Concerning Corona
Since 1992, "Color Sports Club" has been looking outside the slopes and pursuing ways to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry.
The representative, Mr. Shakawa, has developed a variety of unique routes and has always been a pioneer in the guide industry. As for the problem of this new coronavirus, we quickly showed guidelines for the guide service after it occurred, and updated the contents while considering the situation. Now that the season is about to start, we asked Mr. Shakawa about his response to the coronavirus so far, his measures for this season, and his thoughts on the backcountry guide service.
Looking back on February and March
“Until the first half of February, Europeans and Americans were also coming from abroad.At that time, there were more infected people in Hokkaido than in Honshu. I don't think it was a topic of conversation for us.There was one inbound flight during the Chinese New Year in early February, but two flights didn't."
Since the inbound customers stopped coming, the atmosphere became "different from usual".
“The government officially announced self-restraint on February 26th. On February 26, we announced that we would proceed with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
2/26 ★Information: Be in good physical condition to participate in the guided play! ★
In March, the Hokkaido guide club was open, but customers stopped coming. Even so, Hakuba and Kagura still had quite a few visitors. Because most people live in metropolitan areas. I think the sense of the audience was still quite far away.”
On March 11th, the extension of the request for self-restraint was announced.
“I think that the fans in the Tokyo metropolitan area have come to feel that this is not a trivial matter as the extension continues like this. We were doing it with pride because it didn't fall under the category.
in self-restraint, self-restraint
However, as expected, large-scale events, night restaurants and live houses are refrained from, and if the media picks up negatively and makes a fuss, even if the destination is a mountain, customers will not be able to visit. There are more competitors who will end their business at the end of March. At that time, I think there was an atmosphere that the coronavirus would be resolved in about two weeks. However, I thought that I had to think about this in a long-term span. At the end of March, I was able to see my future policy.”
There is no after corona
"There's no such thing as after-corona. We have to look to the future with a WITH rather than an AFTER. That's why we're working under these rules, rather than closing the business, so we've been gradually promoting it since the end of March. Outdoor activities It is difficult for the 3 Cs to grow.If Tokyo is not able to survive, I thought that from now on, we should turn the Japanese economy around in rural areas and return it to Tokyo.The outdoor industry must lead the economy, so here we are. I took pride in the fact that there was no way the business would end.”
With this in mind, Mr. Shakawa published his own guidelines on Facebook on April 6. As we continued, we took measures so that customers could come with peace of mind.
4/6 "Measures against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) infectious disease"
In response to the declaration of a state of emergency before GW
"We were open until mid-April, but the number of infected people gradually increased, and in mid-April, a state of emergency was declared, and for the first time, it became legally binding. I accepted it.We set the business to resume after Golden Week in May, but in the end the declaration was extended, so we had no choice but to do the same.On the other hand, we have to set up measures and guidelines for WITH Corona from now on. I
wanted to try how the guidelines would work for the next season, including some reflections. We resumed business and ended up doing it until mid-June.We also created our own guidelines and countermeasures, but we found that they didn't work."
What I found impossible
By the way, what 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 affect my daily life, but it's hard to breathe in the mountains because the oxygen intake is reduced. The body's absolute energy maintenance. Besides, it's fine in the spring, but if you're wearing a mask in the winter, you'll freeze.That's why it's impossible to wear a mask.Therefore
, in the guidance to customers, it is necessary to use it indoors, in the car for pick-up and drop-off, and at meetings. Please wear a mask, but please take a short break on the field, buff when snuggling up, and use etiquette manners when chatting
. -The approach to the 21 season is like this.
"Be careful with your manners when participating in a guide play!"
http://colorsportclub.com/playguide/backcountryplayguide.html
What we saw this summer
“After the end of this summer, the number of campsites was over 100% higher than usual, and although the absolute number of mountain climbers dropped sharply, there were some mountain areas where it didn’t decrease that much. People are returning for day trips, and people staying two nights are staying one night, but that doesn't mean that the number of people has completely disappeared. It is said that there were places where they came twice or three times more than usual.
I think it was a summer when customers accepted how to enjoy outdoor time and space. I feel that there will be more and more demand for people to play outside and secure their own space outside.”
In addition, it is said that remote work has increased, and more and more people are renting cottages in Hakuba and staying for a long time to work. Now that he is able to manage his own time, some people are starting to use their time on Fridays and Mondays after weekends.
what will happen this season
“Honestly, I have no idea what will happen to the snowy mountains this season. However, looking at the summer conditions, I think that the people who skied for 30 days in the season will be able to ski normally this season as there are various types of customers.
I expect that the boundaries between weekends and weekdays will gradually disappear in the future.It will be easier to take Mondays and Fridays off due to the coronavirus.More people will work and play at their own pace. There may be some people who have an image that the ski resort is empty because inbound can't come.
So I try not to be too pessimistic and stay positive. In order to motivate customers, I think it is important for the ski industry to conduct positive promotions as soon as possible,” says Mr. Shakawa.
Let's go to nature
Finally, we received a message for STEEP readers.
“I think spending time in nature, away from the daily life of the city, relaxes the mind and relieves stress, and is also very good for the mind. , Mountains give you a deeper sense of nature, so even if you spend the same amount of time, the degree of refreshment will be different.Because of
this time, think about the range of activities from your daily life, and when you have time, stretch your legs. Spending time in nature.I think it is very meaningful, so I would like you to visit nature.”
[INFO] WHITE season startup event
「"2020/2021 Tateyama first slide OPENING BANZAI" tour!!
Another world in November! Tateyama at this time of year when the unbelievable silver world spreads. A festival in the season where backcountry enthusiasts gather! Let's aim for powder!! (Of course, beginners are welcome!!)
◆Tateyama's First Slip Tour/Raichoso Plan:
・November 14 (Sat)-15 (Sun) Weekend 1 night 2 days plan
・November 17 (Tue)-18 (Wed) Weekday 1 night 2 days plan
・November 17 (Tue)-19 Sun (Thursday) Weekday 2 nights 3 days plan
・November 21 (Sat) - 23 (Mon) Weekend 2 nights 3 days plan
・November 24 (Tue) - 25 (Wed) Weekdays 1 night 2 days plan
Tateyama's First Slide Tour / Hotel Tateyama Plan
・November 26th (Thursday) to 27th (Friday) Weekday 1 night 2 days plan
・November 28th (Sat) to 29th (Sun) Weekend 1 night 2 days plan
◆ Click here for details http://www.colorsportclub.com/schedule/backcountryschedule_11.html
Person who taught me / Color Sports Club Tomohiro Shakawa Composition / STEEP Editorial Department
[Profile] Tomohiro Tonegawa
A pioneer who has opened up the mountain ski scene in the midwinter since the early 90's.
At the same time as going through overseas activities, we have achieved field development throughout Hakuba, which is synonymous. JMGA mountain guide stage II, JMGA ski guide stage II, JAN avalanche operator Level 2
I want to read together
