Kanoa Igarashi was preparing for the biggest year of his life when 2020 decided it had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic not only put the World Surf League Championship Tour on hold, just as Igarashi was really starting to make — well, ride — major waves, but also forced the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.
Once the initial shock of it all wore off, though, Igarashi decided he'd just get back on his board and make 2021 even greater than 2020 could've been.
That began in earnest on Wednesday, with the start of the 2021 Championship Tour. Igarashi is also looking forward to chasing a gold medal at the long-awaited Tokyo Games next summer, where he'll represent Japan while riding waves his father once surfed.