Regarding COVID-19
Since 1992, Color Sports Club has been looking beyond the slopes, pursuing ways to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry. Representative Togawa-san has pioneered a wide variety of unique routes and has always been a pioneer in the guiding industry. With the
current COVID-19 issue also arising, the club has been quick to provide guidelines for its guide service, updating the content as the situation progresses. With the start of the season looming, we spoke with Togawa-san about their response to COVID-19 so far, measures they are taking this season, and their philosophy on backcountry guide services.
Looking back at February and March
"Until the first half of February, Westerners were coming here from overseas as normal. At that time, Hokkaido had more infected people than Honshu, so in Hakuba, Shinshu, and Niigata, it still felt like a distant world and wasn't a topic of conversation. We had one inbound flight during the Lunar New Year in early February, but then there were no more."
As inbound tourists stopped coming, the atmosphere became one of "things not being normal."
"The government officially announced the self-restraint measures on February 26th. However, this request for self-restraint was not legally binding, so people who wanted to skate could still go. So, to ensure that our customers would not be worried, Color Sports issued a notice on February 26th explaining the current situation regarding COVID-19 and the infection prevention measures we would be taking
2/26 ★Notice: Please be in top physical condition to participate in the guided play!★
"Even though the Hokkaido guide club was open in March, customers stopped coming. But still, Hakuba and Kagura still had a fair number of customers. That's because many of them live in the Tokyo metropolitan area. I think the customers still felt quite distant."
The extension of the request for self-restraint was announced on March 11th.
"As the extension continued, I think fans in the Tokyo metropolitan area began to feel that this was no joke. But backcountry tours are small-scale events, and do not fall under the category of large-scale events for which business refusal is listed on the government's website, so we were able to go ahead with our activities with pride.
Amid self-restraint and self-restraint
However, as expected, when large-scale events, night restaurants and live music venues were all cancelled, and the media started to cover it negatively and make a fuss, customers couldn't come, even if they were going to the mountains. Many of my fellow businesses essentially closed at the end of March. At the time, I think there was a feeling that the coronavirus would be resolved in about two weeks. However, I thought that I had to think about this in the long term. By the end of March, my future direction was clear."
There is no post-coronavirus era
"There is no "after-corona" period. We need to look to the future with a mindset of "WITH," not "AFTER." That's why, rather than closing down, we started gradually promoting the idea from late March that we would continue to operate under these rules. Outdoors are less likely to be prone to the three Cs. If Tokyo can't survive, we thought that from now on, the Japanese economy would have to be driven by the regions, and then money would be given back to Tokyo. The outdoor industry needs to lead the economy, so we operated with the confidence that closing down now was out of the question."
With this in mind, Shakawa published his own guidelines on Facebook on April 6th. These were measures to ensure that customers could visit with peace of mind as the business continued
4/6 ★"COVID-19 Infection Control Measures" Response Items★
Following the declaration of a state of emergency before Golden Week
"We remained open until mid-April, but as the number of infections gradually increased, a state of emergency was declared in mid-April, which became legally binding for the first time. We took it calmly, thinking that this was no longer the time to stay open. We had planned to resume operations after the Golden Week holidays in May, but the declaration was eventually extended, so we had no choice but to do the same. At the same time, we felt that we needed to put in place measures and guidelines now in preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic. We
wanted to test how the guidelines would work, including some reflections, for the upcoming season. We thought that if we didn't try them out now, we wouldn't be able to move forward next season, so we resumed operations in mid-May and continued until mid-June. We created our own guidelines and measures, but we learned some that worked and some that didn't."
Things I realized were impossible after all
Incidentally, the thing that didn't work was wearing a mask during the tour.
"From mid-May to June, I was skeptical about wearing a mask. It doesn't have much of an effect in everyday life, but in the mountains, the oxygen intake is reduced, making it hard to breathe. It becomes difficult to maintain the body's absolute energy. Also, it's okay in the spring, but if you wear a mask in the winter, you'll freeze. So, I think masks are just not an option.
