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[Profile]
Shimomura Yuta:
Born in Kimobetsu, Hokkaido in 1993. He started skiing at the age of two and began competing in alpine and cross-country skiing. In junior high and high school, he competed in the National Junior High School Ski Championships and the Inter-High School Championships as a cross-country skier. In his second year at Kutchan High School, he discovered backcountry skiing and went on to study at the International Nature and Outdoor College in Myoko. After graduating, he joined Color Sports Club in Hakuba and worked as a tail guide, while also continuing to photograph, travel, and compete in freeride competitions as a rider.
Someday I want to work as a ski guide,
but for now I just want to focus on skiing.
──So you graduated and joined Color Sports Club
To be precise, it was in the winter of my third year of vocational school. Tone contacted me during the summer to ask if I would like to join as a staff member. So, in the winter of my third year, I was welcomed as a staff member, and spent a season juggling school and the Color tour
To work at Color for more than three years, you need the skills to work as a lead guide. So you want people to think about becoming a lead guide from the start
--Wow, so there was such an agreement
However, in my case, while working at Color, I began to think that it would be a while before I aimed to become an official guide. I wanted to continue studying guides while working at Color, and at the same time, pursue my own skiing as a skier. So I talked to Tone about it, and he understood, and I spent six seasons mainly as a tail guide
──What exactly did you think about perfecting your skating?
I want to be able to express myself through my skating, just like Daisuke and Takuma Oike (※16), who has been helping me since I came to Hakuba. To do that, I need to go skiing overseas for at least a month during the season and ski on steep slopes that don't exist in Japan, mixing with the locals. I think that's the secret to getting better
"You can't settle down in Japan. If you want to improve, the best thing to do is go overseas and ski with the locals," Kazuya told me. "That's why it's better to travel alone, because that way you can live a more fulfilling ski life."
──Kose Kazuya's influence was also big, wasn't he?
That's right. That's why I went to New Zealand in the summer of my second year at vocational school. Instead of Queenstown or Wanaka, I went to Broken River, a club field (※18), by myself for two weeks, influenced by Kazuya (laughs)
──You're blessed with great seniors
No, it's true. They don't just say it, they also show by example how to skate. I'm really grateful that they're guiding me on my future path
──First of all, when you graduated from high school and decided to become a guide, what was the reaction of those around you?
My classmates would ask me, "Are you sure you're okay?", and my teachers would tell me, "Life isn't so easy that you can just do whatever you want and things will go well." But I thought that we only have one life, so I'd be missing out if I didn't do what I loved
──You were able to go all out like that in your teens, aren't you?
If there are people who actually make a living doing what they love, I thought there was at least a chance for me to do the same. My mother, who is a nurse, encouraged me to get a job in the medical field, saying that it would be a big income and a stable future. But I was more attracted to a life that would satisfy me than earning money... If it didn't work out, I'd just get a job then. That was a naive thought, though
Your parents were very forgiving
I was so determined to go to a vocational school that I begged him for a month straight, and it all paid off (laughs). However, my father was in favor of it from the start. He's originally from Hokkaido, but he loves skiing, and he built a house in Kimobetsu and opened a restaurant in order to be in an environment where he could ski. He used to go telemark skiing with Yukio Yamamoto (*18) from Niseko
──That's amazing! That's very orthodox. I guess Yuta has always had that kind of talent
My mother often tells me that I have inherited my father's blood (laughs)
──On top of that, he marries a nurse, which is the perfect example of a ski bum
Yes. I thought the same thing when I read the interview with Kodama Takeshi in "STEEP." I can see that clearly when I look at my father. I think he was blessed with a great partner to be able to make a living doing what he loved
*16 [Takuma Oike]
A freeskier born in Hokkaido and living in Hakuba. He continues to work as a tail guide at Color Sports Club, while also taking videos and photographs as a rider. His trip to North Patagonia in South America, which he continued to visit for three years, was spectacular. For more details, see "Fall Line 2020 vol.2"
*17 [Club Field]
There are several ski resorts in New Zealand that are not for profit, but are built and managed by skiers. They have their own sturdy rope towpaths instead of chairlifts, and there are no snow groomers, so the snow is almost entirely pristine. You can enjoy the natural terrain in a wild way.
*18 [Yukio Yamamoto]
A legendary skier who once ran a lodge and a professional ski school in Niseko. Since he first came to Japan, he has worked hard to popularize telemark skiing, and is respected as a true legend in the telemark skiing world.
Staying with a local and hitchhiking to the ski resort.
That's the overseas bum style.
──Where did you go on your overseas trip?
