Training camp held in Tsugaike
Fifteen men's and women's top players from Japan gathered at the training camp.
Many athletes train their bodies through sports such as sky running and mountain biking in the summer. However, some players are still immature in skiing skills and Skimo-specific transit skills. Therefore, this training camp was held with a focus on polishing basic skills. The location is Tsugaike, Nagano Prefecture, which is rich in snow. The top of the ski resort is about 1,700m above sea level, so it can be used for high altitude training. Also, there is little danger of avalanches, so you can practice safely.
Practice started at 9 o'clock in the morning, and I was surprised at first.
Athletes walk up an altitude difference of 750m from the inn at the foot of the mountain to the practice point at the summit. Moreover, this is "just the right warm-up". If it's an introductory backcountry skiing tour, there will be two days' worth of elevation difference. We couldn't afford to be a hindrance, so we decided to take the gondola up after seeing the athletes off. As soon as we arrived at the mountaintop station, coach Hirata-san started building a course at the flag gate on the left side of Tsuganomori Slope, the practice area. Tsugaike had several tens of centimeters of snow the day before, so it was powder snow. The competition held in Europe is a ticking slope. Japan is the only place where you can practice Skimo on powder. For the climbers, Mr. Hirata stepped on the course many times to make it easier to climb the seal. While doing so, I saw the players climbing from the bottom of the slope.
After taking a light break and taking action food without showing a single tired face, the players start practicing again. Climbing a slope of about 100m and sliding repeatedly. I just climbed 750m above sea level non-stop, but I'm going to push myself further and practice, so it's not the physical strength of an ordinary person. The coaches are Mr. Hirata, Mr. Yukiyasu Matsuzawa and Mr. Kazuaki Hoshino. All three are veterans who have led Skimo in Japan. While still participating in domestic competitions as a player, he also serves as a coach for the Japanese national team. Mr. Matsuzawa, who is also a former demonstrator, was teaching the technique of skating accurately.
After practicing climbing and sliding for about 2 hours with a break in between, next is transit practice. He carefully checked how to put on and take off the skis, how to carry them on his back, and how to peel off the stickers, which was considered a challenge to reduce the time.
After about an hour of transit practice, the day ended. Finally, I skied Tsugaike's top-to-bottom and returned to the inn.
What is the appeal of Skimo?
Looking back, I have walked the distance of the gondola from the bottom to the top of the ski resort, and I have practiced repeatedly climbing and running on the slopes.
The players seemed relaxed and sometimes smiled, but I asked them what they find appealing about Skimo.
Ms. Ari Hirabayashi
active as a mountain biker in the summer, and I was looking for training that I could do in the winter. After starting Skimo, she realized that her body was getting better, and she started to work seriously. I used to do alpine skiing as well, but unlike alpine skiing, Skimo gears can be damaged if you use real force. Difficulty is the charm of Skimo.
Norio Kodera
Skimo is still a minor sport in Japan, but in Europe it is a sport that is used on a daily basis, such as when walking the dog or running.
Even without a lift or a ski resort, you can climb up and down in no time, and anyone can easily enjoy it. Outside of the competition, I also walk on forest roads to refresh myself every day.
Yurie Tanaka
The exhilarating feeling when climbing a mountain and the sense of accomplishment after climbing is the attraction of Skimo. In addition to climbing, there is also a technical part of skiing, and various elements are packed. I used to be a biathlete, but the way the seal works is different from cross-country skiing, and the board is thinner and lighter than alpine skiing, making it difficult to ski. is.
This time, we focused on Skimo's competition content, the state of the training camp, and a part of the charm that the players feel. Let's pay attention to Skimo, which is getting more and more hot for the 2026 Olympics.
Let's start Skimo In
Japan, there are still few people who play Skimo, but anyone can start with gear and snow.
In Europe, it is popular as a daily sport such as taking a walk or running instead of winter. At some ski resorts in Japan, walking while wearing a sticker is restricted, but if you want to enjoy yourself at a ski resort, you can do so at the following facilities. ● Sapporo Bankei
● Tsugaike Mountain Resort (northern side of Kane-no-naru-oka slope)
● Miyagi Zao Sumikawa Snow Park (Zao Echo Line)
If you want to see the tools, you should go to the store first.
For reference, you can pick up the gear at the following stores. ● Trail Run Test Center (Yamanashi Prefecture)
● Mountain Tools Rappy (Nagano Prefecture)
● Paddle Club Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture)
Interview cooperation = JMCA SKIMO Committee, Tsugaike Mountain Resort
Interview/Writing = Daigo Onozuka