Jeep Owner Pick up!

What kind of snowy mountains do Jeep owners drive their Jeep to, and how do they spend the snow season? This is a project where a skier/snowboarder who is a STEEP user and owns a Jeep talks about the Jeep and its lifestyle. I would like to convey the charm of a Jeep lifestyle, including the beginning of my familiarity with my car and my feelings for Jeep.

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The Jeep owner who appears this time is Seita Kimura, who lives in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture. He is a passionate skier who enjoys free riding in the park and side country on ARMADA skis on snow. What kind of existence is Jeep for Mr. Kimura?

Encounter with Jeep

―What type of Jeep do you have?

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2010 Sports (JK38L). I bought it second hand 4 years ago, so it's the summer of 2019. 38 was in my budget. I also wanted a silver body and a black roof. It looks a little white to me. It's a pretty bright silver, and when it comes to Sahara, the body and roof are the same color, which I don't like. I was particular about it.

－Why Jeep in the first place?

Nearly 20 years ago, I was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser70. I've always liked round eyes like that. Before the Wrangler, he had a Volkswagen Tiguan, and his wife had a Ford, so an American car would be good. The Wrangler that appeared in the movie "Fast and Furious" before was actually a silver one. I want you to see it! I thought, but it was an expensive purchase, so I was worried because I couldn't tell my wife, but she said, "You can buy it," and let me buy it.

Commitment to Jeep

―You've driven a lot of cars so far, what do you look for in your car?

The common point is that it is 4WD first. I also rode a minivan, but what I want most from a car is "ruggedness". In short, it's natural for a man to ride, and it's cool when a woman rides. I think it's the same with sports cars. I also want to stand out. What I look for in a car is a "tool," and it's the biggest toy I own.

―What do you particularly like about driving a Jeep Wrangler?

It's already a ′′ appearance ′′ straight out. Isn't the Jeep Wrangler originally a military vehicle? That's why I'm driving because I think there's no car that's cooler than that ruggedness.

I still remember the impression I felt when I first rode it, but I thought that there was a lot of tricks. I also felt a little bit of instability in straight line stability. However, I used to ride Land Cruiser 70, so I didn't mind that much. Conversely, it allows me to concentrate on driving, so personally, I find it more fun to adjust the steering wheel because I feel like I'm "manipulating" it. It's based on a military vehicle and has been lifted up, so I can't deny that the ride is rugged, but that's what I was looking for.

Also, in terms of function and performance, it is definitely "drivability". It goes without saying that the snowy mountains, but the toughness of running on any rough road is incomparable.

In 2019, the Nagano Prefecture Typhoon hit directly and was involved in flood damage. My commute was submerged in water by about 1m... my Wrangler ran the whole distance even though the bonnet was submerged! Despite being submerged up to the hood, I was able to escape from the disaster area without stopping at midnight and survived. A truly unforgettable episode.

❖This is the documentary footage from that time. From about 1:15 onwards, the flooded state was shocking. Far from the Wrangler's toughness, it is a must-see video that reminds us of its roots as a military vehicle, and even conveys its lifesaving capabilities in a realistic manner. Worth playing!

―Do you like JK (old model) more than JL (current model)?

Even if I could choose two, I would choose JK. I said this to my wife, but "JK is the last car I want to drive in my life." That's why I want to ride until the frame rots away.

―It may be a bit of a stretch to ask Mr. Kimura, but is there anything that makes you think, “I wish it was a little more like this”?

Are you unsatisfied? If you try to find it by force, Jeep is generally said to be a car that does not have very good straight line stability. But for me it's zero. It doesn't bother me at all.

It's high fuel consumption, so it certainly costs gasoline, but that much heat enters the work! (Laughs) I rode a Jeep American car for the first time, but it is sturdy! I think that there is an image that American cars are broken, but they are not broken at all! Is it the benefit of a country without vehicle inspection? Anyway, I think it looks cool. I was able to ride the car I wanted to drive the most in the world.

―Have you ever remodeled or arranged the exterior?

There are quite a few. First, it raises the ride height by 2 inches. All lights are LED. It's not for snow country, but it's cool. Another point that stands out is that the front and rear bumpers have been changed to American grade RUBICON. Also, I changed the seat to RECARO.

I look it up on the internet and arrange everything myself. In my previous job, I was a car mechanic handling foreign cars and a sales position concurrently. So, if you don't need special equipment, such as replacing the engine, you can do it yourself, so it's natural to ride in a foreign car, or you can say that there's nothing to worry about.

