He continues to rank among the top "most influential skiers in the world" and
is known by everyone in the ski industry as "THE MAN."
Mike Douglas, also known as Mr. Freeride and the Godfather of freeskiing, created the sport with his friends around 1997 and has been a powerful leader and supporter of the scene ever since. As a top rider, film producer, and ski businessperson, Mike's contributions and achievements to the snow industry are immeasurable. Furthermore, since 2017, Mike Douglas has been actively involved in global environmental issues as the representative of POW CANADA.
In honor of Earth Day, which is celebrated worldwide on April 22, 2021, we present an interview with Mike.
[Profile]
Mike Douglas ● Mike Douglas
competed in the W-Cup as a member of the Canadian Mogul National Team. In the late 1990s, he was involved in the development of SALOMON's world-first twin-tip ski, the Salomon 1080, and became a central figure in the global freeskiing movement as part of the New Canadian Air Force. While leading the scene as a rider, he also demonstrated his talent for video production, Switchback Entertainment and producing Salomon Freeski TV for the past 14 years. He has traveled the world filming and has been successful as a ski entrepreneur, making him an icon in the freeskiing world. He is also one of the freeskiers with the deepest ties to Japan, having visited the country so many times he "can't remember." He is also known for being a huge fan of Japan. He lives in Whistler, Canada.
The last flight I took was back from Japan this past year
──Mike, what have you been up to lately?
I didn't leave British Columbia at all this year. I've been traveling for about half the year for decades, so it's hard to believe I've spent a year stuck in British Columbia without traveling abroad. But I thought it wasn't so bad. I'd been so busy up until then. I was able to slow down a bit, ski more in my hometown of Whistler, and spend more time with my family. I wasn't eating unhealthy food on planes or overindulging in local cuisine when I was traveling (laughs), so I've been able to stay incredibly healthy this year
──Corona isn't all negative
Yes. And we're lucky that North American ski resorts are mostly open and functioning normally, even amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. You have to make a reservation in advance to ski in Whistler, so it's a little weird. But it's empty, which is great. There are no tourists at all.
It's really difficult to get to Whistler from outside right now. The border with the US has been closed for over a year. It's nice to ski, but business is slow, which is worrying. It's not as bad as in the US, but the impact on people's lives is significant. We have to wear masks everywhere, and it's hard to gather with friends. Fortunately, there's hope, as leading infectious disease researchers have said that skiing is risk-free. There have been no cases of infection in Whistler, so we're lucky.
How about Japan? Oh yeah, the last flight I took was back from Japan in February. It's been a year already..
──Since you came to Arai?
That's right. When Arai came under the management of LOTTE, Whistler had a close friend who was hired as an avalanche control specialist and was working on patrols. He said to the Arai marketing manager, "Mike Douglas is a friend of mine. Why don't we get Mike to help us promote the new Arai?" So he visited Arai several times with a film crew. He even made a promotional video
──Your photos were featured in "Bravo SKI 2021 Vol.2" and there were a lot of great photos
Huh? You mean that? Most of the photos were taken with my smartphone and Seiji's (Sage Cattabriga-Alosa's) smartphone (laughs). The quality of photos taken with smartphones these days is amazing. They can take photos that rival those taken with a single-lens reflex camera. Seiji and I were always taking photos together. The Arai trip was truly a fun trip, where JAPOW was able to ski to his heart's content, enjoy his favorite hot springs, and enjoy delicious Japanese food. I was also happy to be able to jam with Seiji again after such a long time
Mike Douglas: The Story
──I'd like to introduce Mike again in "STEEP," so could you please review his work so far?
Of course. In the early 1990s, I was a member of the Canadian Mogul National Team, competing in events like the Mogul W-Cup. I was close to making the Olympic team in 1994, but missed out. I then became a coach, and everything changed when Salomon introduced the 1080 twin-tip ski. The
new school, or freestyle as it was called at the time, exploded, and the "New Canadian Air Force" of myself, JP Auclair, JF Cousson, and Vincent Dorion began traveling the world to Winter X-Games and contests, and we even had segments in major ski movies like Matchistick and Poorbooys.
In 2007, SALOMON's ski TV program "SALOMON Freeski TV" started, and I was contracted to produce it. That led to Switchback Entertainment . That was a big step. SALOMON's ski TV program is still going strong, and it's been going on for 14 years now.
