Issei Sakurai

Japan’s Issei Sakurai has been popping up at events around his home country for years now and in 2019 he earned 3rd at the FISE Hiroshima Street Am. Since then, though, Issei has transitioned to the ramps full time and as of 2025 he has become a wildcard to upset the international podiums. He earned 2nd at Simple Session and 3rd at the STU Pro Varberg Sweden park events, slotted just off the podium at the Rockstar Energy Open to finish 4th, but then followed it up with two Best Trick wins at Red Bull OOrigins plus the title of MVP and then he took all at the STU Pro Rio de Janeiro stop. Still in his teenage years, Issei skates fast, flips into 540s and lip tricks, and is constantly impressing the field with his ability to go big while keeping things clean. Clearly, style matters to Issei.