I first went to a club field in New Zealand, and then spent the winter in the US. I spent three or four seasons at Snowbird and Alta in Salt Lake City, Utah. After that, I decided I really wanted to go to Alaska, so I spent three seasons at Girdwood. I worked at Color until February every year, and then went there in March. I usually stayed for about three or four weeks every year
Why Salt Lake City?
A senior colleague who was once a Snowbird local introduced me to a local friend. He said, "There aren't many Japanese people here, and it's a very hardcore place, so you should go." I looked into it and found that many members of TGR (※20) are from Salt Lake City, so I thought this was the place to be
──What was your skiing life like?
I stayed with a local friend near the entrance to the canyon leading up to Snowbird, and hitchhiked to the ski resort. Snowbird is a high-end resort, so lift passes are generally expensive, but the spring season pass is incredibly cheap for those under 25. I bought one every year
How well did you speak English?
I couldn't do much, but I could roughly understand what they were saying and just barely communicate what I wanted to say. I managed to talk about skiing and mountains, and after that, I drank some beer and let the alcohol take over... That's how I managed to communicate. If you just go for it, you'll be fine, or rather, if you just go for it, you win
──Are you also staying with a local in Girdwood, Alaska?
Of course. This was also recommended by a senior who was a Snowbird local in the past. The local snowboarder was traveling around the world for freeride competitions and apparently decided to live here when he came to Alyeska for a competition. He's an incredibly passionate snowboarder, and I've been indebted to him ever since
──Do you look for an apartment when you get there, or when you're in Japan?
I exchanged emails with him from Japan. He had also been to Japan before, and we happened to meet, so we were able to talk quickly
That room is also Koa, and he lives in a ger. He said, "Think of this as your home and feel free to stay whenever you like." When we go out to eat, I just pay a little more, but he doesn't charge me for the room. Conversely, when he comes to Japan, I show him around and entertain him in every way. This kind of exchange is a promise, or an unspoken understanding, between the Bam's
──Where did you ski in Alaska?
I skied Hatcher Pass and Turnagen Pass (※20). I basically hiked, sometimes borrowing a friend's snowmobile. I also went to Alyeska Ski Resort. I got around by borrowing a friend's car and getting help from the locals
──Have you been to Valdez (※21)?
No, I couldn't go. Actually, this year another friend of mine said, "I'm thinking of going to Valdez in a camper van next time," so I was planning to go with him. We were planning to camp around there for about a month and ski as much as we could. But unfortunately, that plan was scrapped due to COVID-19
--So you weren't on the helicopter?
But then, two seasons ago, I had a dream experience. The friend who was letting me stay with him in Alaska was a sushi chef working at the Alyeska Resort & Hotel, and because he knew the owner of Alyeska, he somehow invited me to go heli-skiing as well. The owner had his own private helicopter, and with a Chugach powder guide on board, we skied about 20 runs a day. It was an incredible dream come true
That season was a record-breaking warm winter, with nothing but rain in March. Even though I went there for a month and skied at the resort, I only managed to ski for a total of seven days. Just two days before I was about to give up and return home, I received this impossible, dream-like offer, and boarded the helicopter in tears (laughs)
*19 [TGR = Teton Gravity Research]
As you know, this is a leading freeride movie production company. Along with MSP, it has been leading the ski scene since the late 1990s. The production team is mainly made up of Jackson Hole locals, and they are also pioneers of large-scale aerial photography in Alaska.
*20 [Hatcher Pass and Turnagen Pass]
Alyeska is the only ski resort in Alaska with a chairlift. There are a few small slopes with ropeways, but the most popular are the natural fields without lifts, even if they have signs saying "Ski Area." These two passes are also popular major areas.
*21 [Valdez]
Known as "The Last Frontier," this is the original Alaskan steep that has been the setting for many ski movies. This legendary area is where helicopters were once used as taxis at extremely low cost, and several helicopter guide companies are currently operating here.
What will Yuta Shimomura , a full-time skier who is currently 27 years old,
──Now, we are finally in the final chapter, and the conversation will move on to the ski life ahead
As I mentioned at the beginning, I decided not to go up into the mountains this summer, but to spend it in the city and reflect on myself. The reason is that I chose this path when I was in high school, and at that time I had made up my mind in my own way. I wanted to pursue skiing without getting a permanent job, and at the same time, I wanted to make it into something by the time I turned 30. That was something that had always been in my head. So, this summer, as I turn 27, I decided it was time to put my feet on the ground and gather my thoughts
──I see. Listening to you, Yuta, it's clear that you didn't choose the ski bum lifestyle out of fate or to escape reality. You're goal-oriented, positive, and full of ambition
Thank you. As I continued this type of activity, there was a time when I began to think deeply about the expression of a skater. Of course, leaving a photograph or video as the subject of a photo is one form of expression, but I began to think that there was more to it than that, and I began to search for my own unique form of expression that only I could achieve
In the midst of this, I realized that conveying to others directly the energy I felt in nature, or the pleasant vibes of the snowy mountains, could also be a way of expression as a skier
I love interacting with people, so I want to continue to have direct contact with them, and just like when I was in high school, a coffee shop called Sprouts opened up a new world of skiing for me, I want to be someone who can create something that inspires people. When I thought about that, one path that came into view was opening my own shop. I thought that this was a valid way to express myself
Open your own store?
