Aizawa Ryo continues to captivate viewers with his unique worldview and expressiveness. Fujita Kazushige captures the hearts of snowboarders with his distinctive flow and rhythm. These two, from different generations and styles, held their first snowboarding session in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. As they continue to pursue their own individuality, they will teach us how to enjoy life through snowboarding
Late December 2024. This season has been blessed with snowfall since December, making the conditions perfect for peak season. As the Hakuba mountains began to take on the morning sun, the two arrived in their Jeep Wrangler
As they headed for the first gondola, the Hakuba mountains appeared before them, illuminated by the morning sun. Excited at the prospect of good conditions, they walked briskly to the lift station
Fujita began by saying, "I remember meeting Ryo when he was little, but this is the first time we've had a session on the slopes, right?" Aizawa replied, "That's right. I think we met briefly at Snowva Hashima."
A session between the two under perfect conditions
There was little snowfall overnight, but the wind had reset the trackless slopes. The skiers' synchronized lines were beautiful, and it was hard to believe they were skiing together for the first time
We moved to the Panorama Course and skied on the vast groomed runs. Just as I had told them beforehand, "Enjoy freestyle today," they carved lines with a free approach
"It was definitely difficult for the two of us to coordinate from the beginning," Fujita began, to which Aizawa replied, "They matched the rhythm well, so I didn't think it was that difficult."
Although they share the same background of having been active on the world stage in big air and slopestyle, their current snowboarding styles are completely different. The contrast between Fujita, who is curvaceous and values flow and rhythm, and Aizawa, who is dynamic and springy, is very refreshing. The moment when Fujita's quick turns and Aizawa's supple movements intersect with pinpoint accuracy
"The timing was a little close," said Aizawa, to which Fujita replied with a smile, "It's totally fine. I can trust Ryo's movements."
On the lift, with the Hakuba Sanzan mountains spreading out before them as a backdrop, the conversation flowed about the visible terrain and the slope they would ski next. "I've hardly ever skied in Hakuba," said Aizawa, and Fujita, who is used to skiing in Hakuba, explained, "You can also approach the slope you see over there from the summit."
As they naturally become more comfortable with each other, their timing begins to synchronize perfectly
"Today, I think I was able to ski on the best slope at the best time," said Fujita. "As expected. It felt great," said Aizawa, who also seemed to be enjoying himself
"Recently I've been skating mostly on the streets rather than at ski resorts, so it was refreshing to skate properly at a ski resort like this," Aizawa recalled. Fujita added, "If we had known the terrain better, Ryo's approach and my style of skating might have been different, but it was actually fun to skate together for the first time and explore things as we went."
The two said it was their first time skating together, but by the end they had become like old friends
The Jeep Wrangler is the perfect partner for enjoying winter
After their session at the ski resort, the two climbed into the Jeep Wrangler and headed off the slopes. While in the car, we had a free discussion about the topic of "Cars for Snowboarders."
When Fujita asked, "What is essential for a car in winter?" Aizawa immediately replied, "After all, four-wheel drive is the most important thing, right?" For snowboarders, having a reliable car is just as important as having the right gear
"Going to a ski resort or a mountain is the same, but preparation begins on the approach to the spot, so I want it to run in any condition," says Fujita. True to his words, the Wrangler runs powerfully and smoothly on snowy roads
The Jeep Wrangler's ample vehicle height provides excellent off-road capability, even in deep snow and rough terrain. The ability to switch from 2WD to 4WD with the flip of a switch means it can flexibly adapt to changeable winter road conditions
"Street spot hunting is often done late at night or early in the morning, when it's cold, so the heated seats and heated steering wheel are very useful," says Aizawa, reaching for the control panel. The bike is also packed with comfort features essential for the middle of winter. Fujita adds, "In the backcountry, you often start moving around at dawn, so traveling in the cold is physically demanding, and it's really helpful to have these features."
Choosing the right location is key when it comes to street photography. It's especially worth visiting places that no one has visited before
"If the spots on Honshu are good, I'll go to Honshu, and if Hokkaido is good, I'll go to Hokkaido, so I need a car that can drive anywhere," says Aizawa. From rugged mountain roads to deep snow, the Jeep Wrangler delivers stable performance in any situation, greatly expanding the range of activities. "With this, I don't have to worry about any conditions," Aizawa nods as he switches between drive systems. The electrically controlled 4WD system can be switched according to road conditions using the shift knob. It perfectly matches the needs of snowboarders
"It's not just snowboarding or surfing, but basically you travel a lot because you're playing outside. Being able to enjoy traveling is an important element," said Fujita, to which Aizawa replied, "The capacity of the luggage compartment is also important. If there's room, you can fit things in even if they're a little rough, so it's convenient."
The spacious luggage space can easily accommodate two people's board gear
"Choosing a car is a part of snowboarders' lives, and reliability is key, especially in winter," says Fujita. True to his words, the Jeep Wrangler is more than just a means of transportation; it's a partner that supports the winter lifestyle
"I was surprised at how quiet and comfortable it was, even on rough roads," says Aizawa with satisfaction. "It makes you want one," says Fujita with a smile. The Jeep Wrangler, which combines sporty driving performance with practicality, is the perfect partner to enjoy winter activities with
Talk session: "Life is for enjoying yourself"
We left the slopes in a Jeep Wrtangler and concluded the session by talking about how to enjoy life through snowboarding
Styles and tastes change
Fujita: "I started snowboarding in Kyoto, where there isn't much snow. I started with freestyle, then park, and mainly jumps, and started competing in competitions. I enjoyed it, but I also felt like there was a limit to what I could do in contests. I traveled all over the world, but in the end it was always a competition with other people, and wherever I went I would just do jumps and come back, so there was a time when I felt like the world I saw wasn't changing at all. Then, I suddenly saw the mountains overseas that stretched out before my eyes, and I thought, wow, this amazing world is so close to me. When I actually went, it was fun, and I wanted to do more of that kind of snowboarding, or simply go on an adventure."
