He once competed in World Cup races, and in 2018 he returned to the snow as the head coach of the All Japan Alpine Team. The following year, he moved to Innsbruck, Austria, and now Kenta Uraki is developing Kesleski as the general agent in Japan. He will deliver the latest information and interesting topics such as European snow culture, gear and technology from a global perspective from overseas.
Austrian people fascinated by skiing
In August 2019, he moved to Innsbruck, Austria with his family after becoming the head coach of the All Japan Alpine Team in 2018. In addition to strengthening his players, his goal is to build a base for their activities. Innsbruck, where the Austrian Ski Federation is also based, was the perfect location for skiers and teams to use as a base for their activities, with facilities for storing team vehicles and luggage, physical training for breaks between on-snow training, injury care, and rehabilitation facilities.
Since coming here, I've been traveling in a team car with "JAPAN TEAM" written in large letters on the body, so whenever I go to a gas station, people ask me, "Are you an alpine team? Are you a jump team?" When I returned home, it became a daily occurrence for my neighbors to ask me things like, ``How was the race this weekend? I was watching it on TV.''
The people who lived here not only skied themselves in the winter, but they were also knowledgeable about World Cup skiing and ski athletes, and skiing was truly a part of their lives.
What is the most popular sport in Austria? When asked this question, many people answered "skiing," with alpine skiing being by far the most popular. The national broadcaster ``ORF'' broadcasts live skiing every weekend in the winter. They mainly broadcast men's and women's alpine races, as well as ski jumping, cross-country ski jumping, and many other snow sports.If we were to compare it to Japan, it would be easier to explain that NHK broadcasts skiing most of the time on Saturdays and Sundays. right.
In addition to watching on TV, many spectators come to the Alpine ski races held in Austria. Schladming's men's slalom, held on weekday nights, always attracts 50,000 people. Furthermore, although Kitzbühel is located deep in the mountains, the downhill races attract 100,000 spectators and many celebrities every year. Even after the race, the town was very lively, like a festival, until the next morning, and you can see how alpine skiing is considered a major winter event.
Men's jumping is also popular, and the 4 Hills Tournament, which holds four races in Germany and Austria during the New Year holidays, attracts between 10,000 and 25,000 spectators each day.
Ski athletes are often featured as characters on billboards, advertisements, and even beverage manufacturers around town, and in the winter they often appear on TV commercials and talk shows. Just as baseball and soccer players are popular in Japan, skiers are widely recognized in Austria, and many children dream of becoming top skiers.
In this way, skiing has taken root and penetrated deeply into the culture and lifestyle of Austrian people over its long history. It is no exaggeration to say that skiing is Austria's national sport.
The economic effect of alpine skiing is about 9 trillion yen⁈
The Alpine World Cup begins in Sölden, Austria at the end of October. We often hear in the news that glaciers are decreasing due to rising temperatures, and Solden is one of the ski resorts that has glaciers. In recent years, due to the decline in glaciers and lack of snow due to rising temperatures, in preparation for the race to be held in October, the remaining snow from the previous year was covered with sheets and stored, and when the temperature dropped, artificial snow machines were operated at full capacity. The opening round will be held with the minimum race course secured at the timing of the event.
There are many people who are against this, saying that the opening game is too early. Environmental groups have discovered that the snow is created artificially by consuming a lot of energy, which is said to be a contributing factor to global warming, and that a few years ago, the construction of the race course caused damage to the glacier. There were also protests against it.
A further objection from athletes is that the opening round is held too early, meaning that full-scale on-snow training will have to begin in midsummer or even earlier.
The disadvantages of this are the increased physical strain associated with the increased risk of injury during the long winter season, and the hotel, lift, and course usage fees associated with long-term ski training on glaciers from summer to fall. Increased economic burden is also a major factor. Recently, due to the lack of snow and the decline of glaciers, the training environment for athletes from summer to fall has become extremely concentrated. Added to this is the rise in prices, and the cost of summer ski training continues to rise.
With so many problems, what is the purpose of holding the opening round of the Alpine World Cup in Austria at the end of October?
It is said to have a large political aspect. In Austria, the tourism industry centered on skiing plays a major economic role, and in search of ski resorts that have made a name for themselves in the World Cup, as well as large-scale ski resorts with a history and tradition, Austria has sought out ski resorts such as Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic. In winter, many tourists come from mainly Italy and Switzerland, but also from the Middle East and Asia in recent years.
data from the Austrian Statistical Office , the added value of the tourism industry in Austria reaches 58.7 billion euros (approximately 9,979 billion yen), accounting for approximately 13.1% of Austria's GDP. data from the ``2020 Tourism White Paper'' published by the Japan Tourism Agency shows that the added value of Japan's tourism industry is approximately 11 trillion yen, or about 2% of Japan's total GDP. For Austria, which has a population of 9 million people, less than 1/10 of Japan, and a land area roughly the same size as Hokkaido, tourism is the core industry that supports the country.