―Is there any part of the interior that you like or that you are particular about arranging yourself?

The roll bar that is stuck indoors is the best! I also like the rustic iron plates that can be seen here and there.

On top of that, my own original is the RECARO seat. American cars have fairly soft seats, but I like hard seats, so I changed the driver's seat to a RECARO seat. I'm wearing a type of comfort that envelops me and makes long drives easier. The rear seats are also reclinable.

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The first radio control I got when I was young was a Jeep.
He wanted and wanted in the toy department and he was crying. For him, this beloved Wrangler is a [toy].
The heart is [because it makes you happy to see and touch]. This idea has not changed since I was a child.

The handling that feels the ground, the figure reflected in the show window, and
when I get off for a break, I look at the Jeep from a distance and smile.
When I got on the train, I couldn't help but say, "Let's go."
No matter how heavy the snow is, it will surely take me to the snowy mountains. That's my Wrangler.

—Seita Kimura

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Snow Lifestyle with Jeep

―Tell us about your skiing style, Mr. Kimura.

The main thing is playing in the park. Even though I'm 50 years old (laughs). So, if it rains, I'll do side country in powder. If the conditions are good, I also ski in the backcountry.

―Where is your home slope now?

This is X-JAM Takai Fuji. It's 25km from Suzaka where I live, so it takes about 50 minutes. You ski about 30 days a year. Now I work for a semiconductor manufacturer, but I have a lot of holidays, so basically I go skiing on my days off. I don't usually go to other ski resorts, I specialize in Takai Fuji! (laughs) There is a Yomase ski resort next door, so when I want to ski powder, I sometimes go to Yomase, but my favorite is Takai Fuji.

-Takaifuji, that's great, isn't it? There's an inn in the parking lot, right?

There is! It's a pretty good slope. However, the lifts are not currently in operation, and they are making it a self-responsible area where you can ski if you walk. In the past, the lifts were moving, so we had to fight for powder, but now you have to be someone who knows how to get there. Fast track from 3 o'clock, it's super delicious.

In addition, Takaifuji is now rich in tree run areas, and everyone is entering, so the ski resort is cutting down trees to open it as a course. So now the tree run area is insanely wide.

There are quite a few people who say, "If it snows, it's Takai Fuji", so it's a super secret spot. Powder competition is extremely low (laughs). When you enter the tree run area, it feels like you're the only acquaintance there. I don't know how to enter.

By the way, speaking of ski style, I have my own rails. It is a 4m rail that can be assembled. Since the legs can be separated, it can be loaded on a ski carrier. That's why I load my Wrangler and I'm skating at Shiga Pass until mid-June. At that time, it was -5 degrees at the top of the mountain, even though it was 20 degrees below. That's why people who come for sightseeing look at it with strange eyes. But our feeling is that if there is snow, let's ski until it's gone. I feel like I'm going to do off training when it's over.

-it's great. It's the appearance of a proper orthodox skier (laughs). Kimura-san, how did you come to love skiing so seriously for such a long time?

I've been skiing for about 40 years, attracted by the coolness of freestyle skiing.

Originally my parents were ski idiots and I was influenced by them. I used to live in Tokyo, but moved to Myoko and started running a pension. When I was a child, my parents forcibly took me to the snowy mountains, and I cried. When I moved to Myoko, skiing became a daily routine for me, and I learned basic skiing and got an associate instructor while working part-time as an instructor. About 20 years ago, I saw someone jumping on skis and learned that it was "freestyle skiing."

I was completely fascinated by this world, went on ski trips with my friends in Alaska, and also did video distribution, MC, and event planning. My favorite rider is Big Boss Tanner Hall! I am fascinated by his unyielding style. Actually, when Tanner came to Hakuba for the FWT four years ago, my friend arranged for me to drink with him at the bar!

I think freestyle skiing is "expression". Is it the biggest attraction that you can share and pursue that expression with your friends? I think. Through skiing, I was able to meet many people and hear various thoughts and voices. To be honest, I never thought that I would be surrounded by "friends" at the age of 50.

―What do your ski friends and friends say about your favorite car?

Anyway, it is said to be "suitable". Most of my friends ask me to give them a ride (laughs).

-lastly. If we go to Takaifuji, will STEEP users be able to play with Mr. Kimura?

I've been doing Takai Fuji Local for 11 years, so I know everything from top to bottom!
I love sessions, so if you'd like, please let me attend! instagram @seient

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