My parents' home in Kimobetsu is a restaurant, and it's still open, but ever since my father fell ill a few years ago, the question of what to do with his restaurant has always been in the back of my mind. However, it's not that I want to take over the restaurant because my father's health has deteriorated, but rather because I have a strong desire to have my own restaurant. I want to create a place where people can easily gather
So, I'm planning to renovate the store and turn it into a cafe. It's not something I'll do anytime soon, but I'm slowly thinking about it. Of course, I'll continue to ski as hard as I have been. Also, I haven't actually skied much in Hokkaido yet, so that's really motivating me
──I see
Kimobetsu is not a town that leaves much of an impression. It's famous for its asparagus and has many farms, but many young people, including myself, are moving away from the town. For skiers, I think it's just an intersection on the way from Chitose Airport to Rusutsu and Niseko..
──I guess so. I don't think it leaves such a bad impression. From a ski bum's perspective, Niseko is too expensive to live in, but Kimobetsu seems like a reasonable place to live, and it's easy to get to Niseko, Rusutsu, Sapporo, and Chitose Airport
That's right. Mt. Shiribetsu and Mt. Yotei are nearby, the air is fresh, the land is nice, and the river is good. I think it's a shame that the potential of this natural environment isn't being fully utilized. So there must be many opportunities to put my experience to good use, and I want to convey to the kids of Kimobetsu the joys of playing on the land. I feel a strong desire to liven up the area in this way
──That means you'll be leaving Hakuba, but do you have any regrets?
I do have regrets...of course. I'm still drawn to it. But I've realized that no matter how much I try, I never feel like I've fully accomplished anything. For example, I've skied at Fukiya a few times, but I've never been satisfied, and there are countless big lines in the Northern Alps that I haven't skied yet. But I'm also just as attracted to the activities I do based at my parents' house in Kimobetsu Town..
──What will happen to your pursuit of skating?
I want to keep going for a while longer. Even if I go back to Hokkaido, I'd like to continue to go on long-term overseas ski trips as I have done until now, and continue to participate in as many freeride competitions as possible. I don't want people to think that I've settled down, and I intend to continue pursuing my own style of skiing for the rest of my life
──How have your results been in freeride competitions so far?
My best result was 5th place at FWQ Hakuba. My first competition was Big Sky in Montana, but I've been competing in Freeride Hakuba (*23) and JFO (*24) in Japan for three seasons. I'd like to compete more if possible, and when I do, I want to win, but rather than comparing my skiing with others or wanting to beat someone, I'm more motivated by wanting to ski that line or achieve results on that slope this year, so I don't think I'll be focusing solely on competitions
──That's right, there are so many things you want to do
That's right. In my 20s, I focused on perfecting my own skating, but in my 30s, I want to give back to others the energy I've received... But I feel like if I don't do my best in the remaining three years of my 20s, there won't be a 30, so I want to push myself even harder
──Is becoming a ski guide an extension of that?
That's right. I always have that in mind. The experience I gained in the mountains of Hakuba and at Color Sports Club was invaluable, so I want to make the most of it. Spending time with guests in nature is also a great way to convey my thoughts
──Finally, the sponsors
Sweet Protection, TONES SKI, ROXA SKI Boots, VERTS Japan, Colorsportclub. Thank you all so much!
*22 [Freeride Hakuba]
Japan round of the Freeride World Tour (FWT). The qualifying round, FWQ, is also held at the same time, opening the door to domestic skiers. Taisuke Kusunoki and Yu Sasaki, who stood on the podium here, were invited to compete in the world championships and traveled to compete there.
*23 [JFO = Japan Freeride Open]
A freeride competition held in Hakuba in February, the month after the FWT. It is organized mainly by Japanese riders who live in British Columbia, Canada and have participated in freeride competitions. Many riders feel a sense of sympathy for this competition, created by riders, for riders.
[Editor + Writer]
Chikara Terakura
After working for Miura Dolphins, headed by Yuichiro Miura, for 10 years, he became involved in moguls and freeskiing for nearly 30 years as an editorial staff member at BRAVOSKI. He currently works as the editor-in-chief of "Fall Line" while also working as a freelancer in various media. He has been writing a series of interviews for the mountaineering magazine "PEAKS" for over 10 years.