Specialized Presents ROGATKIN | The Story of Nicholi 1

Specialized is proud to introduce ROGATKIN —a short film capturing the inspiring journey of Nicholi Rogatkin, a rider who redefined what's possible in slopestyle MTB. Filmed by Keenan DesPlanques.

Nicholi Rogatkin has never followed convention. With his signature mullet, no visor, and ability to spin like a top, he shook up the scene from the start. His fearless approach and groundbreaking tricks have reshaped slopestyle MTB. Keenan DesPlanques (videographer) recalls witnessing his rise firsthand:

"In March 2016, I was watching Crankworx Rotorua with friends. I was a senior in high school, and Crankworx slopestyle was always a highlight-especially the first event of the year. Nicholi was new to the scene, and he was riding completely differently from everyone else. Then, he landed the world's first 1080 in competition, cementing himself as one of the most exciting names to watch."

That moment marked the start of a new era in slopestyle MTB. Eight years later, Specialized partnered with Keenan to tell Nicholi's story-not just as a competitor, but as a true ambassador of the sport. He's a rider who constantly pushes boundaries, rewriting the rules with every event.

"He's landed world-first tricks like the 1080, 1440, Cashroll Tailwhip, and Frontflip Tailwhip. I'm probably missing something —it's ridiculous what this guy has done for slopestyle MTB," remarks Keenan.

Nicholi's relentless drive to progress stems from his upbringing. Raised by Olga and Vladimir, Russian immigrants who instilled in him a tireless work ethic, he grew up pushing his athletic limits. Even his last name, Rogatkin, translates to "slingshot" in Russian — an uncanny reflection of his explosive riding style. His father documented every step of his BMX journey, creating a gold mine of footage capturing the making of an icon.

When asked what drives him, Nicholi explains it's "the new generation of riders. Their skills and their motivation inspire me to keep pushing my riding. I feel so fortunate to experience so many years at the highest level of the sport and I want to keep going for as long as possible."

Beyond his talent, what sets Nicholi apart is his presence. Whether he's landing world-first tricks or hyping up fellow riders from the sidelines, his energy is contagious. It's apparent that Nicholi leaves a lasting impression by not only his accomplishments, but also his true nature of being.

"He's the ultimate hype man and an invaluable energy source at slopestyle events. We just need to figure out how to harness Nicholi's energy to power the world," states Keenan.

Even after two decades of competing, Nicholi is still redefining what's possible. In 2024 at Big White, he landed the first-ever 1440 in a slopestyle run-and he's already setting his sights on what's next.

Nicholi tells us, "I have so many tricks in mind that I have to conquer, but more importantly I want to continue pushing the level of the sport with the next generation of talent!"

Specialized is honored to share his story-unmatched, unstoppable, and always moving forward. Keep an eye on what Nicholi does next.