This series explains various aspects of Japan's ski resorts from various perspectives in order to get to know them in more detail. This time, the "second part" is a close-up of the "snowmobile". In the first part, I introduced the basics of snow vehicles as a general overview, but in the second part, I will introduce some trivia.
Text/Daisuke Mizorogi
Editing by Daisuke Mizorogi/STEEP Editorial Department
1. Traveling to the ends of the earth is also a snowmobile
Developed Japan's first snowmobile
Ohara Ironworks is a long-established manufacturer (hereinafter referred to as Ohara) with its head office and factory in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, which is a snow country.
The company is developing a wide range of manufacturing businesses such as recycling plant equipment, biogas power generation equipment, and sewage treatment equipment, but it also has a long history of manufacturing snow vehicles. Especially in the field of snow vehicles, it is known as a pioneer who succeeded in developing the first snow vehicle in Japan, and it is also used as a vehicle for the Japanese Antarctic expedition.
In 1951, shortly after the end of the war, the company received a request from the then governor of Niigata Prefecture to develop a snowmobile for the stability of people's livelihoods in areas with heavy snowfall. At that time, the snow removal system in Niigata Prefecture was not yet in place.
At that time, Ohara did not have the know-how to build vehicles. In other words, it was a start from zero. Snowmobiles that run on soft snow are required to be light and strong enough to withstand harsh natural conditions. It is said that the employee at the time first referred to the amphibious vehicle of the U.S. military in a state of fumbling.
After repeated trial and error, the first prototype car "Fubuki" was already completed four months after development. However, it was a series of hardships from there. The biggest bottleneck was the humid snow that is unique to Japan. The driving part and track part will inevitably get snow and freeze.
The battle against this problem continued for nearly four years, and finally commercialization was realized. Substantial improvements were made to reduce weight by using resin and rubber instead of metal for the undercarriage, improve durability, and prevent snow from adhering. In this way, Ohara's challenge bears fruit and gets on track.
to Antarctica
In 1967, a new turning point came. Small snow vehicles jointly developed with related companies will be adopted by the Antarctic expedition. It was developed in the absence of data on the harsh weather and snow cover of Antarctica.
Now, what are the special requirements for building vehicles for Antarctica?
The first is "not broken". Also, it is important to be able to move to some extent even if something is broken, and to be able to fix it with simple equipment. In other words, it has to be simpler. For about half a century since its first use, Ohara's snowmobiles have continued to function as a means of transportation for the Antarctic research expedition.
At the same time, Ohara dispatches maintenance personnel to Antarctica each time. To be more precise, he was seconded to the National Institute of Polar Research and became a member of the expedition team as its staff.
If selected as a candidate, they will receive training at the "National Institute of Polar Research" and begin by building up their physical strength. At the site, it will be an activity in a harsh natural environment. It is said that there are times when you drive all day in a snowstorm on endless snowfields.
to the ski resort
It was in the late 1960s when Ohara entered the field of slope maintenance vehicles. It now holds nearly half of the domestic market share. After all, one of the strengths of domestic manufacturers is their ability to develop products adapted to the Japanese environment. Since Niigata, a snow country, is their home base, they not only know everything about Japanese snow, but also have a complete support system.
A recent topic is the evolution of functions for building parks. Around 2000, the snow was only shaved according to the item, but now it is possible to perform detailed work by increasing the range of movement of the blade.
Through repeated trial and error and originality and ingenuity, we develop highly reliable products that meet the itch. Here, too, there is a typical Japanese manufacturing style.
2. Behind the artistic grooming barn in Appi Kogen
Appi's corduroy is no longer in the realm of art
Appi Kogen, the best big slope in Tohoku, has a reputation for the high degree of perfection of its compacted snow slopes.
The feature is that the course is very long, and the longest one is 5 km in total length. With such a long course covered with perfectly compacted snow, the “Appi corduroy” is a beauty that can be called a work of art. Of course, the snow groomers are doing this job.
A total of nine machines, including Prinote's high-performance model "BYSON", are in full operation. It is said that not only the latest models, but also those that have undergone repeated maintenance and have been used carefully for a long time. Considering the vast scale of the slopes in Appi, the number of 9 skis is by no means a large number, but a small number of elite staff (usually 13) are working day and night with their highly refined technical skills to compact the snow. , has realized such a grooming burn.
Craftsmen pass on traditional skills
Work starts at 22:00.
From there, it takes an average of 8 to 9 hours, in other words, the work continues all night. Appi's grooming staff, who are always trying to improve the quality, are truly a group of professionals. We work with attention to each and every groove. Just being able to operate the machine does not entrust the compaction of snow. Only operators who have undergone rigorous training and have been approved by instructors can participate in actual field work. Therefore, training new employees is also an important theme.
In order to become a snowmobile operator, first of all, safety training at the beginning of the season and lectures on how to operate it with seniors are repeated. Once you reach a certain level here, you will proceed to the one-person step at the discretion of your senior. After that, thorough education is provided, such as guidance by radio and follow-up by vehicles with veterans on the front and back.
That splendid grooming barn also has behind the scenes of such human resource development.
3. The strange naming of snowmobiles
The bright red snowmobile that you often see, the German company Kessler, which has a large share in the industry, got its name from the Pistenbully, which means to bully, meaning that it is a machine that works hard enough to bully mountains.
Italy's Prinaut, which runs on a stylish route to match the power of Pistenbully's share, also has a stylish name for its snowmobile.
It has an exquisite name according to the characteristics of the machine and the level of performance.
