Hinano Kusaki

Coming to the world from Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; at eight years old, Hinano Kusaki started taking skateboarding lessons at AXIS Skatepark in her hometown. By 16 she traveled around the world to Portland, Oregon to skate in the inaugural Rockstar Energy Open in 2024. What’s more, her mom was also enrolled in the lessons as a fan of skating herself. Fast forward a few years and she’s now a 3-time Japanese National Champion (from 2021-’23) and as of 2024 an X Games silver medalist. Her favorite skaters are Pedro Barros,(which makes sense because she loves to do 540s), Clay Kreiner and Mami Tezuka. Keep an eye on Hinano to McTwist, backside 540 melon or a Miller flip variation—she’s known to throw down!