After the high season in Japan, Aya Kato went on a trip to Canada with the aim of further evolution.From spring-filled Japan to Whistler, which still retains the look of midwinter, you will improve your skills by skiing on a slope that is closer to the natural mountains than the Japanese slope.I asked her to spell out how she slipped on the mountain of Wisler and what she felt.The first part will deliver the slope part.
Text: Sayaka Kato
The seasons and the beginning of a snowboard trip
March 2019.The strong high season in Japan is over, and a new journey has begun.
Midwinter is sometimes a training day for me, who has expanded the field to the natural snowy mountains of the Northern Alps for the past few years and has been passionate about snowboarding.The best!There are a lot of things that I really think, but I still have a lot of things to think about.I greeted the native antelope of Home Mountain, who trained me every day, and went down the mountain thinking that this year was still unrivaled and that it was the next winter.It may be good because it is not easy.The road to snowboarding will continue this season.
The purpose of this trip is to polish my snowboard more in a big mountain in a foreign country.Gain training, experience, challenge,ringLet's make a journey to expand.One way, heading to Canada.There are various encounters on the journey.At Narita Airport, I met Shin Miyajima, one of my respected senior professional snowboarders.By chance, I was on the same plane as Shin-san heading to Alaska, and while eating Japanese food until just before boarding, I was told about travel destination information, mountains and snow, and local loco snowboarders.Travel information is not limited to the Internet and guidebooks, but it is best to ask people who actually visit and feel it.Thanks to meeting Shin-san at the beginning of the trip, I had a feeling that it would be a blessed trip, but it really became such a trip.
The first spot is Whistler Blackcomb.Transfer at Seattle and arrive at Vancouver Airport.There is a direct bus from the airport to Whistler, creating a friendly atmosphere with a cheerful driver and a few guests.Climb Highway 99 (also known as Sea to Sky) towards the mountains.I arrived in Whistler in no time while looking at the mountains, glaciers and scenery in the distance.Whistler, which was covered with snow, is still in the middle of winter.The crisp air makes me feel better.
“Slide on the mountain” to the magnificent slope
Whistler, the largest snow resort in North America, boasts 200 courses and the longest is 11 kilometers.First, get a trail map (a map of the slopes).While looking at the trail map of the ski resort, I like to inflate my imagination, "What kind of place is this?" Or "I think it would be fun if it snows."At the same time, remember the course, check the direction of the slope, and imagine the snow quality that changes depending on the sunlight.If you follow this process firmly, you will not get lost on the vast slopes and it will be a more enjoyable run.
It's time to get up in the morning to the mountains.I've been to Wisler many times in the spring since I first came to Wisler when I was 18, but this is my first time to skate in early March.The mountains in March, where the cold of midwinter continues, have different amounts of snow and look a little different from spring.It's finally here.Aim for the peak by connecting the gondola and the lift.The scenery that can only be found here keeps my heart pounding.I'm excited.
There are countless steep slopes, pleasant trails, rugged rock cliffs and shoots, and tree runs along the course, making it more like "sliding on the mountain" than skiing on the slopes.Local kids skiers also fly rocks, shoot at each other, and push each other while free riding.
In the morning, I went down from the peak to the south-facing course and carved a moderately tight barn while cutting the wind.It's the most comfortable morning to get off on a long run as much as possible.
On the vast slopes, there are soft and nice snow, and there are also skating rink-like ticking and bumpy courses.You can be trained by slipping on rough burns, beautiful pisten burns, hard snow, soft snow, and various places.Since one run distance is long, every time you slide down to the bottom, your feet will burn.But I don't even feel that way, maybe because I'm completely captivated by snowboarding.
Whistler Blackcomb consists of two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb.The Crystal Area, which is the most end of the Glacier Lift on Mt. Blackcomb, is also my favorite area.The crystal has a slope, so it is interesting to play in the woods, the unevenness of the course, and the terrain.The four-seater lift, Crystal ridge express, has been replaced many times.
When you enter the forest, you will find the atmosphere of the forest that you rarely see in Japan.Trees that have died due to wildfires, moss that covers them, and green that is gradually regenerating.One of the pleasures of a snowboard trip is that you can feel the difference in vegetation.Adventure in such a forest.It's hard in the hard snowy forest.While softening the knees and absorbing unevenness, dodge trees on short turns and adjust the speed to slide down.Be careful not to go too far, as you should go too deep and it will be difficult to return home, or you may get lost.
In overseas mountains, there are relatively few regulated ropes other than the rope "Backcountry (natural snow mountain) from here" and the sign "DANGER" that informs the existence of cliffs and cliffs, so "Slide at your own discretion" It seems that the stance of "ne" is the basis.Those who slide on leveled barns, those who slide on rough steep slopes with rocky rocks, those who fly, bounce and hit while playing on the terrain with pleasant turns and endless terrain. There are many places where you can say "the best!" And there are many places where you can practice hard, such as "Be careful here."In order to keep slipping safely and happily, it is also important to judge where is safe and where is dangerous.
When you get out of the forest, side hits and jumps on the wall continue.With playfulness, the possibilities of fun are endless.A book full of the fun of snowboarding.I came here because I wanted to snowboard like this.I want to be the one who can enjoy the gliding of this moment in the world that spreads in front of me according to the changing snow and conditions.If you can find fun anytime, anywhere, your snowboarding skills may be improved.The mountains have become bigger and wider than when I first came, and I'm even more excited to see the mountains and terrain far away.This was another change I felt when I returned to Whistler Blackcomb.
The second part is Wilderness in Canada, which I was able to visit for the first time, and Spring Whistler, which is getting warm and cheerful.
Ayaka Kato
Born October 1992, 10 Born in Saga Prefecture, lives in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture.
From the time he was a teenager, he went to Hokkaido alone and went through a half-pipe slopestyle competition. Actively active in planning and managing events and writing in magazines.With the mission of connecting the circle of smiles by making the most of the relationship between snowboarding and nature, we continue to pursue snowboarding that is not bound by the frame.
Sponsor: RIDE SNOWBOARDS / OAKLEY / VOLCOM / AIRBLASTER (Ninja suit) / BCA / Equipment shop Mitsunaga / Tajima Kosan / Ookuma Obstetrics and Gynecology / Mine Contact Lens Center / Erica Kenko Dojo / Yuko Izumi / Ureshino Sushi / HAKUBA VALLEY / Acharm