LEITWOLF / LEITWOLF X
Equipped with advanced technology, this large snow groomer boasts a maximum working width of
Working width:
5.05m Total length: 9.1954m Total height: 3.63m
" LEITWOLF light wolf" means a lone wolf who rules the snowfield. With a working width of 5.05m, it is a model that boasts the highest specifications among the Prinaut snow vehicles. After watching this video, you'll understand why it got its name. I'm impressed with the commitment to go so far with the promotion VP.
BYSON/BYSON-X
A snow groomer with a maximum working width of 4.25m.
Ideal for setting up half pipes and slope slopes Working width:
4.25m Total length: 8.848m Total height: 3.554m
"BYSON Bison" is a wild buffalo. You can imagine toughness, power, and passion. By the way, Buffalo seems to be well received by Europeans, and that "Red Bull" has a buffalo as a character. This BYSON is also widely used at ski resorts in Japan. It is a medium-sized vehicle with high mobility, and it is highly rated for its wide range of uses, from pipe construction to slope maintenance.
HUSKY / HUSKY X / HUSKY T5Suitable
for all needs such as slope maintenance and personnel transportation
Working width: 2.5/2.8/3.1m
Overall length: 8.59m Overall height: 2.77m
"HUSKY Husky" is named after a husky dog. It is a general-purpose model that can handle multiple tasks such as carrying people and pulling a sled while pulling a sled powerfully on the snow, running lightly, and carrying people just like a husky dog that can turn in a small circle. It is also used for CAT skiing by attaching a compartment. Let's take a look at the video as well.
In addition, there are names that convey performance, role, and presence, such as "BEAST Beast", "EVEREST Everest", and "TROOPER Cavalry". Just by looking at these machines on the slopes, if the name suddenly comes out, you can say that you are a considerable snowmobile enthusiast.
4. Snowmobile night work
work through the night
As in the story of Appi Ski Resort, it is inevitable that the staff will be working all night to open the ski resort early in the morning.
Operators must be strong at night. Here is a video of the venue setup for the famous ESPN Winter X-Games slopestyle event. Athletes send messages of thanks at the end.
In order to produce the best performance, we create the stage of the best condition. Athletes are able to push their limits and compete because of the nighttime work of the snowmobiles and staff. If you know this behind the scenes, watching the competition will be more interesting.
5. Good Design Award for Snowmobile
This mark many people know. There is also a snowmobile that won the Good Design Award. Ohara Iron Works' strongest model, its name is "RAIZIN". Received the GOOD DESIGN AWARD in 2017.
https://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/45406
It's certainly cool.
The advanced cockpit design with excellent operability and the large glass area that makes it easy to check the work status have received high praise for both the interior and exterior design. Of course, functionality is also a subject of evaluation. In addition to high engine performance such as low fuel consumption and high output, environmental performance that complies with the 2014 exhaust gas regulations and performance such as climbing ability are the strongest in the company's mid-size model history. Its overwhelming high performance completely surpasses other current models.
The origin of the name RAIZIN is that it is a medium-sized aircraft with excellent mobility. It is said that it was attached with the image of going.
Following this RAIZIN, a new model "FUZIN" will debut next season. I can't wait to see what kind of machine it will be.
6. Another in the category of snow vehicles
Modified snow vehicle with crawler
In the first part, we said that there are two main types of snow vehicles, but there is actually a third category. It has a detachable "crawler" instead of a regular car tire. It is, so to speak, a modified snowmobile.
This type, except for the suspension, is basically the same as a normal car.
It runs on a gasoline engine, and the driving method is exactly the same. The conversion cost is much cheaper than buying an existing snowmobile. In other words, in terms of technology and cost, personal ownership is realistically possible. There are rough terrain vehicle enthusiasts in the world, and some people upload their driving videos to online video sites. In addition, because of its ease of use, it is also useful for courier companies and accommodation facilities on the slopes.
Hyper Delta can also be individually equipped
The detachable crawler is the main product of "Northwest" in Nagano Prefecture. The company also manufactures and sells vehicles for all types of rough terrain, such as amphibious vehicles and rough terrain wheelchairs.
Northwest's detachable crawler brand "Hyper Delta" is an epoch-making product that can be driven by a normal driver's license. It demonstrates its ability not only on snow, but also on various uneven terrain such as sand, farmland, and slopes. The unit is sold as a set with winter specifications and summer specifications, and can be modified to public road specifications.
Installation of Hyper Delta requires some modification and processing of the vehicle itself. Structurally, there are car models that are easy to fit and car models that are not. For example, the product "Hyper Delta V3" is suitable for Toyota's Hiace, Mitsubishi's Pajero, Caravan, Rankle, 2t class truck, microbus, imported 4WD, etc. However, if you take the time and effort, you can basically install it on most cars.
Well, the "snowmobile" that we have delivered in the first part and the second part. If you're a little more familiar with "cars that work on snow", let's check out what kind of snowmobiles are active at ski resorts this season.
Click here for the first part
[Writer Profile] Daisuke Mizorogi
Has been involved in skiing for over 20 years as a member of the BRAVOSKI editorial staff. He has been covering moguls since the 1990s and has extensive experience in the field of ski resort guides. On the other hand, he has created many unconventional projects that are not found in existing ski magazines, combining subculture and skiing. Currently, while bearing the title of "Showa culture researcher", he writes and edits in various genres other than skiing. He stands in the most indoor position in the outdoor world and the most outdoor position in the indoor world.
<Interview/photo cooperation>
Ohara Iron Works , Snow Systems Co. , Ltd., Northwest (in alphabetical order)