Right now, I split my time between skiing and working on the ski business as a producer/director, about half and half. Normally, I'd say it's 70% filming and 30% skiing. But this year, with COVID-19 slowing down the film business, I'm not as busy, so I've been skiing a lot
──Mike is really a businessman. He must be very busy
Yeah, I'm super busy. Switchback Entertainment does marketing for Whistler Blackcomb, we've done commercials for national companies, we've worked with CNN, we're doing a lot of different projects with a lot of different clients.
Thoughts on the signature trick "D spin"
──Where does Mike's passion come from?
Well, I guess it's because I really love skiing. This year, COVID-19 has really pushed me to ski. The reason I love skiing is because there's always something new to learn. That's what's so interesting about it
Actually, I achieved it just two weeks ago, but my biggest goal this year was to land my signature trick, the D-spin, again
I turned 50 last season, and my goal was the D-Spin. There was a story behind this, I created an episode of a SALOMON TV show called "Fountain of Youth." I'm not sure if it was aired in Japan, but there was a video I created in 2017 that was set in Japan. The theme was "The foundation for keeping your motivation and body young."
I visited Japan, the land of the wealthy, to find the secret to maintaining my motivation and youthfulness. I also spent time with the Miura family (Yuichiro and Gota Miura). One of my goals during that trip was to land a D-spin. It had been three years since I last landed a D-spin, and as I got older, I started to feel more scared and worried I might never be able to land one again. So, my goal was to land it again at age 47
──This movie, right? "Fountain of Youth"
That's right! I urge all "STEEP" users to check it out
──The structure, visuals, and narration were all interesting. I enjoyed it
(laughs) Thank you! So, having successfully achieved the D spin at age 47, my next goal was to land the D spin again at age 50. I don't want to lose my sense of accomplishment from my success at age 47, so I believe I can maintain my strength and physical ability and land it again at age 50
I turned 50 last season, but it was the beginning of the season and there was no snow in Whistler so I couldn't ski at all. When the snow finally arrived in January, I was super busy with filming trips and was traveling nonstop so I didn't get a chance
I had work commitments, like filming a video on a southern island. Finally, in February, I had some free time to practice! On my first day up the mountain, I tried a trick, crashed, and hurt my shoulder. It took me 10 months to get better, and then COVID-19 hit and the resorts closed, so I missed my chance. So! I turned 51 this season, so I really had to achieve my goal! I started practicing consistently in January, and finally landed it on February 2nd! So great! My
second goal, which I'm passionate about, is carving.
-Carving? What? Mike carves?
(Laughs) Yes. I want to be able to carve like a racer. That's why I'm working hard on my technique right now. I usually mostly ski in the backcountry or powder, but recently the mountains have been at a high risk of avalanches, so I've been practicing carving on the slopes like a dedicated student (laughs). There aren't many people here, so I can go fast
Looking back, I think I always love to challenge myself and learn new things. I've been a professional skier for 30 years now, and I'm still learning
This is what evolution is all about
──30 years... How do you feel looking back on your freeskiing journey?
It's crazy right now. I was watching this year's X-Games on tape the other day, and to me it was crazier than a video game. You're seeing incredible tricks being performed right before your eyes, tricks that 20 years ago would have seemed impossible to humans. The level of performance is insane
But it does worry me. I wonder if it's too dangerous (laughs), and what will happen to the sport if I have to reach that level to become a professional. But I guess that's what progress is all about
──Why has it evolved so much?
