"Tsukasa Home POWDER FREERIDE '26," a powder snow festival held at Kiroro Resort for 16 years, aims to pass the baton to the next generation

In February, the "Tsukasa Home POWDER FREERIDE '26," Japan's longest-running freeride competition, was held at Kiroro Resort in Hokkaido, marking its 16th year

This event is not just a competition; it's a snow festival worthy of being called a "powder festival," featuring test rides of the latest gear, talk shows about environmental issues, and sessions with professional riders

Please enjoy this report and digest video, which condense the passionate feelings of those on the ground and the initiatives that look towards the future

From ages 8 to 75, everyone on the same stage—freedom that removes the boundaries of "categories" and mutual respect

The most distinctive feature of "Tsukasa Home POWDER FREERIDE '26" is the absence of "class divisions," which is rare these days. Skiers, snowboarders, and even monoskiers and telemark skiers all ski down the same slope, competing in terms of skiing ability and expressiveness

Another noteworthy aspect is the wide age range of the participants.
From elementary school students as young as 8 years old to veterans as old as 75, skiers from three generations stand at the same starting line. Having different gear and different generations mixed together might seem unfair in a judged competition. However, so far, there has never been a single complaint from the participants.

Behind this is undoubtedly the immense trust placed in the judging panel. Ski and snowboard legends such as Nagano Olympic representatives Shinichi Watanabe, Takamasa Imai, and Godai Sakamoto, as well as FWT-certified judge Daiki Mikami, are leading Japanese professionals who approach the sport with sincerity, which is why the chaotic and diverse styles of skiing are integrated as "freeride."

"I was impressed by how people of all ages and categories respected, encouraged, and celebrated each other, and it reaffirmed for me that this is what makes freeriding so wonderful."

The person who oversaw all of this was Takeshi Kodama, one of the founders of the competition. This spirit of mutual respect may be the very essence that makes this competition "the most free freeride competition."

The overwhelming rise of teenagers—passing the baton to the next generation

One of the most noteworthy aspects of this tournament is the wave of "generational change" that even surprised the organizers

Until a few years ago, the competition was mainly dominated by riders in their 20s and 30s, but this time, the presence of teenage riders was outstanding. The results speak for themselves

Teenage skiers (Shun Washio, Shinnosuke Tanaka, and Raito Sugawara) dominated the men's general category, taking first, second, and third place. Furthermore, in the elementary school category, they showcased riding skills that rivaled those of adults in both snowboarding and skiing

General Men's Category: Total 66 participants (30 skiers, 29 snowboarders, 1 telemark skier, 6 monoskiers)

Elementary school boys and girls category: 19 participants in total (14 skiers, 5 snowboarders)

Women's Open Category: 14 participants in total (3 skiers, 11 snowboarders)

This can be seen as a result of the tournament's primary objective of developing junior athletes, which is not just a slogan but a tangible outcome

The way adults have consistently shown children how to play and enjoy themselves seriously has ignited their passion. This phenomenon is not limited to "Tsukasa Home POWDER FREERIDE '26," but is a recent trend that can be seen in freeride competitions nationwide. This is a clear example of how continuing this for 16 years has raised the overall level of the scene

Community solidarity—Hokkaido's pride and a sense of global crisis

Along with the exciting competition, "Tsukasa Home POWDER FREERIDE '26" is strongly conveying an awareness of the environment

In a talk show by Gen Sasaki, ambassador for "POW (Protect Our Winters) Japan," the words "Protecting winter means protecting your own life" deeply resonated with the participants. He emphasized the need to change the very structure of society and appealed for a sense of crisis from a global perspective

In contrast, Takeshi Kodama, who has skied in 30 countries around the world, conveyed the "rarity of Hokkaido's snow" through a quiz. He explained how the powder snow beneath your feet is an irreplaceable treasure, existing in a miraculous balance. This will surely resonate deeply with the participants who skied at the event, as well as anyone who skis at Kiroro

"There are limits to what an individual can do; we need to change society as a whole."

Sasaki Gen's words, which combined local pride with a global sense of crisis, must have encouraged skiers to share the awareness that "skiing is about protecting."

In addition, a test ride event for new freeride ski models was held in front of the Mountain Center, which serves as the entrance to the ski resort, during the event period. Alongside this, a "Freeride Session" was held where participants could ski alongside professional riders. In addition to the organizers, Takeshi Kodama, Gen Sasaki, and Shun Hirayama, riders such as Toru Tachibana and Takanori Hayashi also participated. The event was held twice, in the morning and afternoon, with a total of around 40 participants, contributing to the excitement of the event

A line that continues into the future

This event, the second since the organizing body shifted to the "Hokkaido Freeride Network," saw the addition of Bonz crew members such as Takeshi Kodama, Junpei Momose, and Daiki Mikami, who have been involved in the operation for over 10 years. Along with the participants, the baton of operation is being steadily passed on

While the event centered around a competition to determine rankings, it also served as a powerful reminder of the deeply rooted freeride culture, where participants respect, encourage, and celebrate each other regardless of age or category

Photos by Kentaro Abe , Yoshinori Okazaki , and Kazuo Sudo

POWDER FREERIDE Homepage: https://powderfreeride.com/