Ryo Aizawa keeps fascinating the viewer with a unique world view and expressiveness. Kazushige Fujita, who does not release the hearts of enthusiasts with the unique flow and rhythm. Two people with different generations and styles take their first sessions in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. Let them teach them how to enjoy their lives through snowboarding.
Late December 2024. This season is blessed with snowfall since December, and it is like the top season. As the Hakuba mountains began to dye in the morning sun, they came on the Jeep Wrangler.
In front of the two who aim for the first gondola, the mountains of Hakuba illuminated by the morning sun appear. I danced my chest to the expected condition, and walked a little fast to the lift platform.
When Fujita says, "I remember seeing Ryo when I was little, but this is my first session on a slope," Aizawa said, "That's right. I answered.
Two sessions held in the finest condition
There was little snowfall overnight, but the wind reset the slopes of the no-track slope. It's hard to believe that they are skating together for the first time, and the line is so beautiful.
Move to the panoramic course and ski on the vast grooming barn. As I told them in advance, ``Please enjoy your freestyle today,'' I took a free approach and carved a line.
``It was really difficult for the two of us to synchronize from the beginning,'' Fujita said, and Aizawa said, ``They matched the rhythm so well that I didn't realize it was that difficult.''
Although they share the same background of competing in big air and slopestyle on the world stage, their current snowboarding styles are completely different. The contrast between the curvaceous Fujita, who values flow and rhythm, and the dynamic, springy Aizawa is very refreshing. The moment when Fujita's quick turn and Aizawa's supple movements intersect in a pinpoint manner.
``The timing was a bit on the edge,'' Aizawa said, and Fujita replied with a smile, ``It's totally fine. I can trust Ryo's movements.''
On the lift, with the Hakuba Sanzan in front of you, you can have a lively conversation about the terrain you're seeing and the next slope you're going to ski. ``I've almost never skied in Hakuba before,'' said Aizawa, and Fujita, who is used to skating in Hakuba, explains, ``You can approach the slope you see over there from the top of the mountain.''
As they naturally open up to each other, their timings begin to synchronize perfectly.
“Today, I probably skied the best slope at the best time,” said Fujita. ``It was amazing. It felt so good,'' Aizawa said, looking like he was having fun.
``Recently, most of the places I ski have been on the street instead of ski resorts, so it was refreshing to be able to ski properly at a ski resort like this,'' Aizawa said, ``If I had known more about the terrain, Ryo's attack methods would have been better.'' My skating style may have changed, but it was actually fun skating together for the first time and trying to figure out what to do,'' Fujita said.
The two said, ``This is our first time skating together,'' but by the time the event was over, they had become as familiar as old acquaintances.
“Jeep Wrangler” is a perfect partner for enjoying winter.
After a session at the ski resort, the two get into a Jeep Wrangler and head off the slopes. During the ride, we had a free discussion on the topic of ``cars for snowboarders.''
When asked by Fujita, ``What is essential for a car in the winter?'', Aizawa immediately replies, ``Isn't four-wheel drive the most?'' For snowboarders, having a reliable vehicle is just as important as choosing gear.
``It's the same whether you go to a ski resort or a mountain, but the preparation starts from the approach to the spot, so I want you to run in any conditions,'' Fujita says. True to its word, the Wrangler runs powerfully and smoothly on snowy roads.
The generous vehicle height provides outstanding drivability even on deep snow and rough roads. The Jeep Wrangler's ability to switch from 2WD to 4WD with a single switch allows it to flexibly adapt to changing winter road conditions.
``Street spot hunting is really cold, often late at night or early in the morning, so seat heaters and steering wheel heaters are useful,'' Aizawa said, reaching for the control panel. It is also fully equipped with comfortable equipment that is essential in the middle of winter. ``In the backcountry, we often start moving at dawn, so moving in the cold requires a lot of physical strength, so having a feature like this is helpful,'' Fujita says.
The important thing when shooting on the street is choosing the location where you want to shoot. It's especially worth visiting places that no one has touched yet.
``If I like the spots in Honshu, I'll go to Honshu, and if I like Hokkaido, I'll go to Hokkaido, so I need a car that can drive anywhere,'' says Aizawa. The Jeep Wrangler provides stable driving in any situation, from steep mountain roads to deep snow, greatly expanding its range of action. ``If you have this, you won't have to worry about any conditions,'' Aizawa nods while switching the drive system. The electrically controlled 4WD system can be switched depending on road conditions using the shift knob. Perfectly matches the needs of snowboarders.
Fujita said, ``Not just for snowboarding or surfing, but basically because we play outdoors, it's important to be able to enjoy moving around.'' To which Aizawa replied, ``The capacity of the luggage compartment is also important.'' It's important, isn't it? If you have the time, it's easier because they'll take care of things even if it's a little rough."
The spacious luggage space comfortably fits two people's board gear.
“Choosing a car is already a part of snowboarders' lives, and especially in winter, reliability is key,” says Fujita. True to its words, the Jeep Wrangler is more than just a means of transportation, it has demonstrated its presence as a partner that supports the winter lifestyle.
``I was surprised at how quiet and extremely comfortable the ride was, even on rough roads,'' says Aizawa with satisfaction. "You'll want it," Fujita says with a smile. With its combination of sporty driving and practicality, the Jeep Wrangler is the perfect companion for enjoying winter activities.
