everything you've done is worth it
ーーWhat is the secret to being yourself, not just skiing?
What you have done, what you have accumulated, no matter how small or negative it may be, there is value in all the processes you have done, and believe in that path.
That's what I think. The path of building up valuable things is absolutely unique to me, so I believe that believing in it is the key to being myself the most, or rather, it's something I keep in mind.
Everything you've done is worth it, isn't it?
I too have fallen at the World Cup, got injured during practice, and have had many negatives, but all of them have value, and without them I wouldn't be who I am today. I feel satisfied or grateful just by having the experience.
ーーIs there anything that you think has affected your skating because of the change in your feelings?
When I skated with a negative feeling that I was worried about the result, it was completely exposed, and I skated passively and made mistakes that I wouldn't normally do. often
However, if you have confidence in yourself and skate with a positive mindset that believes in yourself, I feel that you will be able to skate with confidence, and you will be able to skate with confidence.
After all, moguls is a sport where you perform individually, so I think that the mindset of being positive or negative has a lot to do with it.
ーーDoes it feel like the results are coming along as well?
I agree.
In the four World Cup races before the Idre and the Olympics, I really only thought about showing it to my coaches. I didn't think about the results at all. Of course, before I go to the super final, I get a result like what place I'm in, and that flashes through my head. However, when I think that I have one more chance to improve my skiing, I can concentrate on my own skiing.
Trusting relationship with coach
ーーI've heard stories from various players, but what is the source of that way of thinking? I think it will also lead to people saying, "I want to show my coach, I want him to know how amazing the coach was who raised me to be able to skate like this." By the way, can you tell us about your coaching journey?
I've been taught by various coaches since I was little.
The Chiba team called Amusement, which I joined first, practiced in Yuzawa. I was taught, and I was taken care of by being taken to the expedition of the official tournament. After that, I belonged to JOCKS, so I got advice from Mr. Ohno (Yoshiyuki Ohno: owner of the freestyle ski pro shop "JOCKS" in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture and Kawaba Ski Resort), and after joining the national team is Takashi Endo, coach Yuta Shiro, and Janne (Lachtera).
ーーHave you basically been skating with a coach and doing moguls all your life?
There was always one coach for two players, so the sense of distance with the coaches was really close, so I think the feeling of working together to build it up was very big.
I now realize how much trust I had with my coach was a good relationship, but I didn't realize it at all until I was in junior high school. However, after joining the national team and experiencing the World Cup and the Olympics with everyone on the team, I came to realize the closeness and good relationship with the coach.
ーーWhat kind of distance are you currently coaching with Shiro-san, Endo Takashi-san, and Janne in the national team?
The first year I joined the national team was the year after Pyeongchang, and right after that you started coaching, so I was your first player.
From there, I had a basic look at the air. In the season after that, I was asked to watch the turn and watched the whole thing. From there, I started participating in the World Cup, and Mr. Jo changed to watch the air and turn, and the following year he changed to Janne.
That's when Nao returned to the national team, and now Janne sees the turns, air and overall turns are done by Nao, and Jo is mentally, when he's in trouble or a little uneasy. I listen to them when I have something to say. I think that Mr. Shiro is very supportive of the whole team. Nao-san and I are really close, and we interact with each other like players.
When I said, "If it were me, I wouldn't ski like this," he would say, "But I can't do that," (laughs). We can say what we want to each other.
He trusts me and says tough things, so I think it's a really good sense of distance. Janne really treats me like her own child.
It's not sweet at all (laughs). The relationship between me and each coach is very good, and the coaches are also very friendly. I think it's a really good team that can do great teamwork. The Japan team in the 2022 season is really strong, and I think the good relationship between the coaches has a big impact on that. Every other player I ask says the same thing.
The slip is immediately captured on the tablet and objectively watched the video to identify areas for improvement. Hinako Tomitaka on the left and Anri Kawamura in the middle. A scene from the Beijing Olympics Photo/Janne Lahtela
Slip self-analysis
ーーTo change the question, if you were to give yourself a score for the three elements of air, turn and speed, how many points out of 100 would you give?
Air is 50 points. I'm not good at speed, so it's about 30 points. Turn has a high self-esteem and I think it's about 80 points.
ーーYour speed and air ratings are low.
This is because the degree of perfection of the technique to decide in the same way in any course is still insufficient.
Perrine and Janica have the same quality and the same moves on any course, so I feel that they are still inferior in that area. As for speed, if it was a singles event, I would be able to put out a reasonably fast time because I had accumulated turn skills, but if it was a dual event, it would be no good at all (laughs). I have to do something about it.
ーーWhen you were in elementary school, junior high school, and now, do you have a favorite skier or an athlete you admire?
If I remember correctly, in 2010, when I was in elementary school, the World Cup was held in Naeba, and I went to the venue.
I've known Aiko since she started skiing and admired her, and I remember taking pictures with her at Naeba. She has also always liked Justin.
The male player Mick was also an absolute champion for a long time, so I really admired him. I think the existence of these three people is big for me.
ーーIs there something in common with your own skating?
Well, in terms of turns rather than air.
ーーWhat kind of skating do you want to do from a technical point of view?
I want to ski like Janne.
Last season, I thought that Ikuma (Horishima)-kun's skiing was cool, and I wanted to skate like that.
That Ikuma-kun is aiming for Janne... After that, when I saw Janne skiing, I really wanted to do this again, and I really want to be able to do it before I quit skiing. Now I want to ski like Janne, and I'm skiing with that in mind (laughs).
Although the skis are different, I really want Janne's turning and carving skills, and Mick's winning, complete control. That's why I think I'll do my best (laughs).
In the 2022 season, both of them were runners-up.
Anri Kawamura was 1 point behind, and Gyoma Horishima was 32 points short Photo/Sho Endo
ーーI am very happy to be in an environment where people are close to me who I admire and want to incorporate into myself.
Yes, I think from the bottom of my heart that it's a really blessed environment where the people who ski that I want to do the most are closest to me.
ーーCan you tell us about your future goals?
In the 2023 season, I would like to aim for the World Cup overall victory and the world championship mogul championship.
I missed out on winning the overall World Cup title in 2022 by one point, and something that was definitely in my hands slipped down at the very end, so I definitely want to get it next time. I think.
If I want to win overall, I think I have to increase the number of wins and the number of times I get on the podium, so I think overall victory is the biggest goal for me.
I would like you to continue wearing the yellow bibs that only the top can wear even in the final race of the 2023 season. Photo/Mateusz Kielpinski / FIS Freestyle at the end of the European round, which was open until the end of the year
Anri Kawamura
In the 2020 season, at the age of 15, he made his sensational world debut by finishing second on the podium in the opening round of the World Cup.
7 podiums and 3 wins in the 2022 World Cup. 2nd place overall in MO. At the Beijing Olympics, where expectations for a medal were high, she did not reach the podium, but her strength is real. In the 2023 season, the results at the European round held in December are also good, and the road to the overall victory is open. He is proficient in English and has excellent communication skills with players from various countries, including communication with his coach Janne. Sponsor: Strauman Japan, Japan Ski Resort Development, RED BULL, OAKLEY
Born October 15, 2004, Nippon Sport Science University Ouka High School
Instagram: @anrikawamura