Meet the Great White Hope of Japanese Snowboarding: 14 Year-Old Miyabi Onizuka

Snowboarding is still a young event in the Olympics, yet Japan hasn’t been able to score a medal.  This has been frustrating for the country that hosted the first snowboarding event in ’98 and as whole has widely embraced the sport on a recreational level.

Well, here comes a new challenger! Out of Kumamoto Prefecture, 14 year-old prodigy Miyabi Onizuka is tapped to be the next big thing in Japanese snowboarding.

In spite of her young age of 14, Onizuka holds the title of Japan’s Strongest Girl Jibber (a snowboarder who performs tricks off objects like railings and ramps). She also won the Burton Euro Open 2012 Championship in her division.

Her career is snowballing right into the 2014 Sochi Winter Games in which Slopestyle will become a new event. All eyes are on Onizuka to capture that coveted medal for her country.

In the meantime you can check out Miyabi Onizuka for yourself at the Burton Rail Days presented by Mini in the Roppongi Hills Arena on 17 November. Here the pint sized phenom will be performing along with pro snowboarders Austen Sweeten, Dylan Alito, and the Helgason Brothers.

If you’re in the area check it out. It’s bound to be a good show.

Source: Youtube SLOPE10

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