Join us on a journey: Riku Sinivirta in Japan

This is where the joint journey of BK’s athlete team’s youngest promise Riku Sinivirta and Boulderkeskus begins!

The bright star of the competition climbing, half-Japanese, half-Finnish 17-year-old young man has climbed in the competition group of the BK Climbers since it was established. In his short but very effective career, he has won nothing but gold in the Finnish Nationals. Now Riku is also a BK Athlete, our ambassador around the world.

In the summer, the Italian shoe brand Scarpa also took Riku under their wings. And no wonder, this motivated climber has a promising career ahead of him. A new, exciting page now turns in Riku’s life, as life takes him back to Kyoto, Japan – at least for a year.

The aim is to train hard and move towards the high goals. Japan’s high-performing level will certainly bring an extra boost in the training, and the familiar people and gyms will definitely help in getting stronger.

We already have Riku’s greetings from Japan from the first weeks after returning:

“My quarantine will end on Tuesday 7.9. next week. My quarantine has not been as much fun as I thought: a highway is now being built on the nearby mountain, and I am not allowed to go looking for climbing rocks there – which was the original plan. On the other hand, this has been a good opportunity to get some work out done and also recover the body. It has also been wonderful to eat decent Japanese food after a long time. I’m not completely used to the heat yet, but it has been fun to be here.

Next Tuesday, I’m going to go climb at my home gym Crux Kyoto for the first time in more than three years. The place itself is similar in style to BK Pasila, but slightly larger.

My goal for the year is to enjoy and improve as much as possible in everything I do here.”

Even though the man is on the other side of the globe, the bond with the Boulderkeskus will not be broken during the year. You can follow Riku’s journey, workouts, everyday life and climbing culture in Japanese settings here via BK’s blog as well as Instagram (Riku: @ri9_blueriver ja Boulderkeskus @boulderkeskus).

You’ll fine Riku’s interview video here or below!

Welcome to follow Riku’s journey with us!