At ski resorts, there are kids who perform at such high levels that adults can't believe their eyes.
They have extraordinary talent and courage, and they push their limits, never knowing what their limits are. We took a closer look at the pure and innocent skiing life of these super kids.
Skiing Memories
This time we're introducing Shibata Yuma, a 10-year-old freeskier based at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture.
At Chanmero Freeride, a local Hakuba competition, the judges awarded him a perfect score of 100 for his astonishing jumps and creative, bold lines. He has the courage and impressive performance to thrill the spectators waiting for Cortina's fourth lift. And above all, he has the innocence to say, "Thank you for giving me so much fun."
Who exactly is this super kid?
I spoke with Yuma-kun with his parents present
First, I asked him something that seemed easy to answer.
Yuma-kun, what is your favorite skiing memory that you still remember?
"When I was 7 years old, I did a front flip and I was almost able to stand up, but I fell and hit my mouth, which hurt a little. The first thing I did was a 360, then a back flip, and the third was a front flip." Even
from that first memory, the scale is already huge.
Yuma Shibata is 10 years old and was born in January 2015. He was born in Aichi Prefecture, but his parents moved to Otari Village when he was two years old. They started running Powder Lodge Cortina at the foot of Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.
Living in harmony with the great outdoors of Hakuba Valley, skiing has been a part of Yuma's life since he was little, and is his favorite pastime.
"I started skiing when I was about one year old. My mother would hold me and ski down the gentle slopes of Iwatake many times. When I was about two years old, my mother would put me between her legs and ski down steep slopes at high speeds many times to help me get used to the speed. After a while, I was able to ski anywhere."
...and he read the "script" skillfully. The editorial department had posed the questions before the interview, so he must have prepared a draft to ensure he could answer them properly. He looked so cute with his innocent face as he said "my mother." His father and mother were watching over him. Yuma-kun, are you a little nervous?
says with delight, "You can ski anywhere now, Yuma!"
Jumping is like a trapeze in the air
Let's ask him about various things at a good tempo.
-What is the most fun thing about skiing right now?
He answered immediately, "Jumping!" He added, "Um, big jumps!"
-How do you feel when you're jumping? What are you thinking about while you're in the air?
"When I'm in the air? It's so high! It feels so good when I land perfectly,"
she says with a big smile.
-What is the feeling you get when you jump similar to?
"Swing! It feels like I'm on a huge swing in the sky."
I see, it's a swing in the sky.
For Yuma, flying down the 15m big kicker is an extension of the gravity playground equipment.
-What's your specialty trick?
"Backflip!"
Check out this video. His landing is so precise it puts adults to shame. He has plenty of leeway.
-How do you land a perfect backflip?
"Fly high, bend your body back, turn backwards, and after you've turned halfway, check your landing carefully, and if it looks like you're not going far enough, shrink back. If you're about to go over, stretch your body out as much as you can."
In other words, he was able to adjust his movements in the air by himself. It was amazing that he was able to do it naturally without any instruction from anyone! And yet he was able to clearly verbalize his body movements, which is quite impressive for a 10-year-old
- Is there anything you pay attention to when you're jumping?
"Don't lose your balance. Your center of gravity."
-How do you improve your balance?
"Trampoline. I've been going to HakuBounce since I was 6 years old. I also skateboard. In the summer I ride my mountain bike, swim in the river, and do water jumping. I also like baseball."
For Yuma-kun, all of these are fun games
"It doesn't feel like I'm practicing, it feels like I'm getting better while playing."
" he says casually. He hasn't done any special training, but he already knows how to control his body in the air
The greatness of Yuma
Photo / Chanmero Freeride
In the 2024-2025 season, Yuma-kun participated in a total of four competitions, including the JFO (Japan Freeride Open) and the Chanmero Freeride Open, which is held mainly in HAKUBA VALLEY
"I won all three except for JFO! In JFO, I did a 360 on the gap right after the start, but I got the timing just right and one of my skis came off. But I managed to slide down halfway using the remaining ski. Then I got a special prize and a THE NORTH FACE bag!" he
said happily.
JFO is one of Japan's top freeride competitions with a 10-year history, and Yuma won the "Genius Award," a special prize sponsored by THE NORTH FACE.
This award not only recognizes technique and speed, but also the skier's individuality, creativity, and flowing riding, making it a perfect fit for Yuma-kun.
To begin with, 20cm of fresh snow had fallen on the slope at the time of the competition, and the snow continued to fall throughout the competition. Immediately after the start, there was a steep tree run, and after skiing through the trees, an open terrain with uneven terrain awaited. What's more, the snow made visibility a bit flat, making it difficult to distinguish the terrain on the slope. The
fact that Yuma-kun managed to ski halfway on one ski under such conditions alone speaks volumes about the skill and determination he possesses.
There's also this story:
In the "Omusubi Open" at Happo-One Ski Resort, which is the most difficult course in the "Chanmero Freeride Open" and where even adults struggle, Yuma-kun skied smoothly and at high speed, and landed his signature backflip, earning a perfect score of 100 points.