I think it's because with the development of things like social media, an environment has been created where everyone can easily learn well using media. Nowadays, we always have our smartphones with us, so it's great to be able to record our skating and watch it right away. You can see exactly what's happening and what's going on in almost real time, so the amount of information is incredible. 20 years ago, you had to bring a big video camera with you
I'm currently studying carving using video. I get a friend to film me, then I watch it immediately, analyze it, and make corrections on the next one, repeating the process. It's guaranteed to help you improve quickly and efficiently. I also think the fact that more and more kids are entering this world at an increasingly younger age is accelerating the evolution of this sport. Young kids undoubtedly have great physical abilities. Today's 15-year-olds are better than I was when I was a pro (laughs)
──I can feel the passage of time
Really. But I think the best era for freeskiing was from 1998 to 2010. The performances of top athletes were highlighted not just by the difficulty of their tricks, but also by their style and individuality, and it was an era when it was established as a culture and lifestyle. When it becomes too technical, there are aspects that are no longer something to aspire to
First, with the advent of twin-tip skis, the new school of freeskiing started in the park. After it took off around 1998, it was all about big air, halfpipes, quarterpipes, and trick tricks. That was cool. But in the decade from 2000 to 2010, the stage for tricks gradually shifted from park riding to backcountry
Furthermore, in the last 10 years, the trend has been more towards skiing for adventure and traveling through nature, rather than skiing itself. We call it "ski terrain." In Japanese, it's closer to mountain skiing or touring skiing. I think the evolution of gear is a big factor behind this. The equipment available for enjoying ski terrain has really improved
The evolution of equipment has been remarkable: boots have become lighter, bindings that are easy to climb and walk in, yet tough, and skis that allow you to ski the entire mountain. In North America, the powder ski train has become a major movement in skiing. I'm interested to see what the next trend will be, so I'm trying to find out
──I feel like Japan is close too
I'm incredibly lucky that the direction of these ski trends has coincided with the course of my career. When I was younger, I was doing moguls and tricks, and as I got more experienced, powder and backcountry became more mainstream, and then it expanded into adventure and touring skiing. It all fit perfectly with the course of my career, which is why I've been able to stay a professional skier
Filmmaking, travel, and adventure have changed my outlook on life and skiing
──What was the biggest change in Mike's life?
I think there are a few reasons. I've been skiing for a long time and I've been lucky enough to never have a serious injury. It's not that I don't want to get injured, but as you get older, you're no longer the best skier. You're nowhere near the top, you're not pushing your limits with jumps, you can't do cool tricks
But I still love skiing, and nothing has changed that. But one of the biggest changes in my life and outlook on skiing was when I started filmmaking
Up until then, my goal had been to pursue the action of skiing, but through the travels and adventures I took while making films, I was exposed to a variety of cultures and nature, and I think that changed the way I saw the world. Since then, skiing has become an adventure that opens up new horizons, and takes me to unique places
--Skiing has become an adventure that opens up new horizons..
For example, one of my super cool and incredibly interesting and unforgettable trips was to the Kashmir region of India. I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the different culture, and the world and life seemed completely different to me. As a filmmaker, I want to leave behind good footage, of course, but the adventure of encountering unseen nature, unfamiliar lands and cultures stirs up a passion within me
--This is a dream trip to Kashmir
Yes. I think that if you watch the video, you might be able to get a sense of that indescribable "something" that exists in India's everyday life and rich culture
Global environmental issues are a big deal to me
The second thing that has brought about a major change is that over my 30-year career as a professional skier, I have witnessed many changes in the sport and the surrounding area
──What changes would you like to see in Mike's life?
You know Whistler's Glacier, right? Twenty years ago, it was a mecca for summer camps, with a huge number of mogul and freeride camps held in the vast Glacier. But now it's almost completely gone. It's unbelievable. Now, only a tiny corner of the area remains, and the only camp left is John Smart's mogul camp. Don't you think that's crazy? I've spent so much time on Glacier that when I saw this reality, global environmental change became a huge issue for me
──That's how realistic and dramatic global warming can be seen..
I couldn't sit still, so POW Canada . I had been an ambassador in the USA for several years, but there was no POW in Canada yet, so I decided to start it myself. It is thanks to the abundant nature that we are able to enjoy skiing in the snowy mountains like this. We need to protect this environment by doing what we can.
↑ This is a comment I posted on Facebook on Earth Day, April 22nd
──Happy Earth Day!
Currently, I spend about 20% of my work time volunteering for POW. Thankfully, Olympic champions, world-class mountaineers, and famous athletes are involved, so our activities are expanding in a positive way. We do various awareness campaigns and visit children's schools to give lectures about climate change. We now also broadcast them online. We also provide materials that school teachers can use as teaching materials for talking about climate change
──It's Teacher Mike!
That's right (laughs). The third life-changing experience was spending time with Yuichiro (Yuichiro Miura) when I went to Japan to film "Fountain of Youth" for SALMON TV. It's incredible that he was able to climb Everest in his 80s. He's a super legend. I think what I learned from him changed me quite a lot. I think it was mentioned in "BRAVOSKI 2018 Vol.2," but Yuichiro's teachings on how to stay healthy for a long time have really stayed with me.
