Yuka Fujimori

YUKA FUJIMORI

JUST FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

Snowboarding I want to do (Part XNUMX)

Yuka Fujimori.She travels around the world and spends her days dizzyingly, but she never shows her tiredness no matter when and when she meets her, and she feels powerful every time she talks brightly while wearing a glittering aura.After participating in the Olympic Games three times with Snowboard Cross, this season is finally the Olympic season from the conversion to slopestyle.What do you think and what do you feel?That's why I want to hear about her past, present, and future ...

(This article was published in the November issue of FREERUN. The interview was conducted before the announcement of the Pyeongchang Olympics, Slopestyle, and Big Air representatives.)

Text: Rie Watanabe

Decide and act on what you want to do

After participating in the FIS World Championship Snowboard Cross held in Austria after the Sochi Olympics, which participated in the Snowboard Cross, Fujimori turned to slopestyle and is currently aiming for the Pyeongchang Olympics as a member of the national team.Even for her, who has participated in the Olympics three times with snowboard cross, it was not easy until she became an environment where she could aim for the Olympics in slopestyle.
"I started to go around the World Cup at the age of 17 and 18 when I first challenged the world stage with a snowboard cross, but for me, who had only played domestic competitions at that time, going out to the world itself However, I wasn't familiar with it. In the meantime, the participation in the Torino Olympics was an event that came immediately, and when I looked back, I was thrilled and I wasn't at my own pace ... I wasn't used to the course either. At the Vancouver 6 Olympic Winter Games, which I faced with that experience, there was an accident and it did not lead to a result. The Sochi Olympics, which I faced as the culmination of my snowboard cross life, finished XNUMXth in the qualifying and went to the final. However, looking back on the previous seasons, I was able to finish what I wanted to do, so I felt refreshed. After that, I decided to change the competition to a slope style and receive support from BURTON. , I couldn't join the national team in the first season, so I searched for how to participate in the TTR tournament by myself so that I could get to know the name in the slope style world. I am able to join the team and aim for the Olympics. "
Although he knew that it was not an easy road, it was said that Torah Bright, who played the third category of slopestyle, halfpipe, and snowboard cross at the Sochi Olympics, was the key to the decision to change the competition.
"I always wanted to do slopestyle while doing snowboard cross, but I didn't know if I could really do it. I wanted to do it, but I couldn't do it ... But the players who made it happen were on the same stage. I was really inspired by standing. I was able to think that I should take a step without worrying about myself. Making decisions about what I want to do and taking action. I felt like I was taught. "

Participation in video shooting that had a big impact on everything

Fujimori immediately turned to the Pyeongchang Olympics after announcing his shift to slopestyle.It was only six months after her conversion that she finished third in the slopestyle big competition "The Mile High" held in Australia in August 2015.Since then, he has been steadily strengthening his skills and participating in competitions.At the World Cup held in Quebec, Canada this year, he was ranked 8th in slopestyle and 3th in big air, making him a stable player in international competitions.As the expedition to the contest continued, he actively participated in video shooting after turning.
"Overall, I think that the three years after the Sochi Olympics were very fulfilling. Above all, BURTON's support was great, so that I could go to world-class competitions such as US OPEN. One of the biggest influences of BURTON's activities was that I was invited to shoot the video of BURTON GIRLS and got a part. BURTON GIRLS's web movie "STAND UP.STAND OUT." By being shared all over the world, I had more opportunities to see my slips that no one knew at the time, and I was able to remember my name. I've been invited to the hottest girls session, so I'm glad I've been actively involved. "
Fujimori is decorating the bird with the video of "VEWS FROM THE VILLAGE" sponsored by Spencer O'Brien, which was held at the big kicker created in Sunshine Village in Alberta, Canada, which was released this summer.While the sponsored Spencer, as well as Jamie Anderson, Enni Rukajärbi, Cheryl Maas, Jess Rich and other brilliant riders are flying in the air, BS900, FS360 with full style, FS Double Underflip 900 that will be a switch landing I made it and gave it a strong presence.
"VEWS FROM THE VILLAGE was the second time this year, but I also participated in last year's session in Whistler. Spencer saw my slip when I was in Whistler for the BURTON GIRLS shoot. It was a kick to say, "I want to invite that child!". Spencer himself had a pain in his leg and it was a delicate line whether he could participate in the shooting, but last year's shooting I got a part at, and I was able to call him again this year. Actually, I wasn't blessed with the weather at all ... . The video of my part looks bright, but it's about 2:19. I really didn't have many chances to shoot, so I needed to concentrate very much .... It was good that I was able to slide firmly. I don't think there are many children in the world who are doing FS Double Underflip 900, so I wanted to use it as my own weapon, so I'm very happy to be able to leave it in the video. Also, let me comment every time. There may be some, but I still don't speak English ... If I take care when I'm having a group talk at the time of shooting, I don't understand what I'm talking about (laughs). One of the reasons I was called was that I could communicate in English to some extent, so I feel that I should continue to study more. "

