Cocona Hiraki

Cocona Hiraki

August 26, 2008 (Age 17)

Japan

Regular

The emergence of Japan as an international phenomenon in the world of skateboarding has been the biggest story of recent years. The enthusiasm youngsters like Cocona Hiraki have brought into the sometimes serious contest circuit is hard to quantify. Although not as well known as her Olympian counterparts in the street contingent, Cocona is arguably the most talented of the bunch. Growing in both confidence and ability since Tokyo, she somehow skates like she has been doing it forever despite being a mere 15 years old. Having made the finals at every WST stop, her World Championship victory in Ostia was emphatic, never once slipping out of pole position from the Quarterfinals onwards, posting not one but two scores in the 90s in her first two runs.