The three grand prize winners have been selected for a photo contest held in collaboration with the "yukiyama app," an app that enriches snowy mountain life through snowboarding, skiing, and other activities, and enables communication and information sharing at ski resorts. Here we take a closer look at the winners
The first winner is "Naoyan"
"Naoyan"
──Please introduce yourself
I'm a skier who mainly enjoys free runs, powder, and parks at Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
──What's your best memorable day this season?
My best memory of the season was when I landed my first Rodeo 360 at Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort in the spring!
I was so happy to give a high-five to Taka-san, a senior skier who coached me for a year.
── Please tell us how to use the Yukiyama app.
Check the running distance and maximum speed.
──Please tell us what you recommend about your home slopes.
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort has the best powder snow during weekday night skiing, and the park's quality is the highest in the Yuzawa area!
--What are your goals for next season? What would you like to improve? What tricks would you like to try? What are your aspirations?
Next season I want to do a Cork 360.
──A final word!
"I'm honored to have been chosen! I'll work hard during the off-season next season and make it a fun one ⛷"
Naoyan's Instagram account features impressive night riding at his home slope, Ishiuchi Maruyama
The second winner is "Masaaaaaaaaaaaaru72"
"Masaaaaaaaaaaaaru72"
──Please introduce yourself
I'm an old man who loves skiing and golf
──What's your best memorable day this season?
My best friend passed the SAJ1 level at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort 🤣 Happy!
── Please tell us how to use the Yukiyama app
: ●Checking information on nearby snowy mountains
●Friends
●Saving your own skiing history
●Logs of app users (photos, comments)
●Collecting information on ski resort events
──Please tell us what you recommend about your home slope.
I personally think of Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort as my home slope. In terms of what I recommend, I think the slope, width and length of the courses are all in just the right condition for practice or just skiing!
--What are your goals for next season? What would you like to improve? What tricks would you like to try? What are your aspirations
? I've already got all the gear I need for this season, so I'd like to jump on the trend a bit😅
──A final word!
I am deeply honored and touched to receive the prestigious STEEP Editor-in-Chief Award.
Thanks to my best friend, I was able to start skiing again after 27 years.
He told me about the app, and at first I used it to check my own records. As I used the app more, I began to explore new ways to enjoy skiing, gathering information and gaining experience. And there were so many smiles. I owe it all to the people who run the app, the many users, and everyone involved in snowy mountains that I was able to encounter so many smiling faces through skiing, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone. Thank you!
Masaaaaaaaaaaaaru72's Instagram account features fantastic night skiing and night views at Fu's Snow Area
The third winner is "❆ hitsuji ❆ 🐑💨💨 🐕💨"
"❆ hitsuji ❆ 🐑💨💨 🐕💨"
──Please introduce yourself
I've been skiing for 26 years. I'm a weekend leisure skier who travels several hours each way to snow-capped mountains every weekend, with the sole purpose of enjoying a pleasant skiing experience. I
've been skiing more and more every year, and this season I'm aiming to ski 65 days a year.
──What's your best memorable day this season?
My favorite memory of the season is my trip to Grand Snow Oku-Ibuki Ski Resort on New Year's Eve with my eldest son at the end of last year.
We visited ski resorts in Nagano, Yamanashi, Gifu, and Shiga, and this was our first visit on the fifth day. Heavy snow was already falling when we arrived late at night, so the next morning we had to start by clearing the snow off our car. Unfortunately, the snow had packed down first thing in the morning, but heavy snow continued throughout the day, leaving the slopes fluffy with fresh snow wherever we skied. More snow fell in the afternoon, and the ski runs were so fluffy and fluffy that my son and I plunged into the fresh snow, buried up to our knees. It was a day of total fun. What surprised me most was how well my son skied on his first fresh snow!
──Please tell me how to use the yukiyama app
I discovered the yukiyama app last year. Until then, I'd been using another app to record my own runs, so I started using it initially to keep track of my runs. When I went skiing with a large group, I'd use the group feature to let everyone ski freely, keep track of each other's locations, and meet up at the appropriate time.
When I first started using the app, I wasn't aware of its social media features, so I just uploaded photos and wrote comments to record my runs. People started giving me likes and comments, and my use of the app expanded dramatically.
Now, I use it as a tool to get reliable, up-to-date information. I use other users' photos and comments to help me decide where to go on weekends. Conversely, I try to upload photos and comments as timely as possible to provide information that can help others choose their destinations and provide first-hand information to help them enjoy themselves even if they can't go to the mountains. I
also enjoy skiing alone, so I often lose myself and ski without eating lunch, but I always think, "There are other people doing the same thing..." (laughs). I think the greatest appeal of the yukiyama app is the opportunity to meet so many people with the same goals. This season I had many new encounters with people ＼(^^)／
──What are the best things about your home slope?
My home slope this season will be Yachiho Kogen Ski Resort. Located on the eastern side of the Yatsugatake Mountains, this ski resort occupies a relatively high elevation of 1,830 meters.
While it's smaller than other ski resorts and is a former town-run resort, its greatest appeal lies in its high rate of sunny days and the excellent snow quality due to its altitude. While natural snowfall is scarce, the extremely low nighttime temperatures allow for consistent snow production using artificial snow machines. Another attractive feature is the earlier opening hours compared to other ski resorts. For this reason, I've mostly been spending the season at this resort for the past dozen years.
In particular, the wide, single-pile runs on the gentle slopes have a firm base, making carving on the perfectly flat, groomed runs first thing in the morning a blast! Perhaps this is something unique to a small ski resort. The slopes are also perfectly groomed compared to larger resorts!
carving at Yachiho Kogen Ski Resort, his home slope,
--What are your goals for next season? What would you like to improve? What tricks would you like to try? What are your aspirations
? Recently, I've had more opportunities to ski on fresh snow with my snowboarding friends, so I'd like to improve my skiing skills so that I can control my skis as I want in fresh snow. Also, I've avoided moguls for many years due to knee pain (laughs). I like uneven terrain, but I hate regular moguls...I'd like to overcome this somehow.
──A final word!
Skiing has made me feel more energetic every year. I hope to meet many people through the Yukiyama app, learn new ways to enjoy skiing, and be inspired by them, so that I can enjoy the snowy mountains even more. The Yukiyama app is the best!! (^^)v
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Although the world is still in a turbulent state, after reading the comments of these three people who enjoy skiing, I think that skiing is still a great thing
The joy of completing a trick you've been trying, the memories of sharing a special moment with friends, and unforgettable moments with your children - continue to experience various events by skating with KEEP RIDING
Thank you Naoyan, Masaaaaaaaaaaaaru72, ❆ hitsuji ❆ 🐑💨💨 🐕💨 for answering all my questions!
Editor-in-Chief of STEEP, Takeshi Ogawa
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＜Contest organizer＞
<SPECIAL THANKS>
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