There's nothing more fun than playing in natural terrain!
Of course, we love powder, but it's not always powder-filled, and since you've come all the way to the mountains, there's no reason not to enjoy the whole experience. Freeriding is fun no matter where you ride. Playing on
natural terrain not only allows you to enjoy a variety of riding styles, but the great appeal is that you can enjoy it with friends. For those of you who want to enjoy riding with friends, we'll teach you 13 tips to help you become good at playing with the terrain. We'll also tell you about the precautions you need to take when riding on natural terrain, which is full of variety.
The setting is Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido, where two freeskiers, Hirofumi Ishikawa and Hidemitsu Okada, will provide guidance on how to enjoy the natural terrain and tips on riding techniques
Enjoy the whole mountain!
The entire terrain is a play item
1.
Fallen trees are common along the course.
This is an application of leveling.
Point:
Terrain with fallen trees, such as undulations beside the course, is a common pattern on any slope. When riding, keep this in mind:
"Just jump on as an extension of the turn. Look first at the trunk, and once you've climbed onto the tree, look for the place where you'll jump and land. Turn while riding a little on the tail, and when you jump, make sure your body is facing the direction of travel."
Attention
: "If you push off too much at the peak, you'll lose your balance in the air. Keep your skis directly under your body, don't push down, but don't let up as you go out."
Riding tips
: Just imagine it as an extension of the turn
. Don't push off when jumping out
| Frequency of occurrence ★★★★ |
| Difficulty ★★★★ |
2.
Use the undulations of the course
to find jump spots
Point:
Mix free runs and jumps by taking advantage of the undulations and changes in slope of the course. It's easier to jump if there's a line with someone ahead of you at the jumping position.
"When jumping on an undulating course, it's hard to gauge how far you'll fly and how long you'll stay in the air, so don't take off too far, and start with straight jumps to see how it goes."
Attention:
If the landing area is difficult to see, have someone go ahead and check for people or obstacles and give a signal. Collisions can be dangerous.
Riding tips :
First, slow down and check the
condition. Then speed up once you understand the condition.
| Frequency of occurrence ★★★ |
| Difficulty ★★★ |
3.
Enjoy the natural curves of the Natural Pipe
of point
courses and on ungroomed courses. "I find the main point to aim for, and to get there, I make sure I have a clear image of the line I need to take before I start."
Attention
: "It's quite difficult to ski on the line you expect. You can't pick up speed. You can't change turns the way you want. In this case, I aimed to create spray in the snowdrift in front of the tree, as shown in the sixth photo."
Riding tips :
Taking a line without slowing down
| Frequency of occurrence ★★★★★ |
| Difficulty ★★ |
4.
the wall on the side of the course
with a simple press.
Point:
Using sloping terrain such as the side of the course, he slides sideways while performing a tail press.
"Rather than trying to put your center of gravity on the tail, imagine bending your knees fully and lowering your hips. Also, while sliding sideways, it's important to twist your upper body firmly (photo 3-5 from the right). If you don't twist here, you won't be able to finish with a good rhythm. Once you get used to it, you can get the toe piece of your bindings higher than the edge of the wall, which will give you more style."
Riding tips :
Lower your hips and
twist your upper body firmly.
| Frequency of occurrence ★★ |
| Difficulty ★★★ |
❖ The playground is here!