Through him, I learned the importance of setting goals, constantly learning new things, eating a healthy diet, getting enough rest, and above all, having dreams and passion... I realized how important they are. That's why I'm almost a vegetarian now. Oh, I love sushi so much that I can't help but eat it, but I hardly ever eat fish either (laughs). I also only drink a little alcohol.
Thanks to that, I think last season was the healthiest and best condition of my life. Even at 50 years old (laughs). I want to always have an attitude of continuing to learn, no matter what. Always set goals and work tirelessly towards them
VISION
──What is Mike's vision for the future?
There are many problems we need to address. Climate change is the most serious of them all. The world continues to change at an incredible speed with the advancement of technology. In this climate, I think COVID-19 has been a good opportunity to slow things down a bit. It has given people an opportunity to think, "What do we need to think about, what are the important things?"
I believe that our passion for snowy mountains can contribute to protecting the global environment in many ways. Even if it's something small, taking action can become a great source of energy
──What do you think as an individual?
This year has been the slowest year for me so far. I've been able to focus on POW activities at the office instead of going to the mountains, have had time to relax and spend time with my family, ride my mountain bike in the summer, and go skiing just for fun
From this experience, I've learned that balance is the key to moving forward. I want to find a sweet spot between work and family life, fitness and relaxed fun, and it's all balanced. It may be difficult to achieve it perfectly, but I'll do my best
──I see. And can I ask one last question? We were talking in the editorial department about how Mike was probably the first to say "JAPOW." Was Mike the creator of JAPOW?
Unfortunately, that honor doesn't belong to me (laughs). It's been a common word between us for as long as I'm not sure who first said it. Speaking of which, during this past year when I couldn't travel at all, there were three places I truly missed not being able to go to
One of them is Chile in South America. I've been going there every summer in August for the past 20 years. The wonder of the wilderness there is indescribable. It's winter when it's midsummer and hot in Canada, so it's nice and refreshing
The second place is the European Alps. I have so many good memories there, I love the mountains and the culture there, and I've got a lot of great friends there
The third reason is Japan, the very definition of Japow! I absolutely love skiing in Japan. The snow is amazing, with fresh powder falling every night. And Japanese food! Japanese food is my favorite cuisine in the world. And I love hot springs! These three things are the best. Skiing on powder snow, eating delicious Japanese food, and soaking in a hot spring...it's simply the best. Japan has it all. Nice mountain, nice food, nice people...I just love it!!!
──So what are Mike's top 3 favorite mountains in Japan?
That's true. Nozawa Onsen is probably the best in terms of having everything. The mountains and snow are great, the hot spring culture and town are cool, the hot springs are great, and of course the food is delicious. I'm always looking forward to going to Nozawa. Second would be Arai. The depth of the powder is miraculous. It can snow 2 meters in one night. Third would be Myoko. Myoko has great mountains, so it's fun to ski there
Next... well, it's hard not to mention Niseko. I hate being crowded with foreigners, but I just can't resist the temptation of JAPOW. Then there's Hakuba. It's a legendary big mountain, so you can't leave it out. And then there's Hachimantai, which is a very small resort. The snow is great, the terrain is interesting, and I have fond memories of skiing there. I could make a list of about 20 of my favorite ski resorts in Japan! I want to go back soon
──Finally, a message to Japanese skiers
Make time to go to the mountains and enjoy them. Mountains add richness to busy lives. Forests and snow are great therapy for the mind and body. And do things that keep you healthy. Set goals. When I was younger, I couldn't have imagined that I'd be skiing like this at 50. Now, at 51, I'm so happy that I still love skiing and can continue to do so. I hope that this is true for everyone
──STEEP also has a "Lifelong Ski Declaration!"
(laughs) Right on! And finally, please be considerate to the global environment. Don't forget that we humans are also part of nature
Interviewer/Editor:
Chise Nakagawa
At university, she was a member of the ski club and devoted herself to alpine skiing. Later, she worked on the production of a snowboarding magazine at Yama to Keikokusha, traveling overseas to places like Alaska, Scandinavia, and Europe. In 1999, she partnered with the US magazine FREEZE to launch the freeskiing magazine Generation-X, which became a hot topic as Japan's first magazine with video (CD-ROM). She traveled the world following the X-Games and filmmaking. She was good friends with Mike Douglas from the start. After being away from the front lines of the ski industry for a while, she returned to the scene with STEEP.