The judges who saw his skiing commented that "it couldn't get any better than this."
This is the skiing on the day. Please check it out
Even Yuma-kun's father was amazed by this
"I was a little surprised at 100 points. It's rare to get 100 points in a freeride competition... But it's a local competition so I guess there are extra points for the support," he said with a
wry smile, but added,
"He really decides it with that one jump at the perfect moment in the competition, I'm impressed with how well he coordinates it (laughs)."
His mother, who was next to him, also
, "Yuma has incredible courage. I guess you could say he's got a lot of nerve
.
Photo/ Chanmero Freeride
Photo/ Chanmero Freeride
now struggling to keep up
As you can see in the video, Yuma's skating is fast, aggressive, and incredibly creative. Even the lines he chooses from drop-ins are full of playfulness
"From the start, I look at the whole picture, find places to have fun, and take a line with as many jump points as possible. Speed? It's not scary at all,"
Yuma said, commenting as if he was conscious of this.
"Recently, he's been going so fast that it's getting hard to keep up with him... (wry smile)
," said his father.
Yuma-kun's father is actually Yuki Shibata, a professional guide based in Hakuba. In addition to his guiding work, he continues to participate in the freeride competition FWTQ, and is a professional athlete who placed third in the 2023 FWTQ Hakuba and made it onto the podium
His son's skating is so good that even his father can't keep up. What on earth could have brought up such a super kid?
Perhaps he was given a special education from a young age, with his future in mind.
"No, not at all. I haven't done anything special. However, the slopes are right outside the house, so skiing has been my hobby since I was little.
From around the third grade of elementary school, my body started to get a little stronger, and I started spending more time skiing, so I suddenly got better.
I was able to ski anywhere on the course, so I started taking my son to tree runs in Cortina and to some backcountry skiing.
But I never imagined back then that we would skate together on equal terms like this, and become like session buddies (laughs)."
Now, the father and son spend about 50 days of the season skiing together. They film each other's skiing with GoPros and smartphones, and they're truly like best friends
The driving force
What does Dad think of his super-talented son?
"I think his concentration and creativity are truly amazing. His concentration when he's doing what he loves is amazing. When he goes to the mountains, he's so absorbed in it that he just skis the whole time. He also comes up with interesting ideas and keeps trying new things. He's really fearless
I never say anything about his skiing. I think he should just do what he wants. The only thing I say is about safety management. I am
very strict about safety, like bad weather, the risks of tree runs, and meeting points with other people on the slopes, but other than that I just keep an eye on him. I put a piece of paper with emergency contact information in his lift pass holder just in case something happens."
When Yuma's father set up PVC pipes in the garden of the lodge, he continued skiing alone in silence until late into the night. His concentration and passion for skiing are just as incredible as his skiing
We asked Yuma about the areas in which he feels he has grown and the new things he has become able to do last season
"I've become able to do 360s while doing grabs. Safety grab 360, Japan grab 360, and tail grab 360. This year, I decided to do grabs for the first time, and when I tried, I was able to do it. I think safety grabs are my favorite."
—What do you want to do next?
"A front flip. To really grab a mute grab. I also want to do a double backflip! I'll do a lot of water jumps this summer, and I think I can do it in the winter."
This is what it means to be filled with unknown possibilities. The word "impossible" certainly doesn't occur to a 10-year-old Air Master
By the way, here she is doing image training for a double flip on a trampoline. Her makeup looks set to rock this winter
-What makes you happiest about skiing right now?
"When people tell me I'm good."
Apparently, the thing that makes him happiest when his father says to him is, "You're good." It's quite a mature way of thinking to feel joy when your father, a professional skier, tells you that you're good
- Yuma-kun, what do you think of your father?
"He's really good. Like the way he skates."
- Is there anything you want to say to your father?
"Thank you for everything,"
he said shyly. Yuma is a good boy who respects his father and expresses his gratitude for his support.
Free-galloping horse
Yuma-kun is already skiing like this at just 10 years old. Naturally, he is well-known and popular in Hakuba Cortina and the surrounding area. When he goes skiing, the men at the lift station give him sweets and talk to him
Take a look at this video: The morning after fresh snow falls, a long line of over 100 people forms at the Hakuba Cortina No. 4 lift station. It's rare to see a 10-year-old get the gallery excited like this
The cheers from the gallery only made Yuma's passion for skiing even stronger
—What kind of person do you want to be in the future?
"Professional skier" was the immediate answer. Of course!
"'Yuma' means a horse that runs freely,"
said the mother.
His mother gave him this name, hoping that he would grow up with limitless freedom, and it perfectly describes the way he skates. He
races through the snowy plains faster and more freely than anyone else. Adults are thrilled and amazed by his sight.
Finally, we asked him to give a message to kids and juniors who ski like Yuma-kun...
"Do your best! If you work hard, you'll have fun!"
Super kid Yuma Shibata. How far will this 10-year-old freeskier soar from now on?
Few have a more exciting future.