"The Road to Ski Resort Mania" ~Snowmobile Edition~Learn more about "working vehicles" on the snow | Part 2

This series will provide detailed and enthusiastic commentary on Japan's ski resorts from various perspectives. This time, we will focus on snowmobiles in the second part. In the first part, we gave a general overview of the basics of snowmobiles, but in the second part, we will introduce some trivia

1. Snowmobiles can even travel to the ends of the earth

Developed Japan's first snow vehicle

Ohara Iron Works (hereafter referred to as Ohara) is a long-established manufacturer with its headquarters and factory in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, a snowy region. The company is engaged in a wide range of manufacturing businesses, including recycling plant equipment, biogas power generation facilities, and sewage treatment facilities, but it also has a long history of manufacturing snow vehicles.

In particular, in the field of snow vehicles, the company is known as a pioneer, having been the first in Japan to successfully develop a snow vehicle, and its vehicles are also used by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition.

It all began in 1951, shortly after the end of the war, when the then Governor of Niigata Prefecture asked us to develop a snowmobile to help stabilize the lives of people in areas with heavy snowfall. At the time, the snow removal system in Niigata Prefecture was not yet in place

At the time, Ohara had no know-how in vehicle manufacturing. In other words, they had to start from scratch. Snowmobiles that run on soft snow need to be lightweight, but also sturdy enough to withstand harsh natural conditions. Groping their way around, the first thing the employees at the time looked to for inspiration was the amphibious vehicles of the US military

After repeated trial and error, the first prototype, "Fubuki-go," was completed just four months into development. However, difficulties continued to arise from there. The biggest obstacle was the damp snow that is unique to Japan. Snow would inevitably stick to the drivetrain and tracks, causing them to freeze

After nearly four years of battling this problem, they finally managed to put it to practical use. They made repeated improvements, such as using resin and rubber instead of metal for the suspension to reduce weight, improving durability, and preventing snow from sticking. Ohara's challenge bore fruit, and the car was finally on track

To Antarctica

A new turning point came in 1967, when a small snow vehicle jointly developed with related companies was adopted by the Antarctic Research Expedition. This was done without any data on the harsh weather or snowfall in Antarctica

So, what is particularly important when building a vehicle for Antarctica?

The first priority is that it must be unbreakable. Also, even if something breaks, it must be possible to move it to some extent, and it must be possible to repair it with simple tools. In other words, it needs to be as simple as possible. For nearly half a century since its first adoption, Ohara's snowmobiles have continued to function as the means of transportation for Antarctic research teams

At the same time, Ohara also dispatches a maintenance staff member to Antarctica each time. To be precise, he seconded them to the National Institute of Polar Research, where they become part of the expedition team as staff members

If selected, candidates will begin by undergoing training at the National Institute of Polar Research to build up their physical strength. Once there, they will be working in a harsh natural environment. They may have to drive all day in a blizzard across endless snowy fields

To the ski resort

Ohara began producing slope maintenance vehicles in the 1960s. Today, they hold nearly half of the domestic market share. The strength of a domestic manufacturer is their ability to develop products that are adapted to the Japanese environment. As they are based in the snowy country of Niigata, they not only know Japan's snow inside and out, but also have a comprehensive support system

A recent topic is the evolution of functions for park construction. Around 2000, it was only possible to scrape snow to fit items, but now the range of movement of the blade has been increased, allowing for more detailed work

 Through trial and error and repeated ingenuity, they develop products that are highly reliable and address customer needs. Here again, they demonstrate the typical Japanese manufacturing style

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2. Behind the Scenes of the Artistic Grooming Barn at Appi Kogen

Appi's corduroy is now at the level of art

Appi Kogen, Tohoku's largest ski resort, is renowned for the quality of its groomed slopes. The runs are characterized by their extreme vertical length, with the longest stretching out over 5km. When these long runs are perfectly groomed, the "Appi Corduroy" is a work of art.

The work is, of course, carried out by snow groomers. Nine machines, including the high-performance Prinote model "BYSON," are in full operation. In addition to the latest models, some have been carefully maintained and used for many years.

Considering the vast scale of Appi's slopes, nine machines is not a large number, but the small but highly skilled staff (usually 13 people) work day and night to groom the snow, resulting in these groomed runs.

Craftsmen pass on traditional techniques 

Work starts at 10 p.m., and from there it takes an average of eight to nine hours, meaning they work through the night. Appi's snow grooming staff are truly a group of professionals, always striving to improve quality. They pay close attention to every single groove.

Just being able to operate the machine doesn't mean you'll be entrusted with snow grooming. Only operators who have undergone rigorous training and been recognized by their instructors can actually take part in on-site work. Therefore, training new employees is also an important theme.

To become a snowmobile operator, you first have to go through a safety course at the beginning of the season and receive repeated lectures on how to operate the vehicle while riding with a senior. Once you have reached a certain level, the senior decides to let you ride alone. After that, you continue to receive thorough training, with instructions over the radio and vehicles with veterans riding in front and behind you providing support　

Behind the scenes, this magnificent grooming barn is also where such talent development takes place

3. The clever naming of snowmobiles

The bright red snowmobile you often see is the "Pistenbullie" made by the German company Kessler, which has a large share of the snowmobile industry. The name comes from the word "bullie" meaning to bully, and it means "a machine that works so hard it bullies the mountains."

