Norikura Kogen and Mt. Norikura Snow Resort are located in the south of the Northern Alps. Boasting excellent snow quality during the season, it attracts a wide variety of visitors, from serious skiers to family skiers looking for something out of the ordinary.
Now, there is an event that shows a lot of excitement. RELAX & RIDE" , which will be held for the 5th time from March 20th to 21st, 2021 .
*Usually, "RELAX & BBQ" was canceled on the 21st due to rain. This is an event full of fun elements, such as watching performances by invited riders with special jump items, free ski test rides, and drinking sake from local stores while listening to music by reggae selectors.
The after-movie of this event conveys a friendly atmosphere.
Noteworthy is the jump item specially prepared for the event. And all the riders who gather are high-level things. Only skiers who are judged to be able to fly this safely are invited because the oversized and difficult kicker is created. As a result, only high-level skiers naturally gather.
This year, starting with Katsuno Tenran, who licked all major domestic freeride ski competitions, Japan freestyle skiers Tomaro Matsuura, Kankuro Ota, Ruka Ito, and former Japan representatives Soshi Utagawa and Ei Higuchi. Satoru is a prominent member.
In addition to the snowscoot Takahiro Oguri and the snowboarder Takahiro Nishii, not only skis but also horses and horns, there was a lineup of gorgeous faces that are unparalleled in other competitions.
In this event, riders jump right in front of the audience, so you can see powerful jumps.
A show-like event where riders perform tricks and interact with spectators has a charm not found in competitions.
In competitions where points are earned, there are many similarities in tricks between competitors in order to ensure points.
However, in an event with a strong element of fun, the riders also try to excite the venue, so they challenge creative tricks, high jumps and dynamic tricks. Naturally, the venue was filled with excitement, and there were many scenes where the venue became one, such as high fives between spectators and athletes.
Supervision of items by next-generation riders
Saito was in charge of the usual jump items, but this season, the next generation, Eigo Higuchi, has been supervised. With the participation of Higuchi, who has seen cutting-edge park items as a former Japanese slopestyle team member, a transition kicker that challenges the creativity of the skater like never before has been completed.
Basically, this kicker's IN enters from the side quarter and lands. An up rail is placed in the center of the item, and on the right side there is a lip for transfer, so there are a total of 4 ways to enter the item.
Why is an event with such a strong freeride element held at a ski resort like Mt. Norikura Snow Resort, where there are many ordinary people? That's because it's run by two professional skiers, Yuji Saito and Yuta Miyazawa.
Saito is active in Japan and overseas with the aim of competing in the Winter Olympics in freestyle ski halfpipe. After retiring from competition, based in his hometown of Norikura Kogen, he has been filming videos of himself skating and disseminating them as PR for the ski resort.
The inn he runs, Shikisai no Yado Yamabuki, is directly connected to the ski resort. Saito, who grew up here, came up with the idea for this event based on his desire to spread the appeal of skiing.
This year is the 5th year. Although it is a corona misfortune, we took various measures and dared to do it. Barbecue was one of the main contents every year, but this year we had to cancel it to prevent infection. After trial and error, we made it to the event.
“I would be happy if the appeal of freeskiing and snowboarding spread throughout the country and the spread of the event would have a positive impact on Norikura Kogen,” says Saito.
Winter sports also have elements of competition. However, it is also a sport that excites, excites, and fascinates people. This event made me feel that way again.
PHOTO / Satoshi Saijo, Editorial Department