Aizawl’s sunset on September 10th set the scene for an unexpected meeting at the Aizawl Book Café. The author was on his way to meet Lalnunkima, a 26‑year‑old freestyle skateboarder who has recently placed fourth at the World Freestyle Skateboarding Championship in Kassel, Germany. Kima, the first Indian to compete at this event, outperformed competitors from over thirty countries, even surpassing Germany’s Daniel Adam, the 2025 world champion.
Kima’s passion began at age eight, but he only pursued skateboarding seriously around thirteen. With no clear career path in Mizoram, he practiced on quiet midnight roads, sometimes skating from 1 or 2 a.m. until 7 a.m. before school. His mother’s unwavering support and his early exposure to skateboarders like Kilian Martin, Rodney Mullen, and Mike Vallely helped shape his confidence and style.
Despite receiving invitations to world championships from the age of fifteen, Kima faced repeated visa rejections and financial hurdles that kept him from competing abroad for years. By eighteen, his confidence had waned after several failed attempts. He returned to local contests, rebuilt his skills, and eventually earned a spot in Germany, where he trained five to six hours a day on better facilities.
The experience highlighted the lack of proper skateparks in India, prompting Kima to move to Goa for safer, covered spaces and commercial opportunities. Skateboarding is now his full‑time job, and while he celebrates his fourth‑place finish, he remains driven to clinch the top spot at his next World Championship in Germany.