Fujita has made many transitions from park to competition to freeride. His experiences abroad broadened his horizons and awakened him to a new charm of the mountains. After that, he gained experience in Canada and Alaska, and stepped into the deeper stages of freeride
Aizawa, on the other hand, dominated the scene with his world-class techniques and performed well in major international competitions. He had a chance to compete in the Olympics, but retired from competitions at a young age and chose street dance, seeking a more free outlet for expression
Aizawa: "I always preferred expressing myself through film rather than through competitions. I did things like quad cork 1800s in major international competitions like the X Games, but I felt like that was gradually moving away from the way I wanted to express myself. I'm not the type of person who likes to do anything dangerous, so every time I stood on the starting block I would always wonder if it was okay. At the same time, the environment around me was changing, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to move from competitions to street racing."
The discomfort with competition and the change in the environment coincided, and he searched for new ways of expression, shifting his stage to street performances
"Right now, I'm trying to focus on the style I like and the quality of the expression. I want to show simple techniques. Even if I do it properly, if I don't like the form, I'll redo it as many times as necessary. I want to absorb and embody the expressions that I see that look cool not only in snowboarding but also in skating, surfing, and other fields."
He has not only been involved in the world of snowboarding, but has also incorporated a variety of expressions to create his own unique worldview
Kazushige Fujita and Ryo Aizawa talk about how to enjoy change
They are from different generations and have different snowboarding styles, but they share the same philosophy of "enjoying change."
Fujita: "It's not interesting unless it keeps changing."
Aizawa nodded deeply at these words
Aizawa: "Honestly, I don't even want to see footage of myself from last year. It changes every year, and in a good way, things I never imagined happen, so my tastes are always changing."
Fujita also nodded as he spoke
Fujita: "Me too. I feel like once I've done it, it's enough. Rather than repeating the same experience, I want to keep trying new experiences. I mean, when I was younger, I never imagined I'd be able to make a living just by doing turns."
Their attitude of not being bound by stereotypes and embracing change has created a positive future
Aizawa: "I often find myself liking completely different things, or realizing that something I thought was good is lame after all. So, these kinds of things happen all the time, and recently I've decided on a direction, and then I've been doing the process up to that point in a way that allows me to do whatever I want freely."
He doesn't set any restrictions and believes in working according to his own sensibilities and timing
Share the fun with everyone
The talk session then moved on to the topic of the projects each of them is working on
First, we will talk about Goryu Waves, the group Fujita is involved in
Fujita: "I've always been interested in creating ski fields. I love cameras, so I used to take photos and videos at Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort. When I looked back at the photos, everyone always looked like they were having fun, so that's what got me thinking about creating a ski field like that. Now, all kinds of people come to ski at Goryu Waves, and when I see them having fun, I feel glad that I did it."
Meanwhile, Aizawa also hosts an event called UZUMAKI
"The closure of Snowva Hashima was the trigger for me to think about gathering people together and holding an event on the last day of Snowva Hashima, and that's how UZUMAKI began.It was a very special place to me, so I wanted to share a fun time with them at the end.The current UZUMAKI is an extension of that feeling," he recalls
Rediscovering the charm of snowboarding
Aizawa: "The fact that it's not about winning or losing is what makes it appealing and different from other sports. It's so much fun because there seem to be endless ways to enjoy it. There are no uniforms or anything like that, and I always skate in my own clothes. But you can also enjoy skating comfortably in great clothing, and I really like that freedom."
Fujita: "I think the biggest appeal is being able to play in the rhythm of nature. What I like most is that you can't do it forever. It's a rare thing. If you could do it all the time, it wouldn't be as rare, so I think the pleasure you get from it would be less valuable. Even grooming first thing in the morning feels so good because you can only do it first thing in the morning."
Aizawa has been drawn to the freedom and depth of snowboarding, while Fujita has been drawn to the connection with nature and the value of moments
Fujita: "Just having the common language of snowboarding allows us to become friends. Even if our styles are completely different, we can still get along, and that's what's so great about it." Aizawa nodded in agreement
Each of them has continued to pursue their own way of enjoying snowboarding, accepting and enjoying the changes that come along the way. When you watch the two of them snowboarding, it's clear that "life is for you to enjoy yourself."
Jeep Japan: https://www.jeep-japan.com/
Text: Takahiro Nishii (COWDAY)
Photo: kentaroufuchimoto.com
■Information
COWDAY
COWDAY was founded in 2015 and is a creative team that annually organizes one of Japan's largest snowboarding events. They promote the appeal of snowboarding through a variety of projects, including the international slopestyle competition "COWDAY SLOPE," the video contest "COWDAY SNOW CREATIVE FEST" that expands the creative possibilities of snowboarding, and the urban street event "COWDAY STREET," which brings snow to a historic temple in Osaka City. Through these activities, they contribute to the sustainable development of snowboarding culture and continue to take on unprecedented challenges, expanding their influence year after year.