So, when guiding customers, we ask that they wear masks indoors, in the car on pick-up and drop-off, and in meetings, but when in the field, we ask that they take a short break, and when getting close, we ask that they wear something like a buff, and when chatting, we ask that they hold hands as a matter of etiquette."
Color Sports has announced the following initiatives for the 2020-21 season.
"Please also take care of your manners when participating in guided play!"
http://colorsportclub.com/playguide/backcountryplayguide.html
What I saw this summer
"When this summer ended, campsites were over 100% full compared to normal years, and although the absolute number of people climbing mountains dropped dramatically, there were some mountain ranges where the decrease was not so great. People who used to stay in mountain huts are now doing day trips, and people who used to stay two nights are now staying one night, but that doesn't mean that there are no people at all. People are reluctant to stay in hotels, but glamping and private cottage stays have increased, with some places seeing two or three times the normal number of people
"I think this summer was a time when customers embraced the idea of enjoying outdoor time and space. I feel that playing outside and having your own space outside will become even more popular in the future."
Also, with the rise of remote work, more people are renting cottages in Hakuba and staying there for long periods to work. Now that people can manage their own time, some people are incorporating the weekend into their work, allowing them to use Fridays and Mondays as well, and this trend is becoming apparent
What will happen this season?
"Honestly, it's impossible to predict what the snow mountains will be like this season. But looking at the situation in the summer, there are all kinds of customers, and I think people who used to ski 30 days a season will be able to ski normally this season as well.
I predict that the line between weekends and weekdays will gradually disappear in the future, including the impact of remote work. With COVID-19, it will become easier to take Mondays and Fridays off. More people are likely to work and play at their own pace, and with inbound tourists unable to come, some people may have the impression that ski resorts are empty.
"So I want to stay positive and not be too pessimistic. I think it's important for the ski industry to start promoting things in a positive way as early as possible to raise customer motivation," says Shagawa
Get out into nature
Finally, he had a message for STEEP readers:
"I think that spending time away from the everyday city sphere and into nature relaxes the mind, relieves stress, and is very good for the mind. It doesn't matter if it's a ski resort or the mountains; in the mountains you feel more connected to nature, so even if you spend the same amount of time, you feel more refreshed.
Especially in times like these, it's important to think about the scope of your activities in your everyday life, and when you have time, stretch your legs and spend time in nature. I think it's very meaningful, so I would encourage everyone to get out into nature."
[INFO] WHITE season startup event
「"2020/2021 Tateyama First Time Skiing Tour OPENING BANZAI"
November is a different world! Tateyama is filled with an incredible snowy landscape. It's the perfect time for backcountry skiing enthusiasts to gather for a seasonal festival! Come and try your luck at powder snow!! (Of course, first-timers are also welcome!!)
◆Tateyama First Time Skiing Tour - Raichoso Plan:
・November 14th (Sat) - 15th (Sun) Weekend 1-night 2-day plan
・November 17th (Tue) - 18th (Wed) Weekday 1-night 2-day plan
・November 17th (Tue) - 19th (Thu) Weekday 2-night 3-day plan
・November 21st (Sat) - 23rd (Mon) Weekend 2-night 3-day plan
・November 24th (Tue) - 25th (Wed) Weekday 1-night 2-day plan
Tateyama First Time Skiing Tour and Hotel Tateyama Plan
・November 26th (Thurs) to 27th (Fri) Weekday 1-night 2-day plan
・November 28th (Sat) to 29th (Sun) Weekend 1-night 2-day plan
◆For more details, please click here : http://www.colorsportclub.com/schedule/backcountryschedule_11.html
The person who taught me: Tomohiro Shagawa, Color Sports Club. Edited by: STEEP Editorial Department
[Profile] Tomohiro Tonegawa
A pioneer who has been opening up the mountain ski scene in the harsh winter since the early 90s. After working overseas, he has also pioneered the entire Hakuba area, which has become synonymous with his name. He holds
JMGA Mountain Guide Stage II, JMGA Ski Guide Stage II, and JAN Avalanche Worker Level 2 certifications.
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