Sometimes, there are kids at ski resorts who perform so high that adults can't believe their eyes.
He has an extraordinary sense and courage, and expands his possibilities without knowing his limits. We've looked into the pure and innocent skiing life of such a super kids.
Memories of skiing
This time we will introduce Shibata Yuma, a 10-year-old freeskier who skates around Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture.
At the Chanmero Freeride, a local tournament in the Hakuba area, the judges score an amazing jump with a score of 100 points, and a creative and bold line. He has the "sharp" performance and courage that will excite the gallery waiting for Cortina's fourth lift. And most importantly, the innocence of "Thank you for such a fun thing."
Who is this super kids?
With my parents in attendance, I talked to Yuma-kun.
First, I asked about what would be easy to answer at first.
Yuma-kun, what are the memories of skiing that you still remember well today?
"I did a front flip when I was seven years old, and I thought I'd stand it a little more, but then I moaned and slammed my mouth, and it hurt a bit. The first thing I did was 360, the next was a back flip, and the third was a front flip."
From my first memory, I was already on a huge scale.
Shibata Yuma. He is 10 years old, born in January 2015. He was born in Aichi Prefecture, but his parents moved to Otani Village when he was two years old. He decided to run the "Powder Lodge Cortina" at the foot of Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.
In life with the great outdoors of HAKUBAVALLEY, skiing has been blending into life as Yuma-kun's favorite play since his small size.
"I started skiing around the end of my year of age. My mother held me on the gentle slopes of Iwatake and slid me over and over again. At the beginning of my year of age, my mother put me between my legs and speeded me up, and I slid it over and over again on the steep slopes, and while I was doing that I was able to slid anywhere."
...and read the "manuscript" well. The editorial department had asked questions before the interview, so they probably wrote down the drafts and prepared them to give them a thorough answer. She has an innocent look on her face and looks so cute that she says "mother" Dad and mother watched over me. Yuma-kun, are you a little nervous?
her mother take a picture of her coming down straight in Super Bogen, saying, "You can ski anywhere now, Yuma!"
Jump is swinging in the air
Let's listen to all sorts of things at a time.
—What is the fun thing about skiing now?
He immediately replied, "Jump!" "Um, a huge jump!" he added.
—How does it feel when you're jumping? What are you thinking in the air?
"When you're in the air? It's expensive! It feels great when you can land properly,"
he says with a smile.
—Does the feeling you get when jumping are similar?
"Swing! It's like riding a huge swing in the sky."
I see, an empty swing.
For Yuma-kun, flying a big 15m kicker seems to be an extension of the playground equipment that allows you to enjoy gravity.
—What are your favorite tricks?
"Backflip!"
I want you to watch this video. The accuracy of the landing was comparable to that of an adult. Lots of room.
—How can I make a perfect landing decision using a backflip?
"Fly high, lean your body and arch, then go backwards, and once you turn halfway, you'll look carefully at the landing, and if it doesn't seem to be enough, you'll shrink. If you're almost over, stretch your body out at the time."
In other words, you can adjust the movement yourself in the air. Without anyone being taught, I tried it and it turned out naturally! That's why I'm surprised. At the same time, he is a very 10-year-old who can clearly express his body movements in words.
—Is there anything I'm paying attention to when I'm jumping?
"Don't let your balance go wrong. Axis."
—How can I get the balance?
"Trampoline. I've been to HakuBounce since I was six years old. I also do skateboarding. In the summer, I ride mountain bikes, swim in the river, and water jumps. I also like baseball."
All of these are fun games for Yuma-kun.
"It doesn't feel like I'm practicing, I feel like I'm getting better while playing."
He says casually. I haven't done any special training. Still, he already knows how to manipulate his body in the air.
Yuma's amazing
During the 2024-25 season, Yuma-kun participated in a total of four tournaments, including the Chanmero Freeride Open, which is open mainly with the JFO (Japan Freeride Open) and the HAKUBA VALLEY.
"All the other three winners except JFO won! We had a 360 win at JFO, just after the start, but the timing wasn't right and one of the skis got off. But we just slid halfway through with just one of the remaining skis. Then we got a special prize and got a THE NORTH FACE bag!"
he said happily.
JFO is one of Japan's most highly-class freeride tournaments with a history of 10 years, but Yuma-kun won the special award provided by THE NORTH FACE, the "Genius Award."
This award celebrates not only the skill and speed, but also the uniqueness, creativity and flow of the skiers, and is perfect for Yuma-kun.
In the first place, 20cm of fresh snow was piled up on the slope of the tournament at this time, and the snow continued to fall during the tournament. Right after the start, there is a sloped tree run, and after stitching through the trees, open terrain with bumps awaits everywhere. Moreover, due to snow, the visibility is a bit like a flat light, making it difficult to recognize the terrain of the slope.
Even in such a situation, it shows how skill and determination Yuma-kun has to ski halfway through on one foot.
And there's also this episode.
At the Omusubi Open at Happoone Ski Resort, which is the most difficult course of the "Chanmero Freeride Open", and adults struggle with the most difficult course, Yuma-kun scored a skiing speed that was unstable and a backflip that he specialized, giving him a perfect score of 100 points.