Even though I have to win, I will never forget my personality

Even during the tournament expedition, including the FS Double Underflip 900 released in this video, I am eager to learn tricks while increasing the difficulty level.According to the schedule routine, the timing of the interview for this project (late September) is to practice at Kings in Toyama every year.
"I'm always practicing at Toyama Kings this time of year! I was injured in NZ and I couldn't practice more satisfactorily than usual season, but after that, I'm going to Europe, so I came to Toyama Kings. I'd like to try that on the snow. I've been practicing the FS Double Underflip 900 because I'd like to connect it to 1080 eventually. I want to do my best. "
Including the cross era, the number of tournaments that have been repeated is one of the highest among the riders in the world, but no matter how much training is done, he will not get used to the tension.Even in that extreme state, I value the part of how to enjoy snowboarding in my own way.
“At a tournament, I have a strong feeling that I have to win, so I often can't enjoy it, but at any time, I value“ having fun and sliding ”and“ being like me ”. Of course, to win. It's important to make new tricks and tricks with high difficulty, but I'm also practicing grabs very much. I want to put out the cool grabs I want to do at the tournament! I want to stick to that part. "
The winter of the Olympic season is about to begin.She will be competing in about seven more races, and after going to Europe and skating on Sir Sfee, she will go to Italy for the World Cup, next week for AIR & STYLE in China, and next week for Germany, the United States, and so on. Complete the schedule and welcome the Olympics.
"I have cleared the Japanese standards for participating in the Olympics, but I haven't decided to participate yet, and there are seven tournaments, so to be honest, I'm worried about injury. Of course, I'm looking forward to it, but if I stick to whether I can get out or not, I feel like pressure, so when I'm tired, I try to get away from the snowboard, go to the Games, and do what I like. I try to remember the happiness that I have made and value the feeling of gratitude for the little things. "

Do the snowboarding you want

The author has consistently felt that she is pursuing coolness, such as "I want to snowboard cool" and "I'm most happy to hear that she's cool".As the word says, even in "VEWS FROM THE VILLAGE", the FS360 is fascinated by the double grab of the tie pen and tail, and the slip that strongly feels the commitment to grab and style is impressive.I asked Fujimori how to deal with snowboarding again. "Most of the time I've been involved in so many competitions and I have to do it and I have to win. The person who makes an impression on me is the rider who can do the snowboarding I want to do in the world. When I'm working hard among the active players, there are moments when I think I'm not able to do the snowboarding I want to do. Sometimes I do a technique that wins over the technique I want to do. It may be necessary to redo it several times, but since there are only two tournaments ... How to win the snowboard that I want to do is my current goal and always an issue. I want to do that! In both the video and the competition, "I'm doing this technique in this environment! "I'm impressed to see it myself, so I want to be that kind of player and rider."
Fujimori has fought on the world stage for many years.Having focused on the competition as a competitor, she doesn't look at the girls scene in Japan and around the world from a bird's-eye view, but she says she can feel it through her current environment.
"In Japan, the spread of facilities such as the Kings has increased the number of athletes who are attracted to high-speed rotation, but the number of such facilities has increased overseas, and I don't know what will happen in the future. The explosiveness of overseas riders. Hailey Langland, 16 years old, suddenly got the first female CAB double 1080 in the X-GAMES in the contest. Anna Gasser, a regular on the podium, is by far the best in both the contest and the video. In an environment where there are too many contests and it is difficult to practice new techniques, I feel that only she is growing up preeminently. I think she is practicing with really high aspirations, so I I'm really inspiring myself. "
Fujimori has become one of the world's leading riders in both name and reality due to his accumulated experience and sophisticated "sliding", jumping into another world stage called slopestyle from many years of activity in the world of snowboard cross.I continue to work hard to express my own "snowboarding that I want to do" in the video and the scene of the tournament.No matter what direction the snowboarding scene moves in the future, it's something she can't give up.
"I would be happy if my snowboarding could have a positive impact on the snowboarding scene in the future. Therefore, I want to put my soul into each and every technique and make a slip that moves people's hearts. Many people watching that slip. I want to convey the fun, coolness, and charm of snowboarding to us ... "
In 2015, Fujimori breathed new life into the slopestyle world.Her motivation for freestyle self-expression, which she has always wanted to do, never stops.Active in snowboard crosses, abundant experience, skills that continue to be refined, styles that are particular about ..., it is unknown that her characteristics can be demonstrated in multiple layers.I can't wait to see her success.

Yuka Fujimori
Yuka Fujimori
Born June 1986, 6.Born in Nagawa Town, Chiisagata District, Nagano Prefecture.Participated in three Olympics with Turin, Vancouver and Sochi on a snowboard cross. After participating in the FIS World Championship Snowboard Cross in Austria in 11, he announced his shift to slopestyle.After turning, in addition to playing an active part in the competition scene, he actively participated in video shooting such as BURTON GIRLS.Currently aiming for the Pyeongchang Olympics as a member of the national team.
SPONSOR: BURTON, OAKLEY, GALLIUM WAX, Smilefield pesticide-free vegetables, snowboard shop SCHIHEIL

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