Talk session: “Life is about enjoying yourself”
After leaving the slopes in a Jeep Wrtangler, the session concluded with a conversation about how to enjoy life through snowboarding.
Styles and tastes change
Fujita: ``I started snowboarding in Kyoto, where there is little snow, and started doing snowboarding at first, then park, then mainly jumping, and started going to competitions.Although I was having fun, I still felt like I was reaching my limits with contests. I was competing all over the world, but in the end it was always a competition with people, and no matter where I went, I just did jumps. Since I was coming back, there was a time when I felt like the world I was seeing didn't look the same anymore.At that time, I suddenly saw the mountains of a foreign country spreading out before my eyes, and I thought that there was a world nearby that looked so interesting. When I actually went there, it was so much fun that I wanted to do more snowboarding, or just go on an adventure.''
Fujita has experienced many changes from park to competition to freeride. Fujita's horizons expanded through his experience overseas, and he began to discover a new fascination with mountains. After that, after gaining experience in Canada and Alaska, he stepped into the inner stages of freeride.
Aizawa, on the other hand, has taken the world by storm with his world-class skills and has been active in major international tournaments. Although there was a possibility of competing in the Olympics, he withdrew from competitions at a young age and chose the streets in search of a more free form of expression.
Aizawa: “I actually liked expressing myself more in videos than in tournaments.X I used to do things like the quad cork 1800 at major international competitions, but I started to feel like it wasn't the kind of expression I wanted to do. So, every time I stood on the starting block, I kept thinking, ``Is this okay?'' At that time, the environment surrounding me was changing, and it was time for me to move from competition to street racing. I saw it as an opportunity.”
The discomfort of competing and the change in environment overlap. Searching for new ways of expression, he changed the stage to street expression.
``Right now, I'm trying to stick to the styles I like and the good and bad expressions.I want to show off with simple techniques.Even if I do make-up, if I don't like the look, I can do it again and again.'' I want to absorb and embody the expressions that I think are cool in street videos, not only in snowboarding, but also in other fields such as skating and surfing.
He has created a unique world view by incorporating a variety of expressions beyond the world of snowboarding.
Kazushige Fujita and Ryo Aizawa talk about how to enjoy change
Two people from different generations and snowboarding styles. However, one thing they all had in common was the philosophy of ``enjoying change.''
Fujita: “If it doesn’t change, it won’t be interesting.”
Aizawa nodded deep into this word.
Aizawa: "I don't want to be honest with last year's video. It changes every year, and things I didn't imagine in a good way, so my taste is always changing."
Fujita also says while nodded.
Fujita: "I'm so good. I feel like I've done it once. I want to have a different experience than repeating the same experience. I can imagine that I can live on a turn alone when I was young. I didn't do it. "
The attitude of enjoying the change, regardless of stereotypes, has created a positive future.
Aizawa: "I like something completely different, I think that what I thought was good was still crazy, and that kind of thing was so intense that I decided to decide the direction a little recently, and I want to do the process up to that point freely. I'm doing something like doing things. "
It is important to work on your own sensitivity and timing without dare to make ties.
Share how to enjoy it
The talk session shifts to the topic of the project that they work on.
First of all, I will talk about GORYU WAVES by Fujita.
Fujita: "I was originally interested in making field making. I liked the camera and took photos and videos at the Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort, but when I look back, everyone will always have fun, so that's it. It's nice to see various people who want to make a field and enjoy various people.
On the other hand, Aizawa also hosts an event called Uzumaki.
"The closure of Snowva Island was closed, so it was the beginning of Uzumaki to gather people on the last day of Snowvahajima and do an event. It was a very special place for me, so I shared a good time at the end. There is also UZUMAKI on the extension of that feeling.
The charm of the snowboard that I feel again
Aizawa: "The place that doesn't win or lose is a different charm from other sports. It's really fun to feel like there is an infinite way. There's nothing like a uniform, and I'm always sliding like plain clothes. But there is a way of enjoying it with a very good clothing.
Fujita: "Is it the most attractive to be able to play in the natural rhythm? I like it most that I can't do it all the time. It's rare. I think the value of the pleasure you get will decrease, so I think it's good because you can only do it in the morning.
Aizawa has discovered the freedom of snowboarding and the depth of pockets, and Fujita has been attractive to the relationship with nature and the value of the moment.
Fujita: "Snowboard can be a friend just by having a common language. Even if the style is completely different, it will be exchanged, and that's a really good place." Aizawa deeply nodded.
Each has been pursuing his own way of enjoying, and has enjoyed accepting the changes that occur. If you look at the snowboards, it's obvious that you have a life to enjoy yourself.
JEEP JAPAN: https://www.jeep-japan.com/
Text: TAKAHIRO NISHII (COWDAY)
Photo: Kentaroufuchimoto.com
■Information
COWDAY
COWDAY is a creative team that was launched in 2015 and holds Japan's largest snowboard event every year. Including the international slope style tournament "COWDAY SLOPE", the "COWDAY SNOW CREATIVE FEST" that expands the creative possibilities of the snowboard, and the urban street event "COWDAY STREET event" to bring snow to historical temples in Osaka. Is transmitted the charm of snowboarding through a variety of projects. Through these activities, it contributes to the sustainable development of snowboard culture, continuing unprecedented challenges, and its influence is expanding year by year.