When the judge saw the skid, he rated, "There's no better than this."
This is the day's ski. I hope you try playing it.
Yuma-kun's father was also curious about this.
"I was a little surprised at how 100 points. I rarely get a 100 points in a freeride tournament... Well, since it's a local tournament, I think there's a point in supporting you,"
he said with a wry smile, but
"I'm really impressed by how well they match up (laughs)."
The mother next to me also
said, "Yuma has a lot of courage. I guess he's got a sense of determination."
Dad is desperate to keep up now
As you can see in the video, Yuma-kun's skiing is fast and aggressive. And he's extremely creative. Even the only line you choose from drop-in is full of playfulness.
"From the start, look at the whole thing, find a place to play, and try to follow the line with as many points as possible for jumps. Speed? It's not scary at all,"
commented Yuma, who also seemed to be conscious of this.
"Lately, my speed has increased to the point of difficulty following behind me... (bitter smile)
," said Dad.
In fact, Yuma-kun's father is Shibata Yuki. He is a professional guide who works based on Hakuba. In addition to his guiding job, he continues to participate in the freeride competition FWTQ, and is a professional athlete who has finished third in FWTQ Hakuba in 2023, and also ranked third in the podium.
His son is so skated that he can't keep up with this father. How can such a super kids grow?
I guess they have been teaching talented education since their small age, thinking about their future.
"No, no, nothing special. I've done anything special. However, once I step outside my house, I can easily get on the slopes, so I've been playing skiing since I was a little bit older.
My body started to get a little better since I was in the third grade of elementary school, and I started skiing more and more and more.
I was able to ski anywhere on the course, so I started taking them to Cortina tree runs and small backcountry.
But I never imagined that at the time I would be like a session buddy, sliding on equal terms like this (laughs).
Now, parents and children are skating together for about 50 days during the season. It's true that they're partners who shoot each other's sliding videos on GOPRO or smartphones.
the driving force
What does your father think of such a super child?
"I think your concentration and imagination are really amazing. The way you concentrate when you're doing something you love is amazing. When you go to the mountains, you're already crazy and skating forever. You start to come up with interesting things and try new things one after another. I'm scared of anything, really.
I never say anything about him slipping. I think you should do it freely and at your own pace. The only thing to say is safety management.
I'm noisy about safety, such as bad weather, risks from tree runs, and points to meet people on the slopes, but all that's left is to keep an eye on them. In case something happens, I put a piece of paper on the lift ticket holder with my emergency contact information and more."
When Dad set up a PVC pipe in the lodge garden, Yuma-kun said he continued to silence and skate alone until late at night. His concentration and passion for skiing are his passion, and he seems to be "unusual" just like his slip.
We asked Yuma-kun what he thought he had grown last season and what he was able to do new things.
"I've now been able to do 360 while wearing a glove. Safety glove 360, Japan glove 360, and tail glove 360. I was thinking about doing a glove for the first time this year, so I tried it and it was done. I think safety glove is the best."
—What do you want to wear next?
"Front flip. Hold the mute grab and hold the grip. I also want to do a double back flip!! I'll do a lot of water jumps this summer and I think I can do it in the winter."
This is what it means to be a mass of unknown possibilities. The 10-year-old Airmaster probably doesn't have two words "No way" in his mind.
By the way, this is a picture of a double flip image training on a trampoline. Makeup this winter is sure to be a no-no.
—What's the happiest thing about skiing right now?
"Being told you're good."
The thing that makes me happiest when my father said it to me is the words "You're good." It's a rather mature idea to make my father, a professional skier, say he's good at it, and feel joy in that.
—What does Yuma-kun think about his father?
"Super good. How to slide."
—What do you want to say to your dad?
"Thank you as always,"
he said on the TV. Yuma-kun is a good girl who can express his gratitude for his respect and support of his father.
A horse that runs freely
Yuma-kun was 10 years old and had this skate. Naturally, he is a popular guy known in the Hakuba Cortina area, and other places. When I go skiing, the old men at the lift station will give me sweets and call out to me.
Let's take a look at this video. The Hakuba Cortina Lift Station, a long line of over 100 people appeared on the morning after fresh snow had accumulated. There's hardly a 10-year-old who can make that gallery so exciting.
Everyone tells Yuma is crazy and "Yuma is good at skiing, isn't he?", and the cheers at the gallery make Yuma-kun's desire to ski even more passionate.
—What kind of person do you want to be in the future?
"Professional skier,"
he replied immediately. As expected!
"Yuma means a horse that runs freely,"
says her mother.
This name, which my mother gave me, wanted him to grow freely and expresses his own slipperiness.
He runs through the snowy meadow faster than anyone else, more freely than anyone else. Adults are only excited and surprised by this sight.
Finally, I asked kids and juniors who ski like Yuma-kun to give me a message...
"Go for it! If you work hard, there's something fun about it."
Super Kids Shibata Yuma. How far will the 10-year-old freeskier take to fly from now on?
There is no future that is more exciting than this.