Takaharu Nakai is a Japanese rider who continues to step it up with the best of them.  Big and technical are words that come to mind when talking about Nakai. This guy is a rider who can slay the park, pipe and backcountry – all with technical mastery and a psychotic attitude.

Nakai has been the best performing Japanese shredder at the 6Star Nissan Xtrail Jam for 3 years in a row and there is no doubt that he is ‘big in Japan’.  In 2006 he claimed 1st in the 4Star Abominable Snowjam and from then on he has gone from strength to strength.  Born and raised on the Japanese powder paradise of Hokkaido, Takaharu started making a name himself on the slope and it wasn’t long before Burton picked him up and he was a well known rider on the scene.

Like many other Japanese riders, apart from contests in New Zealand and Australia, Nakai hardly ever travels far for snowboard competitions. In New Zealand he managed to collect a 2nd place at the 3Star Billabong Bro Down in the 2009/10 season.

We hope to see more of Nakai around the globe. He certainly has the talent to go far.