Not to be outdone by the power of the Pistenbullie, the Italian company Prinoto is always on the stylish side, and the names of its snowmobiles are also stylish. The names are perfectly matched to the characteristics and performance levels of the machines.

" LEITWOLF " means a lone wolf that rules the snow fields. With a working width of 5.05m, it is a name that seems to refer to the model that boasts the highest specifications among Prinote's snow vehicles. When you watch this video, it seems that the origin of the name is easy to understand. It is impressive that a promotional VP would go to such lengths.

The BYSON Bison is a wild buffalo, which evokes images of toughness, power, and passion. By the way, wild buffalo seems to be popular among Europeans, and even Red Bull uses a buffalo as its character. The BYSON is also used by many ski resorts in Japan. It is a highly maneuverable medium-sized ski lift that can be used for a wide range of tasks, from pipe construction to slope maintenance, which is probably why it has earned such high praise

The name "HUSKY" comes from the Husky dog. Just like the Husky dog, it powerfully rakes through the snow, pulls a sled, runs lightly, and is maneuverable, making it a versatile model that can also be used to transport people and perform a variety of tasks. By adding a compartment, it can also be used for CAT skis. Be sure to check out the video

Other names that convey their performance, role, and presence include "BEAST," "EVEREST," and "TROOPER." If you can immediately remember the names of these machines just by seeing them on the slopes, you're probably a serious snowmobile enthusiast

4. Snowmobile night work

Work through the night

As in the case of Appi Ski Resort, staff are forced to work through the night to ensure the ski resort opens early in the morning. Operators need to be good at working at night, which is a big challenge.

Here is a video of the preparation of the slopestyle venue for the famous ESPN Winter X-Games. The athletes deliver messages of gratitude at the end.

To produce the best performance, the best conditions are created on the stage. The athletes' ability to push their limits and compete is in fact the result of snowmobiles and the late-night work of staff. Knowing this behind-the-scenes information makes watching the competition even more interesting

5. Snowmobile wins Good Design Award

Many people know this mark. There is also a snowmobile that has won the Good Design Award. Ohara Iron Works' strongest model is called "RAIZIN." It won the GOOD DESIGN AWARD in 2017

https://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/45406

It certainly looks cool. With an advanced cockpit design that offers excellent operability and a large glass area that makes it easy to check the work situation, both the interior and exterior design have been highly praised.

Of course, functionality has also been evaluated. In addition to its high engine performance, such as low fuel consumption and high output, its environmental friendliness, which meets the 2014 exhaust gas regulations, and its performance, including its climbing ability, are the best in the company's mid-size model history. Its overwhelming high performance completely surpasses other current models.

The name RAIZIN comes from the fact that it is a medium-sized machine with excellent maneuverability. The "thunder" ("thunder") symbolizes the way the vehicle moves briskly around the slopes like lightning, and the "blade" ("razor") symbolizes the way it neatly carves the slopes with a well-maintained finish

Following the RAIZIN, a new model called the FUZIN will debut next season. We can't wait to see what kind of machine it will be

6. There's another category of snow vehicles

A modified snow vehicle with crawlers

In the first part, we mentioned that there are two main types of snow vehicles, but there is actually what could be called a "third category." This is a vehicle that has detachable "crawlers" attached instead of tires like a regular vehicle. It is a modified snow vehicle, so to speak

This type is basically no different from a normal car, except for the suspension. It runs on a gasoline engine and is driven in exactly the same way. The cost of modifying it is much cheaper than buying an existing snowmobile. In other words, it is technically and financially feasible for individuals to own one.

There are off-road vehicle enthusiasts out there, and some have even uploaded videos of them driving on online video sites. Also, because of their ease of use, they are popular with courier companies and accommodation facilities on ski slopes.

Hyper Delta can also be equipped individually

Northwest, a company based in Nagano Prefecture, specializes in detachable crawlers, and also manufactures and sells a wide range of off-road vehicles, including amphibious vehicles and off-road wheelchairs

 Northwest's detachable crawler brand, Hyper Delta, is a groundbreaking product that can be driven with a standard driver's license. Its capabilities are not limited to snow, but also demonstrate its capabilities on a variety of uneven terrain, including sand, farmland, and slopes. The unit is sold as a set with both winter and summer specifications, and can be modified for use on public roads

To install the Hyper Delta, some modifications and processing of the vehicle itself is required. Due to its structure, some models are more compatible than others. For example, the "Hyper Delta V3" is suitable for Toyota Hiace, Mitsubishi Pajero, Caravan, Land Cruiser, 2-ton class trucks, microbuses, and imported 4WDs. However, if you put in the effort, it can basically be installed on most cars

Now that we have learned a little more about snowmobiles, which are "working vehicles" on snow, let's take a look at what kind of snowmobiles are in use at ski resorts this season

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Part 1 is here

Related reading

"The Road to Ski Resort Enthusiasm" - Snowmobiles - Learn more about "vehicles that work on the snow" | Part 1 This series provides a variety of insights to help you learn more about Japan's ski resorts from an enthusiastic perspective. In Part 1, we looked at ski resort management, slope development, and more...

<Interview and photo cooperation>
Ohara Iron Works Co., Ltd. , Snow Systems Co., Ltd. , Northwest Co., Ltd. (in alphabetical order)