Maui's Rollerblading Legend: Pro Inline Skater Thumper Nagasako

If you have joined Maui Walking Tours for our free Kihei historic walking tour, you have heard the legend of Thumper Nagasako, Maui's homegrown extreme sports athlete that at his peak was ranked the #1 inline skater in America and #4 in the world at the vert ramp (halfpipe).

We were excited to sit down with Thumper and learn more about his journey. We hope you enjoy!

What town on Maui did you grow up in?

Originally from Lahaina, I grew up in Wailuku, Maui.

How did you first get into rollerblading?

I got into rollerblading (inline skating) in the mid 90’s when

rollerblading got really popular.  I started with roller hockey.  During a

tournament on Kauai, I saw an exhibition of Hawaii’s inline stunt team,

Team 5-0, skating a ramp and doing by today’s standards pretty basic

tricks, but for me as an 11 year old boy, I was more in awe than I’ve ever

been.

From there I quit hockey and the skate park took over. I connected with

it, and it became my passion.  Despite now not skating as hard as used

to, 30 years later it’s still something I hold in a special place in my heart.

What was the action sports in-line skating scene like in the 90s on Maui/in Hawaii? Did you have a coach? How did you learn new tricks?

When I started it felt like everyone was blading.  But as the years went

on the scene slowed in the islands and I found myself with less and less

people to skate with.

On the half pipe (Vert) which is what I turned pro on, there wasn’t

anyone else at all doing it in Hawaii at a competitive level.  So it became

quite a solitary practice and remained that way on Maui through my

entire pro career.  For training, I recorded on VHS tape pro contests on

TV and studied them.  I would also film myself and review my skating

to coach myself.  

Looking back, I am not quite sure how I stayed so dedicated when my

training was done in such isolation, yet I kept at it year after year.

What skate parks did you train at here on Maui?

I originally started at the first skate park by the MACC, then when

Keopuolani was built, that’s where I skated.  Part of the key to my

success was that we had a world class half pipe (which is currently still

there).  12x40’, it’s the biggest ramp in the state. If that ramp was never

built, I really don’t think I would have gone as far as I did in my career.

So, a huge thank you to Maui County for funding such an awesome

ramp to train on!

Later when Kihei was built I skated there.  We have 6 skate parks on

Maui, so we are quite fortunate to have so many more options now.

Tell us about your first year pro and competing on the world stage. What accolades/honors did you receive?

In 1999 I tried to turn pro through a series of contests in the Midwest

then Florida for the Amateur World Championships. Going into it I had

no idea how well I’d do, if I’d make it far or not even qualify.  It was

really scary coming from Maui and competing but I knew I had to try.

After making it to The Amateur Worlds in Florida I didn’t turn pro, I got

9th.I was very disappointed and I decided to just skate for a few more

years for myself, maybe not ever compete again. In 2002 I was skating

so much better I decided I had to try again.  This time I won the qualifier

and won the Amateur World Championships, turning me pro!

That was a huge victory, to come back 3 years later, after not being sure

I’d ever turn pro.  My dreams of turning pro had become a reality! For

my accomplishments on the amateur circuit, The Maui County presented

me with an award of achievement at the County Council!  That was a

huge honor!

My first year as a pro I got to complete alongside many of my childhood

idols. Though it was intimidating, they were all so welcoming to have

me as a peer in their pro ranks. Even though we are technically

competing against each other, there’s a lot of team camaraderie in the

sport.

In my first pro contest in Cincinnati, OH I came in 6th . I was the featured

athlete for that Fox Sports Network TV segment. I also got to skate in

the X-Games in the Crypto Center where the Lakers play.  I skated in the

NBC Gravity Games as well as other contests including the Pro World

Championships.  I finished my rookie year ranked as the #1 American

and #4 in the world for in-line vert half pipe.

[Here is great Hawaiian Extreme Sports Video Feature on Thumper Nagasako]

Can you still be found sometimes at the skateparks here on Maui?

Yes, I can! You can still find me skating mostly at Pukalani and Lahaina

but I do go to the others too. I don’t skate quite like I used to but it’s

something I will never quit. But there are some days where I will still

go pretty big! I just recently did a few 900’s and some flips at Lahaina

Skate Park!

If you’re a rollerblader looking to link up and skate please reach out!  Instagram / @jordan_thumper 

Tell us about your new successes as one of the top videographers on Maui.

Throughout my skating career, I would film edits, tricks, segments and

interviews for myself, TV, sponsors and promotion.  I really enjoyed

videography and looking beyond my career as an in-line skater, I

thought videography would be a good transition for me down the road.  

I filmed my first wedding in 2006 and in 2009 I started my company HI

FOCUSED.  I worked my way up the ranks and have been very grateful

for the success the business has had.  I’ve been awarded “Hawaii’s Best

Wedding Videographer” as well as “Maui’s Best Videographer”.  If

you’d like to check out some of my work, my website is

www.hifocused.com Instagram / @hifocused

Anything else?

I’m so thankful for the journey I was fortunate enough to have.  Coming

from Maui, skating in isolation, that I still had the opportunity to turn

pro and pursue my dream is an experience I will forever hold deep in my

heart and soul.  It wasn’t an easy path training alone, having many

injuries (some still bothering me to this day), dealing with nerves and

pressure but in the end, it was all worth it.

I appreciate all the support from Maui County for building that ramp,

and for my parents and everything they did and everyone else who has

been there for me.  My career may have been a solo sport but it did take

a village of supporters to get me where I am.  It has been quite the

amazing rollercoaster ride that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  And

a big thank you to Maui Walking Tours for telling my story, I feel

honored to be a part of your Kihei walking tour!