The Japan Mogul Team, said to be "undoubtedly the strongest in history," is taking on the Beijing Olympics. What kind of skiing will they show on the Olympic stage? Let's introduce the Japanese men's and women's mogul skiers, who are considered very likely to win gold medals. Also, check out the 2021-2022 World Cup competition footage, which will give us a glimpse into the Olympic battle!
Matsuda
Sou
Born in Kyoto Prefecture, he began mogul skiing at a young age, influenced by his father, who loved moguls. He attended Hakuba High School to train, and then went on to train in the United States, where he continued his ambitious endeavors. He is particular about his own style and even has a signature glove. This time, he grabbed the last ticket for the Beijing Olympic team selection, and made his first appearance, fulfilling his childhood dream
☟By the way, this is Matsuda Sou's own Instagram. This is a comment he made for the crowdfunding campaign organized by his team to support his athletic activities for the Beijing Olympics
@mogul_sou
■ Profile
| date of birth | Born September 24, 1999 |
| Birthplace | Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Affiliation | Shimada Hospital Snow Team |
| Major battles in recent years | '21 41st All Japan Ski Championships Moguls Winner '19 Noram Tour Overall Winner / All Japan Championships Winner / World Cup Finland 12th Place / World Cup China 6th Place '18 US Selection DM Event Winner / Junior Olympics 2nd Place |
| Gear used | Skis: ID one |
| @mogul_sou |
■ Matsuda Hayate - Skating video
This video introduces the moguls and Matsuda Hayato to raise funds for a crowdfunding campaign organized by Shimada Musculoskeletal Care Hospital, where Matsuda Hayato is a member
■ Comments from the "Online Press Conference to Determine Representatives" just before the Beijing Olympics
With the Beijing Olympics just around the corner, the All Japan Ski Association held an online press conference to determine the Japanese representatives. We present an excerpt from a video of Hayato Matsuda's comments. "Q" is a question from a journalist
January 23rd (Sun) 19:00-19:30 From the online press conference to decide the representatives
Q. It feels like you made your decision at the very last moment, how do you feel now?
— To be honest, it still doesn't feel real. I wasn't actually able to consistently get good results, and getting 7th place and qualifying to represent Japan was partly due to the mistakes of other athletes, so I'm trying to switch gears a bit. I still have some time, so I'd like to prepare myself mentally and technically for the Olympics.
Q. As this will be your first Olympic appearance, how do you feel about competing on such a big stage as the Olympics
? Especially in moguls, unlike other sports, the Olympics is the biggest stage. In freestyle, there are various events like the X Games, but not in moguls. It's a dream stage, and to be honest, I didn't really think I'd be able to compete this season, so I'm still feeling like I'm dreaming, but I hope to approach it with my feet firmly on the ground.
Q. What kind of image do you want to show to the whole of Japan on that dream stage?
— I want to show a style that's different from others, something edgy, something that's good about me.
Q. What are Matsuda's strengths?
— I used to train overseas for a while, so I incorporate various things from overseas as well as Japan. Like Hara, I also have a signature move where I grip the board, so I hope people will take a look at that.
Q. What are your goals for the Beijing Olympics
? — In the past, I've been able to get good results by performing my own style of skating, so my first goal is to perform my own style of skating, and I hope to be able to do so without being swayed by those around me or the stage.
Q. You were able to participate this season. What aspects of your growth do you think led to your selection for the national team this time?
— I think I've gotten better at preparing for matches. This year, I haven't been able to consistently reach the finals, but I've been able to seize opportunities in tournaments where I knew "if I lose this tournament, it's over," like the December 2021 tournament. If I didn't reach the finals, I wouldn't be able to participate in the North American tournaments, the tournaments in Canada and the United States. I knew I had to make my move here to qualify for the Olympics, and I think the fact that I was able to fully demonstrate my mental and physical preparation at crucial moments is a big factor.
Q. I imagine it would be understandable to feel nervous in a situation like that, so how did you overcome it?
— Well, I'm actually quite a crybaby, so I would be bawling my eyes out the night before. It was really tough. But, conversely, it felt like it came full circle, and I felt like the tension in my body was released.
Q. You mentioned that you were based overseas for a period of time. Could you tell us when you started studying there and what you learned?
— After graduating from high school, I went to Colorado in the United States to find a coach who taught the kind of skiing I wanted to do. In fact, many people from that team went on to represent the US at the Olympics, and it was the kind of skiing I admired, so I was glad to meet someone who could teach me the kind of skiing I wanted to do.
Q. How long were you there?
— I was actually only able to go for about six months, it was a short trip, but it quickly became a valuable asset to me, and I was able to achieve results, so I was selected for the Japanese national team that year. After that, I moved back to Japan to train.
Q. Could you tell us about your background in Kyoto and how you came to attend Hakuba High School, what kind of "skiing style" you wanted to pursue during your training in Colorado, and whether you still maintain that style or if it has changed?
— I went to Hakuba High School for the same reasons I went to America, but to do the kind of training I wanted, it would have been difficult to go to Kyoto every weekend by overnight bus, so I went to Hakuba High School and belonged to a team in Nagano Prefecture. The kind of skiing I wanted to learn in America was a more scientific and aggressive style. I tended to fall backward easily, so I wanted a style that would compensate for that. There is a unique American style, and I admired that cool style of skiing. Now, I think I'm able to maintain that aspect while also incorporating refined Japanese techniques, so I'm able to take the best of both worlds.
Q. What got you started in moguls and what grade were you in?
— My father did moguls as a hobby, and although we lived in Kyoto, I started skiing when I was about 3 years old. I remember it was around the 4th grade of elementary school when I actually started competing and aiming for the dream stage of the Olympics. When I was little, I met Janne Lahtera, who is now a coach for the Japanese national team, and there is an American athlete named Toby Dawson who won a bronze medal, and I had the opportunity to watch him ski at Hakuba 47, where I am based. As I actually joined the Nagano team and started training, it gradually became my dream.
Q. Which grab is your signature move? And what is its name?
— I grab both my backflip and cork, but mine is the cork grab. A lot of surfers from other countries are doing it now, but it exploded in popularity the year after I started doing it. It's called the Japan grab, where you grab the tail of your right foot with your left hand, but because you grab it with the hand in the direction of rotation, it's also called the lead grab or near Japan. The good thing about this grab is that you can use your free right hand to maintain balance, so I think it makes landing very easy. My name is Hayate, so I thought it might be the S grab, but my name is short, so I think "SOU grab" is fine.