Tsuyoshi Kodama's life's work, ``a journey across the globe,'' has resumed for the first time in four years. This time, the setting is Svalbard, Norway, in the Arctic Circle ( details of the trip can be found in the book). At the end of May 2023, he completed a fulfilling trip that lasted about 25 days and returned to Japan, but instead he moved on to Sweden. What is the reason?
It was nice to get off at a small station standing alone, but...
After filming in Norway, Kei-kun and I ( cameraman Kei Sato ) boarded a train heading towards Kiruna, Sweden, at the port town of Narvik.
Narvik, the northernmost railway station in Europe, is simple and has few passengers. The number of trains is about four per day, including both outbound and return trips. I wondered why a railway would be built in such a remote area, but there were hardly any passengers, and the main ingredient was iron ore mined at the Kiruna mine, famous as the world's largest iron ore mine.
In winter, the Swedish ports facing the Baltic Sea freeze, so the railway was extended to the ice-free port of Narvik. The train headed towards the border between Norway and Sweden, enjoying the spectacular view of the fjord, which was too good for iron ore.
At a latitude of 68 degrees north, Riksgransen is Sweden's northernmost ski resort. Located on the border of Norway and the beautiful fjords around Narvik
A ski resort is adjacent to the station called Riksgransen, which means "border" in Swedish. It was crowded with young skiers taking part in the FWQ tournament that will be held this weekend, but we got off at the next station, which is just one stop away. It was a small station standing alone in the middle of nowhere.
“Are you sure you want to stay here?”
This is the place where the name of the ``VASSI'' series, which is a symbol of Haglöfs, a major brand in Northern Europe, is derived. Honestly, I was imagining a bigger station or a bigger mountain.
While I was a little confused, the Haglöfs friends, all smiling, came down one after another from the train that had arrived from Stockholm. The people who gathered this time were hardcore outdoor enthusiasts, including riders and guides supported by Haglöfs, head office staff, distributors from around the world, and outdoor-related media.
The person who brings together this unique group of people is Per, a skier and event producer who was born and raised in this area. Well, after a long journey, I thought I'd first rest at the hotel, change clothes in the locker room, and leave my luggage...but I was wrong.
I got ready under the cold sky and immediately started hiking towards camp.
Travel gear not needed for the climb was carried to the campsite on a snowmobile. We traveled by train and went directly to 4 days of living in the snowy mountains, but it felt like something out of the ordinary and something normal. This is something unique to Scandinavia, where playing in the snow is so close to everyday life.
After about 40 minutes of hiking, we found a beautiful base camp village set up on the hill at the foot of Mt. VASSI. In the dining area, delicious meals are served using local ingredients (reindeer, salmon, cod, shrimp, etc.), and drinks, including a variety of local beers, are always on standby.
Musicians' acoustic guitars and singing voices resonate pleasantly, and you can hear the laughter of people surrounding the bonfire and sweating in the sauna.
On the nearby slopes, young riders are having fun making kickers, and on the flat ground at the base, some people are enjoying kite skiing. We camp together, socialize in saunas and bars, and play together in the backcountry. We don't miss exchanging information about Haglöfs products around a bonfire or while hiking. Really natural and passionate.
This luxurious time lasts for 3 nights and 4 days.
As a skier myself, I don't know of a better way to socialize than this, and Haglöfs camp was the place where I was able to put that into practice right in front of my eyes.
Through the camp, my trust in Hoglofs has increased again.
has created outstanding products
with innovative ideas and technology in each era And in recent years, he has taken some very important steps. Recognizing that the textile industry has not historically been environmentally friendly, Haglöfs set out to reduce its impact on the planet. He joined two organizations, Bluesign and Fair Wear Foundation, and began working on manufacturing products that set extremely strict standards for global environmental conservation.
Today, among the world's outdoor brands, it is highly regarded as one of the brands that is most conscious of (and is actually working on
Unless we know firsthand the harshness and blessings of nature, and realize how small we are in comparison to its greatness, we will not be able to work towards true sustainability.
There is definitely a respect for nature at the root of this, and it can be seen that this is not an obligation or a trend. The basis for this is the curiosity and sense of adventure that he has had since childhood, and his undying love for the outdoors and playing in the snow.
VASSI Mountain boasts an abundance of remaining snow, but during the period we were there, conditions weren't the best due to rain immediately following the snowfall and poor visibility. However, the time spent with the Haglöfs friends, who are eager to move their bodies in the backcountry and fully enjoy their time on the snowy mountains, is filled with smiles and various goods, including the clothes with the H logo on them. I felt like my soul was being imbued with it.
Takeshi Kodama's turn through the magnificent scenery of Sweden
Since we all love nature, skiing, and snowboarding, we originally had very few walls between us, but after spending four days living together outdoors, we became even more united.
And I was reminded once again that there aren't that many important things in life. Having close family and friends, a healthy natural environment, delicious food and drinks, and being able to ski and snowboard.
When everyone was dancing to the live guitar music, the large man next to me who casually put his arm around his shoulders turned out to be Fredrik, the president of Haglöfs headquarters.
He was really proud to be included in this group, and felt like he had grown a little as a rider and as a person who loves nature. By wearing it, he feels closer to nature, and by wearing it he feels excited and kind.
I feel that the most important thing is to feel comfortable that I exist here.
With Haglöfs, you can live this lifestyle together. I was sure of that.
Takeshi Kodama
A professional skier representing Japan. He has been a professional for 20 years, including expeditions to various countries around the world such as Alaska and Greenland, and has also climbed Mount Everest. He writes for ski magazines such as ``BRAVOSKI'' and ``Fallline,'' and plays an important part in video works such as the ``icon'' series. ``-Ride The earth'', which started in 2012, reached its 9th country in Norway and Svalbard. Please note that the illustration on the aluminum can is not bamboo.
Instagram: skiertake0728
*You can also read my impressions of Haglofs' flagship model "Vassi Pro Jacket" worn during this camp on the Haglofs site.
https://haglofs.jp/contents/Back_to_Haglofs_Takeshi_Kodama
■Haglofs JAPAN https://haglofs.jp/