Takeshi Kodama's life's work, "A Journey Sliding Across the Earth," has resumed after a four-year hiatus. This time, the stage is Svalbard, Norway, in the Arctic Circle (details of the journey can be foundin the book). After completing a fulfilling 25-day journey at the end of May 2023, he was expected to return to Japan... but instead, he traveled to Sweden. What could be the reason?
It was nice to get off at this small, isolated station, but..
After finishing our shoot in Norway, Kei (cameraman Kei Sato) and I boarded a train in the port town of Narvik, heading towards Kiruna in Sweden.
Narvik Station, the northernmost railway station in Europe, is simple and has few passengers. There are only about four trains per day, including both outbound and inbound journeys. You might wonder why there is a railway in such a remote area, but it turns out that there are hardly any passengers and the main source of transportation is the iron ore mined at Kiruna Mine, famous as the world's largest iron ore mine
In winter, the Swedish port on the Baltic Sea freezes over, so the railway was extended to Narvik, an ice-free port. The train headed towards the Norwegian-Swedish border, enjoying the spectacular views of the fjords, which seemed too good to be wasted on iron ore
is located on the border with Norway and the beautiful fjords around Narvik.
Riksgränsen Station, which means "border" in Swedish, is adjacent to a ski resort. The station was bustling with young skiers competing in the FWQ competition that was being held that weekend, but we got off at the next station, just one stop away. It was a small station standing alone in the middle of nowhere
"Is this really the right place?"
This is the place where the name of the iconic "VASSI" series from Haglöfs, a major Scandinavian brand, originates. To be honest, I had imagined a much bigger train station or mountain
Just as I was feeling a bit lost, a stream of smiling Haglöfs friends got off the train that had just arrived from the Stockholm direction. The group that had gathered this time were die-hard outdoor enthusiasts, including riders and guides supported by Haglöfs, staff from the company's headquarters, distributors from around the world, and outdoor-related media
The person who brings together this diverse group of people is Per, a skier and event producer who was born and raised in the area.After a long journey, you might think that the first thing you should do is rest at the hotel, change in the locker room, and leave your luggage...but you're wrong
We prepared in the cold air and immediately began our hike towards the campsite.
Travel gear not needed for the climb was loaded onto a snowmobile and transported to the campsite. We traveled by train and immediately began our four-day life in the snowy mountains, and it felt both extraordinary and normal at the same time. It felt like something unique to Scandinavia, where playing in the snow is a part of everyday life.
After hiking for about 40 minutes, we arrived at the impressive base camp village set up on the foothills of Mount Vassi. The dining area serves delicious food made with local ingredients (reindeer, salmon, cod, shrimp, etc.), and a wide variety of drinks, including local beers, are always available
The pleasant sounds of a musician's acoustic guitar and singing fill the air, and the laughter of people gathered around a campfire or sweating in the sauna can be heard. On a nearby slope, young riders are building kickers and having fun, while others are enjoying kiteskiing on the flat area at the base. They
camp together, socialize in the sauna and bar, and play together in the backcountry. They also exchange information about Haglöfs products while gathered around the campfire or hiking up the mountain. It's truly natural and passionate.
Such a luxurious experience lasted for three nights and four days.
As a skier, I don't know of a more wonderful way to interact with others, and Haglöfs camp was a perfect example of that.
Through the training camp, my confidence in Haglofs has increased
Haglöfs, a historic brand founded in 1914,
has consistently produced outstanding products with innovative ideas and technologies throughout its history. And in recent years, it has taken a very important step.
Recognizing that the textile industry has historically not always been environmentally friendly, Haglöfs has begun efforts to reduce its impact on the planet. By joining two organizations, bluesign and the Fairwear Foundation, it has adopted extremely strict standards for manufacturing that protect the environment.
Today, it is highly regarded as one of the most environmentally conscious (and actively working towards ) conservation among the world's outdoor brands
り組んでいる）ブランドのひとつとして高い評価を受けている。自然の厳しさも恩恵も肌で知り、その偉大さに対していかに自分たちがちっぽけな存在であるかに気づかなければ、本当のサステナビリティには取り組めないはずだ。その根底には間違いなく自然へのリスペクトがあり、それは義務でも流行でもないことが伺える。
is neither an obligation nor a trend. This is based on the curiosity and adventurous spirit that they have had since childhood, and their unwavering love for the outdoors and playing in the snow.
VASSI Mountain boasts an abundance of remaining snow, but the conditions weren't the best during our stay, due to rain immediately after the snowfall and poor visibility. However, our time with the Haglöfs friends, who were always smiling and eager to get moving in the backcountry and enjoy their time in the snowy mountains, seemed to breathe life into the various goods, including the clothing bearing the H logo that they were wearing
Since everyone here loves nature, skiing, and snowboarding, there were few barriers between them to begin with, but living outdoors together for four days only strengthened their sense of unity
And I was reminded once again that there aren't that many things that are important in life: loving family and friends, healthy nature, good food and drinks, and the ability to ski and snowboard
As everyone was dancing to the live guitar music, I casually put my arm around the shoulder of the big man next to me, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Fredrik, the president of Haglöfs headquarters.
I felt incredibly proud to be a part of this group, and as a rider and as someone who loves nature, I felt like I had grown a little. Wearing it makes you feel closer to nature, and it makes you feel excited and gentle.
believe the most important thing is simply feeling comfortable with my own existence here.
I was certain that with Haglöfs, I could walk that kind of lifestyle together.
Takeshi Kodama
He is one of Japan's leading professional skiers. He has been a professional for 20 years, having traveled to countries around the world, including Alaska and Greenland, and even summited Mount Everest. He writes for ski magazines such as "BRAVOSKI" and "Fallline," and plays an important role in video works such as the "icon" series. "Ride the Earth," which began in 2012, has now visited its ninth country, this time in Svalbard, Norway. Just to be clear, the aluminum can illustration is not a bamboo
Instagram:skiertake0728
*You can read an impression of the Haglofs flagship model "Vassi Pro Jacket" that I wore during this camping trip on the Haglofs website.
https://haglofs.jp/contents/Back_to_Haglofs_Takeshi_Kodama
■Haglofs JAPAN https://haglofs.jp/