets creativity lead the session. He draws inspiration from multiple skating disciplines — freestyle slalom, aggressive skating, and urban styles — fusing them into a signature aesthetic that has captured the attention of the global inline community. His content on Instagram (@riki._.nakano) has earned him widespread recognition and led to an official ambassadorship with Rollerblade®, one of the most prestigious brands in inline skating.nnBeyond competing, Riki is deeply committed to growing trick slalom beyond Japan's borders. He regularly organises local seminars and competitions across Japanese cities including Tokyo, Saitama, Shizuoka, and Okayama, and aspires to one day host an international trick slalom world championship. He also dreams of building a dedicated skating rink in his home prefecture of Shizuoka.",