As can be seen from these data, the tourism industry centered on skiing in Austria is in a very important position, and it is very logical to use the opening race of the Alpine World Cup to promote ski tourism to neighboring countries. -ing It is truly a national growth strategy, and Alpine skiing is one of the reasons why Austria's tourism industry has developed so greatly.
What is the charm of the ski tourist city “Innsbruck”?
Innsbruck, where I live, is the capital of the state of Tyrol and has a population of approximately 130,000 people, and is one of the world's leading ski tourism cities, attracting many skiers from all over the world. There is an international airport on the outskirts of the city, and it is conveniently accessible by car, taking only two hours to Switzerland and less than an hour to the borders of Germany and Italy.
Buses run from the city center to each ski resort, so in the winter, people carrying skis and walking in ski boots come and go throughout the city. The cityscape, filled with office workers and general tourists, is a sight you won't see anywhere else, and it's truly refreshing.
It's not just tourists who enjoy skiing. For example, the rental apartment I live in has about 15 households, and there is a floor in the basement where each room has storage space. All warehouses are stocked with a full lineup of ski equipment for the whole family, and there's even a ski tune-up room that everyone can share.
On the weekends, it's normal for my family to go skiing. There is also an annual pass to 33 ski resorts in Tyrol called the Freizeit Ticket, which can only be purchased by local residents. Although this ticket is not cheap at around €700 for adults and €100-€400 for children, many local residents buy it and enjoy the opportunity to go not only to their local ski resort but also to ski resorts with their own characteristics. go.
In addition, there are cross-country ski courses in each region that can be enjoyed for free, and residents can easily access the courses, work up a sweat while looking at the wonderful scenery, and relax in the mountain huts next to the courses. It is.
Summer mountain life surrounded by nature is also attractive, and many tourists visit Innsbruck throughout the year. Climbing is an important tourism resource, and local residents also love it. Looking at my friends who live in Innsbruck on social media, I can see how many of them are climbing multiple times a week.
Cycling is also popular, and there are bicycle paths everywhere. Nowadays, there are sports-type electrically assisted bicycles, so older people can try their hand at climbing mountains by bicycle. Even if you don't play sports, you can take the gondola up the mountain, eat lunch, take a walk, and enjoy the mountain at your own pace. Then, as you descend into the city, the magnificent scenery from Innsbruck surrounded by mountains will soothe your soul.
In addition, compared to neighboring countries, Austria's roads are in good condition and there are plenty of transportation options such as buses and trains. Furthermore, by collaborating with agriculture and forestry, the grass on the mountainside has been maintained, and the ski resort maintains its beautiful scenery in the summer when there is no snow. There are many animals grazing around, including cows, horses, sheep, and chickens, and while the sight is soothing, it also shows the background of local production for local consumption.
Even during the period when the country's borders were closed due to the coronavirus, there was no delay in the arrival of food products to supermarkets, giving me a sense of the country's style of not relying on other countries as much as possible.
Furthermore, when it comes to hotels and lodging facilities, the buildings are mainly made of wood and have a warm design that blends into the cityscape and the countryside, creating an indescribable sense of security and coziness. There is a good thing about it.
Japan is in the spotlight right now! The keyword is "snow"
As you can see, Austria has many attractions, but interestingly, Japan is currently attracting the attention of many European skiers.
In recent years, Europe has experienced a serious lack of snow. Meanwhile, skiers from Europe have begun to contact me frequently, seeking information on powder snow in Japan. It seems strange to be interested in Japan even though it is surrounded by such magnificent and historical ski resorts, but the appeal of Japan's snow and tourist destinations has reached all over the world. .
I grew up in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. When I was a child, there were many times when I couldn't leave the house and go to school the morning after it snowed overnight. Snow sometimes brings problems to daily life, but this depth of snow is special, and it would be a waste if we did not see it as an advantage at the national level and make better use of it to create an economic infrastructure for our lives. I hope that Japan can grow into a strong tourism-oriented country that uses snow as a resource like Austria.
To that end, I want everyone in Japan to go out to the snowy mountains and enjoy skiing and snowboarding more! Skiing Japan's powder snow is the ultimate luxury for skiers who are always in search of the finest snow.