This time, STEEP editor Fukuda learned how to ski on ungroomed slopes at Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort. She dedicated herself to basic skiing during her university years, and after becoming a working adult, she discovered the allure of powder and tree runs. So, wanting to improve her skills on ungroomed slopes, she knocked on the door of the ski school at Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort.
Her instructor was Shinji Saiki, the principal of the "Smile Snow School" within Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort. The goal is to increase the number of places you can ski while adapting to changes in the snow surface. We followed her for a day as she progressed step by step, from basics to tree runs, changing slopes along the way.
A variety of slopes spread out on the ski resort directly connected to the station
Located in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, Yuzawa Nakazato is directly connected to Echigo Nakazato Station on the JR Joetsu Line. It's also easily accessible, being about 5km (10 minutes by car) from the Yuzawa Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The slopes span an altitude of 458 to 702m, with 17 courses connected by 6 lifts. The longest run is 2,000m, and it features slopes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers
There are five ungroomed runs, with tree run areas stretching out between them. Yuzawa Nakazato is characterized by its variety of slopes, allowing you to practice your movements on gentle inclines, and then move on to undulating snow surfaces and skiing through the trees
This lesson will start on a groomed slope. From there, we'll move on to rougher slopes, and then to tree runs, gradually changing the training location
Practice the fundamentals that lead to ungroomed slopes on groomed runs
Fukuda usually skis on groomed slopes. His challenge this time is to get used to various conditions, such as rough slopes and powder.
To begin with, he will practice the basics on the Parallel Course, checking the movement of carving turns. The Parallel Course is 650m long with a maximum slope of 24 degrees and is an ideal course for intermediate and advanced skiers to practice on. After checking the basic movements, he will practice skiing in a stable position on uneven terrain in the ungroomed area next to the Parallel Course.
The position of the center of gravity is important on uneven terrain. Leaning too far forward or too far back is not good. The idea is to stand perpendicular to the skis so that you can quickly respond to various changes in the slope.
After receiving instruction on the position of the center of gravity, Fukuda said
, "It was great to be able to check my movements in various slope situations and have my weak points examined from different approaches. When I show the same skiing to different instructors, they point out different things, and there are various ways to correct them and variations in training, but Principal Saiki is all-around knowledgeable about both the basics and freeride, so he was able to teach me how to make corrections on groomed slopes and how to maintain that flow even on tree runs and ungroomed snow, which was very educational."
Try it on a rough slope. How will the basic movements change?
Next, we headed to the extreme course. Normally, it's open as an ungroomed course, but on this day, with no snowfall, the slope was rough and bumpy. However, it was perfect for practice. It was quite difficult, but practice is about putting what you've learned into practice
After combining practice on groomed snow with real-world experience on rough slopes, we moved on to the next stage: tree runs
Now it's time for tree skiing. We'll test the results of our practice among the trees
This time, Fukuda skied on the slope between the Extreme Course and the Challenge Slope. Located in a secluded area within the tree run area, there was still fresh snow remaining even though it hadn't snowed the day before. The slope spreads out in a fan shape, making it easy to choose a line. The gentler gradient compared to other tree run areas is also a plus.
Many of the tree run areas in Yuzawa Nakazato are characterized by trees spaced at a comfortable distance from each other.
When skiing among trees, the undulations of the snow surface, as well as the decision of where to go, become crucial to the skiing. Principal Saiki emphasized the importance of not just looking straight ahead, but consciously observing the entire line as you ski. Fukuda skied while consciously applying the ski control he had practiced on groomed snow and rough slopes
My impression of the tree run area was..
"I had always thought Yuzawa Nakazato was a family-friendly ski resort, but I was surprised to find that there are some challenging courses in certain areas. To be honest, I'm not very good at ungroomed slopes and tree runs, so there were some places where I thought, 'Wait, am I supposed to ski here!?' (laughs). The spacing of the trees was just right in some places, but also quite tight in others, so I got the impression that even people who want to ski hard will be satisfied."
At the end of the day, Fukuda felt a sense of progress
After finishing the lesson, how does Fukuda reflect on the day?
"It was very reassuring to be able to go with someone to areas that are difficult to try on your own, such as tree runs and ungroomed areas. I felt that Yuzawa Nakazato is a compact yet highly satisfying ski resort where you can go to groomed courses, tree runs, and powder all by taking just one lift. After taking this lesson, I felt the true essence of Yuzawa Nakazato.
I've heard from others that it's a lot of fun when it snows. It didn't snow today, but I was surprised that there were still plenty of untouched slopes. I'd like to come back when it snows.
I've only ever done basic skiing before, but incorporating a freeride perspective makes it an even more profound ski resort!"
Fukuda tested the movements he had honed on groomed snow on rough slopes, and then ventured into the woods. His day was a bridge between basic practice and actual skiing. A single change in movement expands the places he can ski and the ways he can enjoy it. The diverse slopes of Yuzawa Nakazato became the stage for his progress
Profile
Shinji Saiki
is the principal of Smile Snow School and a certified instructor of the All Japan Ski Federation (SAJ). He has been skiing at Maiko since childhood and competed as an alpine skier during his student years. He is proficient in a wide range of skiing styles, from basic skiing to powder, and has experience competing in freeride competitions such as FWQ. He spends about 100 days a year on the snow, conveying the joy of skiing from both the perspective of an instructor and a skier.
Information
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort,
5044-1 Tsuchitaru, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
Official website:https://www.yuzawa-nakazato.com/winter/
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